DRY STATEMENTS. (TO BE CARRIED WITH THE READER, IF POSSIBLE.)

The Chinese Empire is rather larger than Europe.

Being on the eastern side of a great continent, it has the same extremes of climate as are to be found in the United States.

Fruits, flowers, and crops vary in like manner.

Peking is on about the same parallel as Madrid, Chungking as Cairo, Shanghai as Madeira.

The population of China is over 385 millions.

That of the British Isles in 1891 not quite 38 millions.

That of France in 1896 38½ millions.

One alone of China's eighteen provinces, Kiangsu, has over 39½ millions.

The Russian nation, already extending over one-sixth of the globe, while China only extends over a little more than one-twelfth, musters little over 129 millions, and thus has about one-third of the Chinese population, with about twice its territory to stretch itself in.

There is no Poor Law in China. There are no Sundays.

It is considered very unwomanly not to wear trousers, and very indelicate for a man not to have skirts to his coat; consequently our European dress is reckoned by Chinese as indecorous.

Chinese begin dinner with dessert or Russian sakouska, and finish with hot soup instead of hot coffee.

Their cooks are second only to the French; their serving-men surpass the Germans.

Chinese love children; are ready to work day and night for their masters; and if occasion demand, to be beaten in their place, or even, if needs be, to die for them.

In fine, although in all details unlike ourselves, a great race, with some magnificent qualities.

7, Park Place, St. James's, S.W.

SHANGHAI FROM THE RIVER.