We have been favoured, says the "Dewsbury Recorder," by Mr. J. T. Auty, of Northgate, Dewsbury, with the glimpse of a very chatty' letter, written to him by his friend, the Kev. A. J. MeKay, a Wesleyan missioner, of Yungehowfu, China.
In my brief span of life I have been in various places and sampled several kinds of life, but this life is the best I have struck yet, Interest increases as the weeks go by, and I would not change places with anyone. Tam pleased to say am Keeping in the best of health, gnd trying to keep warm these" cold days. Thank goodness, the Chinese ters are pot long, and by the time you get this letter we shall be on the brink of the warm weather. During the cold days our devises for keeping warm in chapel are rather peculiar. Down the two aisles of the chapel there is a big wooden tray with an iron bottom. fu, at the bottom of which charcoal fire is burning. This only warms those in the immediate vicinity. Several of our members: carry their own charcoal fires with them in receptacles which are called Chieh Lo. These are small wooden boxes with handles, in the bottom of which is an earthenware pot in which the fire burns. You can} carry these about in any position, Some are so made that you can them for a seat, and thus your!
fundamentals" are nicely warmed. Many of our women carry them under their Chinesg jackets, and to see them walking along with thes things under their jackets gives one the idea that they are tremen fat. We usually have one in the pulpit for the preacher to use during the servies, and we find thes portable warmers very hand! usefal. For instance, who ling round our cireui and using Joke sitting in' when the day is. very! cold, so we have one of these Chieh and start off with a little fire) inside, and it is replenished by: our boy at every inn we call at; so you have a fire always going on in the winter.
A Typical Day.
1 typical day out of my Rise 7-20; breakfast 8 o'clock, after which I go to the school and, take morning prayers with the boy's. From 9 o'clock to 11 T have my Chinese teacher, and together we Work at the language. This teacher! fs a well-educated young man of about 22 years of age. We just saved his life during the late war in this province, and now he is living. with us on our compound, teaching me the language for $10 " month. At 11 pan, we have a break for a quarter of an hour, during which time we have a cup' of Chinese tea and a few biscuits, Then private study till mid-day meal at 12-30. From 2 o'clock to 3-90 Tam engaged in the school. Te 30, then tennis till dusk. Dinner at 6-30, a smoke and chat, then study agai at 7-30. On Mondays at 9 o'clock and Fridays at the same time, our Chinese doctor comes to my study for a amoke and a chat, From 9 to 10 pam. we discuss every matter: under the sun in Chinese; then, fter that, for half an hour we read an English book together—a_book which will help him in his preach. ing, for he occasionally preaches the chapel. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings, at 8-30 Pam., my Chinese teacher comes along, and for an hour and a half we discuss the Chinese Classics together, and work on in that way. At 11 pam. we have a break for a final cup of tea; then we adjourn again to our books. By, that time I think I have earned a' rest from. Chinese, so T do a little English reading—Chinese history or English biography. Twelve or 12-30 usnally_ finds me wending my way to bed, tired after the day's work.
North and South, The recent war which was waged round the capital of this province has fizaled out, and I hope we are in for a spell of peace for the sake of the country people. It was only a drawing-room kind of war—qvery few men were iled—the hier sufferers were the poor, peace-abiding citizens. The whole trouble can be traced to the antagonism be-[tween the Soutl' and the North, the former represented by Dr. Sun Yat sen, a hot-headed fanatic who, hopes some day to be President of the Republic; the latter represented by Wu Pei-fu, the Northern General. The latter desires to make this province a buffer State between the North and South, whereas Sun Yat-sen has desires on Peking.
Then, again, the brigand problem is very acute. Most of these Drigands are ex-soldiers who have been disbanded and who are too idle to work. T am of the opinion that until China gets back to a monarehi al form of government things will stop as they are. Well, and how is good old Dewsbury looking nowadays? 1 wish I could accompany' you to the Test matches with South' Africa. I shall follow the gam in the papers and thus keep in toud with home sport. Tam very happy in my work, and enjoy everything as it comes along. For life in its fullest, give me China every time. How are you getting on at Con Who "is your minister!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.