We had light rain and snow a few days ago but only enough to make the farmers long for more. "The annual gatherings of the Shantung Central "District of the Church Christ in China are due to begin here on Saturday when 180 delegates are expected.
Some recent journeys have made it evident Chi (Shantung) Railway authorities are pursuing a plan of progressive improvement. "Several stations have been roofed in and bridges siren ened. A branch railway from Poshan' to Paton will soon be finished and quite a litre town has grown by Changtien station where a large number are employed on the railway. Schools for their children and special railway hospital are carried on at Changtien, This place is also a centre for the receipt of cotton, inns and godowns beiifg filled with bales of this season's crop. when your correspondent was there recently. All grades of workers fon the railway are being recruited with more care, and by examination, as far as possible, Government's Firm Opium Potiey One frequently hears remarks about the drastic regulations affecting drug-wussers and dealers 10 be enforced as from January 1, 1097, It is felt that the Government really means busi-fess, and will not hesitate to exact that' extreme penalty, as slated in the proclamations posted in every sion, One never ceases to wonder at the dexterity of Chinese cyclists. 1 was recently being welcomed at a country place and was surprised that the feast arrived late and that the dishes were none too hot, Nothing was said at the time, but afterwards the truth game out. It seems that a cyclist began the two-mile journey, from the market town where the foyd was purchased, with the dozen or more dishes suspended from a. carrying pole over his shoulder. Owing to the very thick dust and the carelessness of another cyclist, a collision occurred and some of the food went west, The second attempt to bring the dishes along was wisely made on foot, I was informed that this difficult carrying feat had been several times stick cessfully performed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.