Evening star., 1900-12-15

boy to open 1t. The boy thought it would
be pity to injure so good can. so he
tried to remove the solder with a red-hot
poker. The result was an explosion, which
wasted both the oil and the boy.
Candles Which Grow on Trees.
Much of the light of the Yangtse valley
is from vegetable tallow. Indeed. they
have trees in western China which grow
tallow candles. AT least, they grow berries
from which candles can be made. The tree
is well-rounded one about twenty feet
high when full grown. 1t has heart-shaped
leaves of the size of a silver dollar and
berries about as big as cherry. The her
ries have shells much like our hickory nuts.
AS they ripen the shells crack and fall off,
leaving white seeds. The whitenesS comes
from a wax with which the seeds are cover
ed. This Is removed by boiling. AS the
water heats the wax melts from the seed
and 1t rises in scum to the top. 1t is
skinned off and poured into candle molds
in which are wickS just like those in the
candle molds of the United States
AS it coos it hardens and when taken
from the molds it Is in the form of cam
dies ready for burning. The seeds are also
low is skinned from them. This wax is
known as vegetable talow 1t is one of the
chief exports of the Kukiang region.
Rich Chinese as Investors.
China is glutted with money, much as the
United States, and in organizing electric
light, street railroad and telephone COM
panes a large capital could be raised from
the natives If the powers will demand the
right treaties to the safety of invest
ments | am told there are thousands OF
rich Chinese who have trouble to make
their money bring a fair interest AT pres
ent the only outlets are in pawn SHOPS,
grain shops and house property, ana the
risks are so great that money rarely real
ICES more than per cent. The Chinese ap-
| riDtn vi - Il
savers and economizeTS. They are not
afraid to invest in anything that promises
we'll if they know that the men at the head
of it are safe and that the undertaking Is
free from the official leeches. They nave
faith in foreigners and will go into schemes
which are under foreign superlntendehce.
How LII Hung Chang BOoms stocks.
Just now there is much Chinese capital
invested in cotton mills, silk mills ana ran
roads. / have before me a proclamation
which Ii Hung Chang issued when ne pui-t
the Tien Tsin-Kaipng railroad IN order to
induce the neople to buy shares. In this ne
offers IT. 100000 taels' about sl!D,GoO worm
of stock and asks for SUBSCRIPTIONS: ii
circular shows how the Chinese look upon
such undertakings and how they may oe
interested in them. [ quote only III pdi'
Saws Ii Hung Chang: 49,,
",rbis railroad will be of advantage to the
government and convenient to the people.
The COMPANY will be carried on In strlct,
ly commercial manner and ITS olncials WI VIII
protect its rights and see that II Is nohesliy
directed \ capital of 100000 taels IS "
be raised Printed pr0spectuses nave peen
distributed. but in order that you may put
faith in the scheme | issue TINS proGiaiiaa-
ton It must be understood that rallroaos
are in use in all foreign countries. our peo-
ME who have Travelled have seen with their
own eyes the advantages and wherever are
railroads the trade will flourish.
IAN rich people in foreign countries m
hot in railroad stock as an IN
heritance for their children. China In FOL
lowing the example of foreign countries E
should be saving and deal honestly Wlln @ Tue .
shareholders When profit Is realized py
the railroad company it will be divided just
ly among the stockholders, and the manag-
ers are not to profit thereby. ms Is nm
portant to the government, and the oHlclais
must see that it will be lasting and work
honestly. All the work must be earned on
as in foreign country and the business
sealed by the shareholders and managers.
AlthOugh officials are cOnEeCtei with 1t tney
have no power to transact business, ana are
only to see that 1t is carried on honestly
Any one in the Chekiang province desiring
shares will apply early. Do not lose this
'Dated the 18th year of Kuang Hsu. 4th
"{SigneD Ii HUNG CHANG,
"Viceroy of Chihii.'
"Li" Wanted the Furniture.
In striking contrast with this proclama-
officials naturally claim everything loose is
a story heard of Ii Hung Chang to this
same railroad 1t was when the road was
completed and his excellency, the viceroy,
had taken his first trip over 1t in special
car. The was probably made for the
superintendent Of the road. 1t was finished
in mahogany and it's furniture was up
holstered in the richest Of satin brocades.
1t contained sofas. tables and what
nots. AS Ii Hung Chang rested his large
frame in one of the easy chairs he greatly
admired his surroundings and said to the
directors:
Gentlemen, this is fine furniture and I
should consider it compliment if the best
of it found it's way to my yamen.' The di-
rectors dared not affront the great viceroy.
They said they would be delighted to make
him such a present and the furniture fol-
lowed him to his house.
Among the other troubles that the COM
panies have is that every official wants free
transportation, not only for himself, but
for his servants On the Pekin-Tien Tsin
road the native soldiers have been demand |
ing free passes, and some were recently /
discovered taking other passengers with !
them under the name of servants and col !
lecting from said passengers two-thirds |
the regular fare. Truly TIE heather Chi
nee Is peculiar"
municipalities and Public Works.
At present the Chinese towns and villages |
not allowed to issue bonds to construct !
public works. This is done entirely by the |
general government, and in laws recently |
issued as to foreign loans such bonding Is |
prohibited. 1t may be that the new treaties |
will change this, and if so China will be a |
profitable field for the public works pro- !
moter and speculator The municipalities |
are now practically free from debt There |
are cities here ranging from 100 600 to half |
million in population which do not owe !
cent. They are without waterworks, !
sewers, gas, electric lights or street cars |
They should be improved and bonded. so |
you see the field for the financial mission |
ary is large
The same methods that are used in the |
United States for getting concessions and |
working the municipalities will avail here |
The influence Of most of the officials is !
for sale, and the man who expects to sue |
ceed must spend on the lobby. He will be |
wise if he handles most of the money him |!
SELF for some of it is sure to stick to every |
Chinese hand through which it passes |
Every official will expect his squeeze AS |