Oct. 14.
Witprr rumours than ever were current yesterday: the-President found dead in bed, monarchical plot, the young 'e: Emperor reinstituted. Of which no confirmation to be pinned down anywhere, though plenty of telegrams coming through from Peking and, in default, it must be thought that they spring from the mystery of Tuchua Li Shun's death und those pathetic farewell Which do not quite satisfactorily explain his suicide, Was it the breakdown of an_ overwrought brain, weakened by sid ness, darkened by utter failure to achieve peace? Or was there some deeper reason, which the rumours above quoted may yet solidify into fact that would explain? Anything is possible in China today. Yet it is hard to believe a restoration of the ' monarchy. What could the only men capable of restoring it gain more than they have already?
One thing is certain. Li Shun was a patriot. Not, perhaps, of the heroic nature. Not one to "take arms against a sea of trouble and by opposing end them. He seems to have been constitutionally incapable of quarrelling violently. His methods were those rather of—By-Ends than Greatheart. Yet he did labour for peace and the people of Kiangsu should remember gratefully that he kept peace in their province—just—_ the starving people of north China should know of and remember his will, Not many of the great official fortunes of to-day will be so generously divided.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.