An echo of famine relief work is engaging the attention of our law courts here. A Confucian scholar who has been in Paocheng for many years has been apprehended this week for misappropriation of funds given for famine relief. That is the charge made against him, but his real fault is that he has failed to squeeze the people sufficiently for military expenses. The case still awaits judgment.
Preparations are being made en the North Road for the return of our former (Governor, Liu [sen-hao, in the early days of the Chinese New Year, and it is understood that Gen. Yang is also expected back from Hupeh in the spring. The city is full of soldiers, who are incessantly drilling, but whether they will be for or against Liu Tsen-hao is not at all clear at present, though Gen. Liu Ping was formerly attached to Gov. Liu.
The New Year will be a lean one for most. Money seems very tight.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.