Late yesterday afternoon ring. of fire-crackers began and in every direction sounds were heard, There seems to be more of this (o-day than last year, and we are led to wonder whether there is a gradual turning back to old things. All night long the firing of these crackers continued, 1 heard them at midnight, at three ip the morning, again at five, and still more at daylight. They were shot, off in front of homes, on the streets on boats and in various other places, and for various reasons.
Chinese friends and servants. greeted us this morning, with a smile, and a "Pai Nien." i have been through the streets this afternoon, and not a shop is open, A few of them have one door partly open, but when I entered one, I was told that they were not open, and would 1 please come back in a few days. It fs clearly shown that the old order is deeply imbedded in the hearts of the people, and that despite Gover! ment regulations and command, they slip back easily into their old ways.
Yesterday was mild and moist. At atour 1 am, a strong wind came up, and by five it was snowing, It gave the first daytime snow we have had in more than ten years, Here the city the snow melted as soon as it touched the ground, but the hills are beautiful. It is still snow-jing, and there will probably be several inches of snow on the higher mountains across the big river. This means good business for certain people, who carry the snow into the city in baskets and sell it as eye medicine, Methodist Conference Delegates began to arrive from the districts and other cities as early January 6. The Chengtu group has ever, did not reach here until the tenth, "They chartered 1 bus for $700!
bring them and to wait for the! return, In the interim the drivers could pick up any other business available, and might even return to Chengtu if opportunity arose, More than twenty people came, with baggage and all in the one bus. Three days were required for the trip, and fa similar length of time was required for the return. The missionary delegates from Chengtu consisted of Dr. Joseph Beech, Chancellor of the West China Union University, Dr. Harry Liljestrang of the Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital there, and various others, including representatives of the women's work, Two questions were uppermost at the Conference. One was whether the two Szechuen conferences of the Methodist Church could unite. 'They id. 'The other question was whether or not the Woman's Hospital here would be closed. It was, 'The Woman's Missionary Society' is closing down all of its medical work where it can be eared for or taken over by the General Board. Here fig situated the Gamble Mem, vial Hospital for Women. It is closee for Inventory. When it re-opens it ill' bbe a constituent part of the Syracuse-{n-Ching Hospital.
Holiday Festivities seems that those who can get away from the city already have gone to the hills, to Be Bei, or to the Southern hot springs, In addition to the many Chinese who go, Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Barry are giving a house parly at the southern baths. Mr,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.