Kashing Che., Jan. 18.
The city is slowly recovering from ihe effects of invasion. So far as can be seen about one-third of the houses were burned entirely, another third were stripped of all woodwork which was used as fuel, the remaining buildings were plundered of valuables by first-comers and left wide open to petty pilferers. Wholesale houses, large retail shops and homes of the wealthy suffered most from fire. Smaller shops and homes of the middle class were damaged. Even the huts of the poorest were looted. Now, that a year has passed, many are returning with no home. or place to live, no clothing except what is on their backs, money exhausted and no business or work to support them. They crowd into any sort of place that shelters from rain and wind and exist on the least possible to sustain life, The "Reformed Government" is doing a little with meagre funds. No land taxes can yet be collected and the licences or charges made on the business actually done is not all available for local needs, The American missionaries as soon as residences were available, began relief work. The general plan is to have the destitute give names, and addresses, then two persons, usually the middle of the day for five or ten minutes, while the boot-black applied layer upon layer of blacking and perspired freely as he vigorously rubbed it in. Our English system of putting your shoes outside your door at night and finding them brushed and cleaned next morning when wanted seems to me very much simpler and more sensible.
On looking over these notes, I have a slightly guilty conscience that, after all, I may have broken my word to those kind ladies who so earnestly implored me not to write about America. But on second thoughts they may be inclined to forgive me. For surely it is better io have given my personal impressions, than by silence to have given the entirely false impression that Anferica had not interested me at all. one foreigner and one Chinese visit the homes, investigate and report. This report is carefully considered by a large committee, each case passed on and then money, or clothing or food is distributed.
A single destitute adult may get a maximum of $3 per month until April. A man and wife may get $5 per month, if children in the family, each person may have $2 per month, never more, sometimes less. Clothing irom America and overseas Chinese is assorted, fitted and given to the most desperately needy.
Temporary shelter. for the aged and infirm, for destitute orphans and a few unsupported women is provided, but as many as possible are urged to remain in their homes and seek to find work or some small business. Opium addicts, drunkards and professional beggars are excluded from all but gruel or soup. Respectable destitutes have priority.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.