Hangchow, May 8.
The week's activities of the Y.M. ©.A,, alter its opening on Monday last, included lectures on various themes each afternoon and evening. The numbers of young, as well as, older men; and, where ladies are admitted, the way these have taken advantage of the invitations, show much appreciation of the varied subjects brought before them daily Friday's was a particularly interesting programme. It would have rejoiced the heart of Professor Robertson were he present to hear how faithfully his understudy, Mr. Han Chin-tsin, reproduced' his "master's" lecture on heat and cold. As we listened, the thought frequently occurred, would that the nation of students in China so set themselves heart and soul to conquer the mysteries of science as far as they have been led along the road as this young lecturer had done! Here, one felt is to be found the way' to answer so-called "grasping foreigners," rather than leaving desks and losing golden opportunities of attaining knowledge.
After a strong argument for the Christian, over any other religion, thie speaker traced how far on the road China had gone in the way of lighting herself (literally) by beginning with the primeval torch. Then, the fat-oil lamp, and the candle; ending, as far' as China general use is concerned with the small oil lamp. It is only in the houses of a favoured few that electric light is as yet to be found. Practical demonstrations of—incandescent, acetylene and other powerful combinations of light were shown, to the great enjoyment of the audience. The heat demonstrations were of a somewhat more alarming nature, and the explosions and splutterings caused not a little commotion amongst the mothers and babies. (That they were present at all speaks for itself Cuivesp Home Sysreu Wrona.
In the evening a brilliant lecture was delivered by Mr. Van Ts-mei of Shanghai, on "The Little Home-amily.'
The present awakening in China has its centre in Peking. From there emanate from time to time fine, but impractical ideas of extremists. Questions are raised all over China as to the old order of things, and the tendency is to cast out everything as useless which savours of that order. But, the Toot of the evil is not altogether in that it is "old." Public opinion is more and more seeing that it is the home-system of China that is wrong. Times have changed, especially in the meaning of the Tsong doctrine. We have Tsong-koh still with us, but no longer do we hear Tsong-yuin. Filial piety,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.