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(October 14, 1899. continues, "live by hard work, end on all "who have to toil a thermometer of 75 deg. Fahr. inflicts much suffering. Their workshops become unendurable, their "sleeping-rooms seem to be filled with some fluid other than air, and the strength "which is so necessary to them oozes almost preceptibly away. Their lives are not arranged in the expectation of great heat, "and they hardly comprehend, as indeed even the rich hardly comprehend, how "radical a change of habits continuous "heat would speedily necessitate Specu- lating on the forms this change would take the Spectator gives the first place to a modification of dress, and suggests that "with gray pyjamas, a cummerbund instead "of braces, and the thinnest of cotton shirts arranged very much as the young women's are now,
the necessary coolness would be obtained without any loss of the capacity "for work. That change of itself would pull down the thermometer at least three degrees, a reduction of three more could "be obtained by adopting a nearly complete vegetable diet, with very little stimulant "and much drinking of cool water, and the remaining five degrees, would be secured by architectural changes." Pyjamas, cum- merbund, and the thinnest of cotton shirts convey a delicious idea of coolness, and we who live iù a climate that is hot for six months of the year may perhaps be inclined to nek ourselves why we should during those six months put ourselves to the trouble and discomfort of trying to adhere to the customary garb of cooler climates. It is true that during business hours of the day, although some eccentric individuals may think their dignity in some mysterious way bound up with the wearing of a waistcoat, the Prince CHING any other of the majority make themselves as comfortable as Imperial Princes to the Dragon Throne, circumstances permit by discarding such though they might not approve of it, superfluous garments. The trial comes, But if these changes were followed by however, in the evening, when social func- disaster and presently by chronic disorder, tions have to be faced, "In the earlier days whereby the prosperity of trade, the security of the colony white mess jackets were of the crops, aud the security of person and tolerated, even at Government House, but property were affected, then it might be in these degnerate days we are restricted esteemed a reason for attempting a rebellion. to the black claw-hammer. Sartorial artists It seems that Chinese dissatisfaction has have done much to render that conven- been made so apparent that the EMPRESS tional garment light and cool, but by no DOWAGER has seen the policy of abandon-amount of ingeunity can it be reduced ing the idea of forcing the Emperor KWANG to the coolness of white linen. When Su to abdicate, and His Majesty has emerged from his obscurity and so far taken part in state affairs as to go with the EMPRESS to the Temple of the Most High to pray for rain on the 22nd ult. The shrewd old lady has lately, it is said, been endeavouring to feel the pulse of the nation on this subject, and found that any attempt to depose the Emperor would rouse determined opposition. Her Majesty has therefore accepted the position, and is seek ing to pacify the reform party.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND only too glad to give valuable reports ranks of the banditti, who at all times from time to time to the British Minister infest the country, and gives much trouble at Peki: g of the state of affairs in their to the weak-kneed officials.
The people "district. Being in the closest touch with are already disaffected to the dynasty and "the natives and speaking Chinese, the are ripe for revolt if only a capable leader to "information they would supply would be were forthcoming. If a famine were "invaluable. They say that their advice occur the number of the have-nots would "and opinion are never sought. There receive a great accession, and the situation ought clearly to be a competent official right easily become critical. In times of "attached to the Embassy whose province plenty things run pretty smoothly in China: "it should be to collect, collate, and digest the peasant is content to pay the squeezes their reports and present the substance of exacted by the officials, and also submits to "them to the British Minister at regular a modicum of blackmailing from the robbers "intervals for his information and for who harry the country, just as the merchant "transmission to the Foreign Office." No and the storekeeper give way to the clam doubt the missionary body would prove our of the mendicant within the city walls, a valuable mine of information, but it But there is a point to which his compla- is not the only mine that might be advant- cency will not go, and that is reached when ageously worked. There are a number the blackmailing is doubled or trebled in Then trouble commences, and of Europeaus in China outside the mis- amount. sionary ranks
