In the old days when the Chinese official was a personage of consequence and importance, he presented a splendid appearance in his gorgeous robes and ceremonious bearing. The picture above shows the Members of the Department of Expectant Officials in Shansi together with the three officials in charge, "The picture was taken in 1904 since when many changes have become apparent in this rapidly changing country of the unchanging East. As described last week, C hina to-day is encouraging the trend towards a permanent civil service with all that this development would imply over the methods of the Imperial Regime.
Continuing his interesting series on Chinese sidelights, the author, R, W. Swallow, to-day describes why many progress sive officials of modern times often revert to the customs they themselves condemn of the Old Regime.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.