To the Editor of the "Norra-Cuina Day News."
Sir,—This morning I received the following telegram from the Rev. D. F. Pike of the China Inland Mission, Kueiyang, in the province of Kueichow.
"Please request Daily News," "Mercury," "Times," "Gazette," "China Press," insert following appeal:—Continued drought and locusts followed by disastrous floods worked havoc with harvest last autumn now has practically des-treyed cereals and wheat, cost of living advanced alarmingly, rice in Kueichow dearer than in Peking, famine prevailing cities and districts covering area one thousand miles involving upwards two million people. Worst famine e: perienced during recent years, difficult describe distress, people dying from hunger, famine-fever, and suicide. Parents abandoning children, husbands forsaking wives. Central Relief Association formed Kueiyang, beginning May, with leading officials, gentry, and Catholic and_ Protestant Missionaries, and European Treasurer. Fifty thousand dollars urgently needed commence relieving present distress. Specified donations for Kueiyang famine relief work may be forwarded to International Relief Association, Shanghai."
This telegram tells its own story, but as a sidelight thereon it is of interest to know that for some months now I have been receiving donations from the Chinese in Kueichow for the famine sufferers in the North, and it did not occur to me they were giving of their poverty. It is very evident now that the conditions in Kueichow have not been too good since last autumn, but not a word of this did the good people utter until they reached the starvation-point.
Any money sent to me at 20. Museum Road will be forwarded immediately to Mr. Pike at Kueiyang.
T am. ete., Wx. E. Sovrer.
Shanghai, May 23.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.