Huaiking, Feb, 4, By permission of the local head of the military, the Lanar New Yeay festivities have been taking place here as of yore, Even firecrackers came tack into use once more. The holiday was given a new name, the "Spring Festival," and everybody was happy. Busi ness at present is stagnant, but if the war is really over, conditions will, no doubt, soon improve, Although Port papers announce the opening of the Kin-Han Railway to through traffic, there has been no evidence here that it has become an accomplished fact, The latest newspaper fror. Hankow, which came to hand to-day, bears the date, January 18, having been seventeen days on the way instead of the usual three.
Yesterday we had another light} fall of snow. This district has not Seen so much snow for sixteen or seventeen years. With abundance of moisture, there has also been a great deal of cold weather. We have never seen so many cases of frostbite come to our hospital for treatment, and these eases have not been Vimited to the poor. If the weather continues favourable until May, there should be a bumper spring harvest. Prices of grain have kept Steady throughout the winter, Schools Short of Money With a greatly increased expenditure for the upkeep of troops here, we are told that there is much less left for educational purposes, and good many of the government, primary schools have had to close down. "The closing down of public! ce-education schools appears to be having a bad effect on such worthy movements anti-footbindings. Many others have decided that if their daughters cannot zo school, they must: then follow the ancient custom of foot-binding, which is, of course, a thousand pities. The movement which had been advanced for the utilization of tempi for educational purposes in also slipping back, and many of these edifices are now being re-fitted in accordance with. their old-time use.
Refugees from less favoured districts have called on us in fair numbers. Some of these claim to be on their way homeward, but repeat visits from a good many show that their aim is to eke out a this part for a time at least, Increase of Banditry Banditry in this district shows no signs of weakening, In fact it would seem to be on the increase, judging from thg number of wounds therefrom that Yiave been coming in for treatment. It is not a case of the rich grinding down the poor, but of the violent reducing the rich. Some of the wealthy farmers have had to seek protection within the ent walls of their prefectural In our early days in China, when there was more law and order than exists to-day, we used to smile fat these crumbling old structures, but today we have a wholesome: respect for them. They now daily demonstrate their usefulness. A
Chinese friend to-day remarked to the writer that during these festive days, the danger from bandits is much less, for they too take a fow days off to make morry by feasting and gambling. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, 19 of these ''gentlemen of the road" were plodding their homeward way together, and while nearing a large village some twenty li from here were surprised the local "min tuan," and, instead of resting at their' home fire-were lodged in the hsien prison.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.