Shaohsing, Che., May 26.
The high cost of rice appears to be still the prevailing topic in this city. The people have heard much about cheap rice being brought from outside; but so far it seems to be a ease of hearing only. During the last few days the anxiety of many has lessened with the cutting of the wheat crop, which is estimated to satisfy many mouths for about a month and a half, Although the spring has been unusually wet, the crop of wheat is said to be remarkably good.
The mov of home-made goods rage to organize a local exhibition here. The spacious buildings of the Cloth Guild were used to that end. Many Shanghai and Hangchow firms set up stalls and carried on a brisk trade for nearly a fortnight. It is hoped that this display of genuine Chinese-made roods will both appeal to the pocke: s and imaginations of the country side.
The local fathers never Inventing new organizations solve a problem that has hitherto bated solution, The latest has been our campaign against illiteracy. A whole week was devoted to that object; Of course much in the way of actual instruction was impossible, so the talents of orators ind amateur actors were in great mand as an educative factor to press home the humiliating fact that at least 80 pet cent. of the population unable to read. The disadvantages of this, politically, sible, while this defect remains. Loaders of the nation are now away of the drawback attached to China's beautiful but difficult script; and, so they are stressing the teaching lof the phonetic script, which was pushed a few years ago in this province. Orders have been given from the Higher Educational Authority to get this system adopted by the Party as a further Propaganda weapon; it is also to be taught in the schools, and all teachers are to earn it.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.