Extensive alterations are being executed in the Park, and it is expected that it will soon be open to the public. At present a charge is made for admittance to the park but when the improvements are completed it will be admittance free." There is also some talk of removing restrictions and allowing men and women to visit on the same day and not compel them to go on separate days as heretofore. been forwarded to the chairman vf the International Famine Relief Committee, Shanghai, and it is expected that he will render valuable assistance in the matter of receiving and forwarding donations. It is being arranged that all re mittances may be sent from Shanghai and elsewhere through the Bank of China, as that is the only Bank here which does anything on a large scale with the other provinces. From reports received from the places where the famine conditions are the most serious it seems that a large quantity of the rice for relieving the sufferer have to be brought from adjoining provinces. The authorities are wiring to the officials in Szechuan and Hunan asking them to_ allow the rice to be exported into Kweichow.
A list has been received here from a friend in Peking which gives the price of rice and other commodities at that centre. A careful comparison of the prices given with the prices which now exist in many parts of this province reveals the fact that the prices here are very much advance of those in the capital. This will help to show how serious things are here.
Relief Association's Appeal for Help Women's Famine Relief The following letter descriptive of famine conditions in Kueichow and appealing for assistance has been forwarded to us by the Directors of the Central Relief Association, Kueiyang The harvest last autumn was spoiled by drought, and locusts, followed by continuous rains and floods, and now the hail has practically destroyed the cereals which are usually gathered about this time Famine.conditions prevail in cities and districts, covering an area of 1,000 miles, and affecting upwards of 2,000,000 people. It is difficult to describe the distress and suffering of those affected. Death from starvation, famine fever, and suicide, are all swelling the roll of the victims. Husbands are deserting wives, parents are forsaking their children, ete. because it is impossible to provide them with food. In addition to what the missionaries have done to relieve the sufferings of some, the leading officials, gentry, and missionaries are now putting forth a united effort to try and save life, and help those who are in distress. A Central Relief Committee has been formed with a foreign treasurer, and appeals for aid are being sent out in the hope that substantial aid may be forthcoming from other parts. The sum of $50,000 is urgently needed to commence systematic relief work, and it is estimated that the sum of $20 is necessary to save a person from death through starvation, from now on to the autumn harvest.
As your columns have been devoted to the good cause of making known the condition of things in the north we trust that you will give the facts regarding the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.