The last vestiges of December's snow storms have not entirely disappeared, and March is ushered 10 with a fall of half a foot or more snow, which ought to gladden tie farmers, as every possible condition for good harvests has been so far fulfilled. Now they can get busy ploughing, sowing, and planting.
The famine relief drive of last week seems to have passed nnnoticed here. The yamen declined the aid of the Church to make appeal, and collect funds for the less favoured districts, on the grounds that much had already been done and the official methods of raising money were in full operation. Refugees are streaming in and work is scarce, but the cost of grain is falling slightly. There no sign of new life in the trades in which foreigners are interested. and there were many traders difficulties at the end of the Chiaese Year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.