One of the commonest practices of the soldiery among whom there is some semblance of discipline is to loot all the chests and cupboards in a-farmer's household and then to put seals on them stating that they are under the protection of the military. The officers come around on periodical inspection, examine the seals and ask the householders if they have lost anything.—The unhappy yokels, in terror of the soldiers, of course hasten to say that they have no complaints to make and the officers are satisfied, though knowing perfectly well what is going on. In the city itself there has been virtually no looting. Mi ister of Foreign Affairs Hu Wei teh's telegram to the Chinese Ministers abroad to the effect that no soldiers have come into the town is, of course, a childishly naive fal hood of which no one but a Chinese official would be guilty because every Legation is sending home volumious reports upon the situation. Within the walls, however, looting hae taken the form of the exchange worthless paper. The Fengtien notes are worth approximately thirds of face value on the Iceal market and the Fengtien authorities seem to be making some effort to provide for redemption but Peking has +till to learn th provincial notes are worth A soldier buys a dollar's worth of cigarettes or other—trifles and proffers a ten-dollar note, demanding nine dollars charge in ver which is to all intents and pias pores a gift of nine dollars merchandise. Shops of every acter, begin ni closing throughout the town and the Chamber of Commerce is carry ing on excited negotiations with the military chiefs in an effort 10 have the Octroi receipts set aside ar se-able paper,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.