Christmastide and New Year have been marked by days of perfect sunshine und although cold it has. of been exceptionally so, Although the trade with the coast ix badly affected, there are hopeful signs of and once more the carts are filling the main roads wending their ways to the railways, 'Owing to luck of funds many' jvchools "have closed earlier than usual. Students are back from the: capital with a two month vacation {in wight, and local institutions will be closed for at least xix weeks.
A Chinese Missions:
Things in general are normal. Mr. Hsieh Meng-tsen, the well: known evangelist, is at present the south of this' Province, visiting Varinus mission centres at each of which he conducts a five days' cam-Dalen, himeelf speaking three times duy and generally for consider bly over. an hour at each' place Visiting this city the week before, Christmas, "his reputation as a speaker had preceded him euch meeting crowds flocked und listen to his simple and homely presentation of the—Christian Evangel. People who are seldom attrac Jim station again and again, although many unable to ervved inside had ta ait outside in the courtyard, where the temperature fell below 20 F. Mr, Haich is an original thinker, is thoroughly in earnest, and preaches in plain forceful language the great Gospel truths from a purely Chin-'Ge viewpoint, Not being in receipt of a salary, and preaching for the pute joy of preaching, adds emphasis to his message, and as his [days of toilsome travel form his est and recreation people cannot} fail to be impressed.
The Panchan Lama The Panchan Lama has passed northwards, Crowds waited daily: fon the main rad in hope of getting, a glimpse of the great man but he appears to have disappointed those heping for w great spectacular display by travelling in a mortar-car.
On January 1 the yamen at Yuan' Chis was burnt, and some prisoners were set free by a band of soldiers from Ho They came from the north of the! River. The provincial boundary la not far from the scene of their plait and they returned to Honan. It said that the reason of their predatory visit was the fact that the father of one of the officers was in the prison for opium "mugeling.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.