who have opportunities robberies and outrages take the place of the of acquiring early information as to ap- plunder by pressure. Meantime, if the Go- proaching political movements and the gen- vernment show incompetence in the task eral trend of native opinion. In some of repressing brigandage the people wax cases information of a valuable nature, discontented, and the way is silently but and the accuracy of which was fully surely paved for a small rebellion or demons. verified by subsequent events, has been tration, whieh may or may not attain serious voluntarily tendered to the Embassy and dimensions. The Chinese people probably has been acknowledged with such curtness care little who occupies the Dragon Throne as to convey the impression that unsolicitated so long as they are not interfered with and communications of this kind were unwelcome know that the course of business will run and regarded with suspicion. Ever since without interruption, but if matters begin to the establishment of an Embassy at Peking go badly, even though it may be the immediate there seems to have been a want of sym- result of an indifferent harvest, then there pathy between the Minister and the British is some danger of a new order of things be residents in China. Not only has the ing established. They acquiesced for the Embassy remained comparatively unin- time in the virtual deposition of the Em- formed concerning what was going on be- peror KWANG SU and the assumption of neath the surface in Chinese circles, but he supreme power by the EMPRESS DOWAGER, has also been out of touch with his own just as they would acquiesce in the re- nationals, whether mercantile or missionary.moval of the latter and the elevation of It would be well, as has been frequently remarked, if the Minister were to make more frequent tours of the treaty ports and confer with the British communities there. Also, as suggested by "SENEX," the infor- mation obtainable from the members of the missionary body should be carefully col- lected by a regularly organised intelligence office attached to the Embassy. Another va- luable means of obtaining information would be by the employment of trained native agents engaged at fixed salaries whose duty it would be to make regular reports on the political talk of the tea shops at the capital and chief towns of the provinces. Other means of obtaining information would no doubt suggest themselves to a skilled intelligence officer. SENEX does not exaggerate the importance of having such an officer con- nected with the Legation. The home Go- verument may have clear ideas of the line of policy they wish to follow with regard to China, but, while they remain ignorant, and allow the Minister to remain ignorant, of the daily course of events, they are liable at any time to have their hands inconveniently forced or to have their policy wrecked alto- gether.
FAMINE AND REVOLUTION.
(Daily Press, 10th October.) According to reports from the North, there is a prospect of hard times in the northern provinces of China during the winter. It appears that in southern Honan and southern Sheusi there has been almost a complete failure of the harvest over an extensive range of country, while in southern Chihli the drought is seriously affecting the grains, the heads of the kuoliang filling very imperfectly. It is therefore to be feared, that the harvest will prove somewhat meagre. A bad harvest invariably acts prejudicially by creating discontent and dissatisfaction, augments the
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or
CLOTHING IN THE TROPICS.
The idea
our former Colonial Secretary, Sir G. T. M. O'BRIEN, went to Fiji as Governor he earned, the gratitude of the community by letting it be understood that attendance in whites at Government House functions would be viewed with favour. underlying all social functions is enjoy- ment, and as physical discomfort necessarily detracts from enjoyment, it follows that com- fort in dress should be accorded a place of primary consideration. In this respect the white mess jacket possesses incontestable advantages over the conventional black cont, and in point of elegance, if there is anything to choose between the two, the scale again tells in favour of white.
"BEACONSFIELD” ÄND. KÜPRE- SENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
(Daily Press, 12th October.) The hot weather experienced in England during the recent summer has been made the subject of an article by the Spectator, which suggests that if the country had six
(Daily Press, 9th October). months of such weather every year the en-
The public must by this time be heartily tire habits of the people would be changed. The leisured classes, says our contemporai y sick of the Beaconsfield scandal, and after the are tolerant of the heat, for the mornings and full and frank explanation of official mis- evenings are to them delightful, and with management made by H.E. the Governor large rooms, much air, and no peremptory at the last meeting of the Legislative Coun- physical exertion to be performed, the hot, cil it seems unnecessary to again rake up ter hours of the day can be got through the details. The affair has a moral, how- without more inconvenience than is cause ever, and that moral is that the community by loss of appetite and a consciousness when they ask to be allowed some voice in But the uanagement of their own affairs do not of too much blood in the body. the majority of Englishman, the article prefer an unreasonable request. The Bea-
}