The story of the slow progress of railway construction in China is well known to readers of the "North-China Daily News." Yet it is certain that unless the dreams of the Bolsheviks come true, and modern civilization perishes entirely, more and more railways will be built in China. As we read of the ridiculous opposition to the pioneer lines in Ameria we are encouraged to. believ: that the system of 100,000 miles of railways for China advocated by Dr. Sun and others will soon become a realjts..
A Chinese proverb states that he who holds the iron of the world will rule the world. It is only a half truth, for China probably has deposite of iron ore as large.as any in the world. It is essential to have the scientific knowledge needed to make the best use o: the mineral Ueposits. The talents which China possesses are buried instead of being used to gain other talents. The masters of the world of iron always be those who understand best the properties of the metal It is, of course, easier to accept things as they are than it is to enquire into them and decide whether they are capable of improvement. In the early 18h century there there were many men in England who were asking "Is this the best thing possible?"
At one of the banquets of the American Ambassador proposed the Royal Society in London, the
health of Lord Lister, the pioneer of antiseptic surgery." "My Lord," aid the Ambassador, "it is not profession, it is not & ration, it humanity' itself, sshich, "with uncovered bead, salutes you." To day humanity salutes the memory of Stephenson, pioneer builder of the first steam railway.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.