Peking, Mar. 1.
The interest shown in southern cities in the redemption of the Shantung Railway by public subscription at the end of five years, is reflected to some degree here, not through the organization of "popular bodies, however, but in gatherings of officials' and ex-officials. While the motive behind such organizations is beyond, doubt sincerely patriotic, it is the general verdict among practical folk in Peking, that such societies, like the student organizations which collect small money among themselves, do not inspire the confidence of the general public, do not elicit general contributions and give little more promise to the nation of the speedy redemption of the railway than the airy' pledges of the Tuchuns.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.