The more I learn of the activities of the Government with regard to reforms and improvements in this province, the more I admire the steadiness of the authorities in this time of crisis, It is surely the best way in which to maintain the spirits of the people.
The recruiting (largely compulsory) of young men for the army continues unabated throughout the province, but in many parts the arbitrary and even brutal methods the officers concerned (I mean lower-grade officers directly engaged n the recruiting) are causing very many o into hiding or escape to other districts, I feel certain that the average higher officers would strongly condemn these methods could they but know. but who dares ie report?
We have had a lot of rain recently and friends from other provinces get a poor impression of our climate, but as a metter of fact these very rains have already resulted in the price of rice going down in spite of the large addition to the resident on of the city. The fact is need fairly frequent rains rocky nature of the soil re-
The Kweichow phrase is "San tsing liang yn" ie." three (days) of fine and. two of rain." Now there seems a promise of sunshine again so our provincial reputation may yet be med.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.