observing that the mode of life of the people deeply affects the prosier'ty of the country, has sent out ap ukase that governors and mayors of special municipalities are to instruct their subordinates to prepare pinions on marriages, funerals and ther features of daily life in order that reforms may be effected.
A mere outline of the headings for these reports shows that the said subordinates are expected to compile {falrly comprehensive encyslopacdias fon "things Manchowkuoan." "Pre sumably the paternalist government will then decide on which customs 'oF habits shall be reformed, replaced or eliminated. Styles of clothing, Feligious beliefs and farewell parties all are in for reform. The discourage ing of extravagant expenditures in connection with marriages and fune~ Fals would be of undoubted bereft to the peasantry, but one cannot view with unmixed emotions the ambitious programme of social reform to which the local solons have given utterance.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.