Was it the Result of Too Eathusiastic Prayers?: Crops Taichow, Ore, Aug. 27.-
"Some of the country people' say that processions were held and gongs beaten too often, and that we are suffering for such excess now." This was the answer I received from a young Chinese when Tasked him what the people thought of the rains and floods we were ex. periencing a few days ago. On Tuesday and Wednesday we had a tremendous downpour. On the 2ita instant the rain gauge registered 4.88 ins. and on the 25th as much Jas 9.25, on the 25th considerably less, 235 in. The wind and rain from 8 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday, '24th were terrific. The bonze I live in is well built but once or twie I found myself wondering whetiter it stand a night of such weather. Vart of the upstair verandah roof poster came down with a crash, but the raise of the wing and raiz'was great that I scarcely heard it full, Unable to steep I walked round the house tightening up doors and windows, and watching the effects of the storm. The moon behind the clouds made it fairly light. Some of the trees were fascinating to watch, Under the influence of the wind they dashed from side to side, waving their branches now and again as if ina perfect frenzy to uproot themselves and allow this dreadful wind to carry them wh The roots said not er it would. a grimness of deters of the morning light, the wind had largely spent itself, the branches! were in repose, and looking down if in silent gratitude to the rests that hag held so firm in the midst of the raging of so great a storm.
The river rose some 20 or more! feet. The country round Taichowfu was covered with water and it was four or five feet deep in parts of the city.
The river is normal again and the streets dry, but Tam afraid a great deal of damage has been done to' the crops, at present no particulars have come to hand. To-day the weather has been warm and bright.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.