In the correspondence columns to-day there appears an eloquent appreciation of the splendid work performed on the Yangtze by those unobtrusive but hardy public servants, the river boat captains, The correspondent, who signs himself "Hankow", suggests that some record of the doings of these men should be attempted. The idea is most attractive and may be warmly commended to the attention of any suitable memoir writer. The Yang-tue captains through all the troubles of recent years have stolidly maintained this Tine of communications which has been of the utmost im-
Portance to the fundamental prosperity of the country. They make friends as they go, and they gather in the course of their journeys many: shrewd observations of men and things. Politicians they are not, critics they may be, and critics by:
means incompetent to express sage opinions. Yet they are essentially part of the silent service, but on that account the public should not forget the debt which it owes to them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.