Of local matters, the prevalence of armed robbery, with several-fatal shooting episodes, should be suppressed with a strong hand. The gambling mania shown both by wealthy women and their poorer sisters, especially in this Settlement, requires some curbing. In the opinion of the "Shunpuo," lack of a regular occupation and laxity in family discipline are two chief causes of this evil habit; and it suggests the obvious remedies as far as these two points are concerned, The prohibition of the sale of paraphernalia for opium-smoking is hailed with approval. The fire on Chekiang Road which burnt eight persons to death is much deplored. The shop at which the fire started was full of inflammable materials. Such shops should not be allowed in a busy part of the town.
Tue WvcHanc ConreRENcE, Following upon the © Paoting' Conference and the Mukden Conference, we now hear of the Wuchang Conference. It seems that the militarists alone are privileged persons in this country to enjoy the liberty of congregation and the liberty of speech, remarks the "Shunpao."
Participants in the Wuchang Conference were representatives of Kiangsu, Anhui, Kiangsi, Hupeh and Honan, apparently a conference of the Tuchuns of the North. But Hunan and Szechuan were also represented, for Chao Hong-ti jof Hunan has already exchanged hostilities with Li Lich-chun, and wishes to enlist the help of Hupeh; while the reason for Szechuan's attendance is evidently its desire to be on good terms with its eastern neighbour, so that it may pursue the quiet course of autonomous administration without let and hindrance. The inclusion of Hunan and Szechuan in this meeting must, therefore, not mislead us into thinking that it was a step toward unification.
Kiangsu, Anhui, Kiangsi, Hupeh and Szechuan, all being watered by the Yangtze River, should naturally become allies owing to their
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.