11 is die ult to give an exact estimate of the true figure of the Japanese population today, for this popula tion is a very Muctuating one, as large numbers are constantly "passing Through. The large number of Japanese one sees about the streets these days, specially in this southeast quarter, give one a somewhat exaggerated idea of their numbers. But one is probably on the-safe side estimating that the permanent Japanese Population of Peiping Amounts to well over 50,000.
Considering the class from which part of theée immigrants come and Femembering the feeling they have of being the conquerors, it must be admitted that these people, on the whole, behave themselves. very. well There' has been. little open friction between them and the Chinese popttlation. "This, no doubt, is due to a slaty of reasons: the timidity of the average resident; the _ever-worsening economic conditions which have tended to knit together both races in criticism of the authorities; but, above all, to the large number of Japanese Consular police, who control their countrymen from their new headquarters on Legation Street, and whose black and gold uniforms, fare nowadays a common feature of the. scene, The traMe lights at the intersect tion of the more important thoroughfares Is another new sight. And, '00. the whole, they must be reckoned as 4 distinct improvement on the former "lnaisser faite and devil take the hindmost" method of trame control this city. 'Though whether' a com. plote Japanese invasion of China ws necessary, in order to confer this Particular benefit, is, of course, a different question. "It will be noticed that there are only red and green lights; the niceties of the orange light, tone supposes, was considered 100 much for the already sufficiently Puzzled brain of the poor rickshaw cootie. With a certain amount of shouting, cursing and. face-slapping. by. the controlling trame policemen, these tights are' now - funetloaing moderately well, But' for the rest jas there has been a large increase in the numbers both of rickstows and bicycles in recent years, the troubles of the ear driver in Peiping are greater than they have ever been.
In the immediate outikitts the [changes are much more marked th: Inthe city itself. Here the Japanese Jove of "own-planning" and. roadbullding—roads that mastly lead nowhere—have had full play, One rear scheme that has already been started is beautiful in its simplicity. It reminds one of the famous railway fo Tibet that the late Dr. Sun Yat-sen planned, when he was. Minister of Communications, by drawing a straight line across" the map from Peiping to Lhai
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.