}foods and famines and epidemics, the ~opulation of the country is steadily. increasing.
This is partly due to the fecundity fof the women and also to the fact that there are no bachelors, while practically every woman enjoys. the blessings of married life, either as wile, or in the more humble position of concubine. four oF five acres in extent, and as the family increases, it is found that the land) cannot support so__many people, with the result that there is constant migration to the towns.
Food to be Had The proof of the vast reserves of population in the country districts wa seen during the late civil wars, when the various contending generals had no difficulty in recruiting large armies, in spite of the fact that their men were seldom if ever paid, and had often to suffer great hardships. There was however food to be had, and it was this fact that attracted the men to their standards.
Though the idea has never been properly formulated there is through-'Out China a tacit understanding that aman is entitled to his food, and though he may be given ttle or nothing in the form of wages, he is always provided with food, and can claim such from those with' whom he {fs connected.
For example though most of the palaces of the Manchu princes in Peiping have been vacant for a number of years, yet many of the old servants and retainers were still kept fen, and once a month would jthe "palace and receive a sum palaces were sold or put to other Tt was by such means that China has tried to solve the questions of and! surplus population and permanent unemployment, and it has in the past served its purpose to a certain extent. This was-especially true in-the times Sixty Pears Ago from me "Nowra-Cuma Day "News," or Marcu 27, 1875.
The importation of canaries, into [Rurope does not date further back than the sixteenth century. A golden cage, Billed with these birds. was one of the fuels which Sir Walter" Raleigh Back from "the Fortunate Pilends, and presented to Queen, Euaabeth. "These birds of a grey nearly fas deep as the grey plumage of the European linnet, id not at frst ain uch attention irom their royal owner ner only. remark was "To come uch a distance they are not very Beautiful" "Wil your" Majesty" said Raleigh, "suspend your judgment until You have heard. the tte musicians ing?" And the birds, as if they under~ jeteed the. famous adventurers words Immediately Began to. warble, "with [sweet clear voice, "thenceforth, "the be Canaries' became the favourites of the Gueen, who allowed no one to assist her {mn the' offices of care and affection they required. And she was Fecompensed bY the numerous broods the birds produced, fan stilt more by a singular change which the "plumage of the canaries JGnderwent th the royal aviary. Im= perceptibly, "they. Jost their" sombre JGoioure, and five or sh years afterwards they all of them wore a livery of pale gold which led to their. being' called From sine "Norrm-CureaDaruy "News." or Mancw 28, 1875, We learn says the Hlozo News, that the Government has ordered. that in future all" Imperial 'Notifications shall be written more plainly than hitherto, The' more. dificult Chinese. characters fre no longer to be used, but are to be Feplaced by more simple ones wherever Dracticable, This isa step in the Fight Olveetion, and will, we hope, prove. to Be the forerunner of the adoption of a ban, woman and child'
Tearna to read at. all is taught the Tiirakana' characters. but those who From me "Norrn-Cumea Dart News." or Mancn 29, 1875.
Geoffrey, the French Minister tu] China, was ai Rome a few days 040, Shans in any case are a rather in-Jeffectual people who never carry things to extremes. In all, this bri-bandage and Sino-Shan friction there seems. to have been little loss of Rife. if any at all." The comparison with Burma, as T have remarked, is astonishing. How Jong al) this will last it is impossible to say. With a rise of tariffs there isan increase of way of life is to be expected.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.