The wheat crop is not a failure, bat much below the average because of drought. At the beginning of the corn, millet and bean planting there were some heary rains, and these crops gave great promise. Again drought has visited the Jand, and the beans are shrivelling in the pod, and all opening too soon. The people are very anxious.
From a village to the west of the city, comes the bloodcurdling account of excesses committed because of frenzied minds. A young woman, who had died a natural death, was accused of having been the cause of the drought. Her dead body was taken out, severely beaten with dabs, and then torn in pieces, each piece was ied in a separate place, The relations, arcitsed to indignation, reported promptly sent 5,000 cash to buy coffin. 'The body was dug up and reburied. The' official has promise to punish the! offenders.
Another horror ix reported from a village seventy li tothe East. A farmer was found in his field with head and arms severed from his body. No cause is known for this dastardly deed.
SUMMER NORMAL CLASR, A stimmer school for Chinese evangelists and teachers was held in July under the auspices of the American Presbyterian Mission, There were some sixty in attendance. There was the usual course of study in the Bible, Methods of Teaching, School Organization and Management, Hygiene and Music. Local missionaries took purt, but the main lectures were given by Rev. W. M. Hayes, v. p., of the Gotch-Robinson Theological Seminary, Chingchoufa. Doctor Hayes gave most instructive lectures in the Life of Christ, Hebrews, and Pedagogy. Each afternoon one period was devoted to model lessons in teaching and discussions of practical subjects. The students were enthusias-in their thanks for.the help they had received. In appreciation of Doctor Hayes' valuable services, they presented him with an address and a banner.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.