Kaifeng, March 26.
The provincial campaign for famine funds is over and has resulted in a total offering of $55,000. The amount does not seem very large;.%the reasons being probably that the province has but very few industrial concerns, which usually contribute largely to such campaigns; that the provincial leaders did not head the list with large contributions; that over half the hsiens are themselves in the famine area and consequently accepting help; and that, sad to say, so many of the Chinese themselves are apparently indifferent to the sufferings of their own people.
There were only three contributions of $1,000 each, the largest of which it may be added as a matter of interest was paid entirely in two-copper pieces. After these three contributions no single contribution amounted to over $200. The $55,000 then collected shows that the number of small gifts was very large.
Every train leaving Kaifeng during the days of the campaign had on board a staff of both foreign and Chinese collectors who solicited from every passenger; the streets were canvassed daily; and house to house appeals made. The more than million coppers given as a result of these solicitations would seem to show that the small giver was much in evidence, and perhaps this start towards genersity made by a people not in the habit of helping at such times may not be the least important part played by the campaign.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.