wom On OWN Connesroxnexr Shaohsing, Aug. 12.
The weather this summer has been much more seasonable than Inst year. The usual summer complaints have not been many, $0 that local residents are very happy' and hope to pass to the cooler season without anxiety. 'The crusade for wide streets and fresh "air makes its irresistible appeal, so outwardly there is a great ' change! compared with some years ago, Many summer schools are being opened for the. children, in this way, a number of those' who were: unsuccessful at the end of the "schoo! year, hope to get their remove to a higher class next term.
The two Christian Junior Middle Schools have also arranged classes for backward pupils, and have a good enrollment.,_Same months ago, we had Home Goods Exhibition here, th drew many purchasers, ready avail themselves. of bargain and compared them with those previously on the market. Lately one finds that the laudable object. behind this enterprise has been working in men's minds, and now are having some shops—opened, which will only sell national goods. It is hoped that people will patriotic enough to patronize these shops, but there is always the draw of the older and well established shop, that carries a more and attractive variety of good One wishes success to all these attempts to solve one of the many problems that confront this country: to-day.
The fact of a new vice harvest at hand brought many sighs of re-Aief from multitudes of, hard pressed housewives who had found well nigh impossible to buy the precious rice that had been needed for their families. Many attempts were made during the past four months to provide rice at a price within reach of the poor. Meet ings without number were held in the many wards and plans thought out to bring the previous article to the mouths of Shaobsing's struging numbers, These people were fisted and divided into sections to ¢orrespond to their relative need. For one reason or another difficulties increased rather than lessened and the needed relief tarried, until the new rice crop appeared on the market. Previously prices were in the vicinity of $18 or more a load, now one finds the new rice being: sold at about $11 or $12. The rie merchants in order "to save their: face" got together and in their: generous way intimated that they decided the general price for the new rice would be $12 a load. One doubts if they lifted a finger earlier to lighten the burden of the over patient poor of this distri.
Although the new tice is now ing sold, many are pressing for some measures of control that will keep the rice at a price possible for, the poor to pay. As one reflects on the suffering of the poor during. the Inst quarter because of outrageous prices and those paper re-Tief measures, one is not surprised at some of the masses casting their lot with parties that visualize quick and easy road to the promised land of plenty for all at the expense of others, Our local press never grows weary in its good work of handing on the various government orders that have to do with reform.
The need of villages setting up Foundling Homes for the many wnwanted girl babies, that are not welcome to the family is again stressed. The order indicates that the rearing of young girls to be a Kind of family slave, "It is shown that the poverty and famine of late years has accentuated this practice and og there is no definite plan to get rid of it, then measures that Will Tighten the lot of such young girls are stressed for the informa tion and action by all. Homes that have such people in their midst, must take them to the police office, and there register all particulars about them, such as name, place of birth, general appearance, ete. Any faraily who has been cruel to its unfortunate servants, will not be Fermitted to keep such people, they Must mot be sold to others,' and rust be given an opportunity to improve themselves and later allowed to marry.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.