And while these terrible famine conditions, affecting no fewer than million people, prevail Shensi, in Sianfu the Military Governor is draining the city' of funds to engage in a meaningless war in! Honan, - Ultimately will be called upon to make its contribution to the war chest, and no excuses or evasions will' be permitted. Thus the poor people will find themselves ground between the upper and the nether mill stones.
In Shansi a new section of motor-road is projected and work is to be well under way before summer. It is to run from the south suburb of 'Owing to the disturbed state of Honan, travellers for Shensi are now passing through. Shansi as in prerailway days. Only instead of mule hitter, ricshas at these' two provin being only just over a hundred Li of [the ancient road to traverse, the other 1,000 I being along miotorroads.
Recruiting for the army and for the local militia is brisk Practically no snow hus fallen this winter. The country is: badly in need of rain, 'The people of this admit that there is. any terest happening. "Any news?" al-jost. invariably calls forth the r Joinder, "Nothing.doing to-day. But a' few days ago everybody mitted that the visit of Mr. Ma Kum, the Salt Commissioner at Yuncheng, was a notable occasion, although why so much was made of it was a matter of some comment.
Mr, Ma was formerly the Hotung Taoyin. On resigning that import-lant post he was two years ago appointed to the presidency of the Provincial Board of Education, but during the recent disorder in' Ho-when the Salt remenaced, the Governor in' Shicchan, sent Mr, Ma to his old district post has and his presence instantly re-nssu fed friends and foes that there was to be no trifling with Shansi affairs. Mr. Ma is one of the strong men of Shansi, and is said to be a very geod friend of the Governor.
ducated in England, he is a man of varied interests, as his short visit here proved.
Schoolboys "Pay Soldiers' give an imposing reception, Every reheolboy and girl, in every variety of uniform had to take up & position some "li from the city gate. Some ching like a stun or a military -we pon of some sort was thrust into the hands of every available yokel who could be found to play a mili tary part to represent the local auxiliary forces. Streets for once were swept. Flags and festoons appeared everywhere, Mr. Ma how-lever, before entering the city made 1 detour to the humble little Mosq in the West Suburb where oe Moslems, assembled to meet their fellow religionist. He then proceeded to the Confucian temple and addressed a mass meeting on the evils of civil war and the importance of local defence measures. To [various local dignitaries who took part in this imposing reception he have copies of his book of poems descriptive of celebrities in the Ching
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.