Popularity In Spite of Official Warnings From Our Own Correspondent.
Junghsien, Sze., July 31.
The bandit scare in other parts of China hag been noticed in this part to the extent that there have been intimations from Consuls that those going to hill resorts did so entirely at their own risk and responsibility, and, presumably acting on instructions from some higher authority, the local magistrate sent round a similar notice. But in spite of these officials "passing the buck" in this way the summer community at Kao Shi T'ih CHAR), otherwise known as Douglas Heights, completely taxes the accommodation.
These hills, which are about 10 miles from the city of Junghsien, are for the most part splendidly wooded, and, as they are the highest for some distance, they offer the maximum of breeze even though the sun may make his heat evident during the day time.
The property was bought in the name of the Canadian Methodist Mission and sub-divided into lots for those who wished to build. So far there are 15 bungalows and work is commencing upon others, there being a probability of six or seven more being erected. Up to the present, the community has been entirely missionary but it has been recently intimated that the Salt Gabelle contemplate erecting quarters for their staff. The bungalows are all one-storey of thick mud walls, plastered inside and out and with plaster ceilings and board floors. They have proved very comfortable and quite as suitable as more expensive buildings.
A day school is carried on throughout the year, on the property, for the neighbouring children, and, for a month during the summer a Bible School is conducted for men. The registration of the latter this year is over 30. For this purpose a large building with dorritories and auditorium thas been erected. Foreign visitors come from five or six cities, some as many as four days' journey away, and Chinese to the Bible school from three counties.
A Reuter message says that rumours of trouble in Peking ate denied by the Commander-in-Chief.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.