Evidently the war clouds-existing in other parts of China, often) accompanied by thunder and destructive lightning, are also evident in its remotest corners. Of course mails and newspapers are too slow, and therefore the authorities issue bulletins daily, based on the radio news. Crowds constantly' gather before these postings and the people show their characteristic restraint by lack of demonstration, yet their very silence is eloquent.' Feelings run deeply.
Several cartoons are hung across the main street, and hundreds stare at them, and go away with augmented feelings against a neigh-hour country. One such cartoon shows a citizen of that country, his features anything but handsome, astride a Chinese. The latter is blindfolded, and the rider is driving him where he will, using a whip, and pulling vigorously' at the bit in the mouth of the ridden: Should there be. a considerable withdrawal of troops from Yunnan, there would be greater opportunity for both bandits and communists.
Since gunpowder was so long ago discovered by the Chinese, it would Seem that they should know more about.its properties than seems to be the case. The damp weather caused the powder prepared by a merchant here to become moist, and, perhaps recalling the advice "keep your powder dry," he placed a large quantity in an iron kettle, such as is commonly used for making food, and started a slow fire underneath. But the fire did not stay "slow" and the five persons in the room were seriously injured, one dying subsequently.
Though the process is very expensive to shop owners and renters, the widening of the important west street, outside the city walls, continues. The work reveals the weak internal anatomy of the structures to the rear, ~and the new and rather handsome buildings, handsome at least as to their frontage, are being more substantially built. Would that there were more variety in the architecture.
Thanks, no doubt, to the conditions at the coast, exchange rates have been and continue quite erratic. Money is tight, and merchants hesitate in regard to any large transaction.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.