The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31

in cutting down the big squeezes they have had ever since the present dynasty came into being. He has been gradually wiping out the Manehu Bannermen, and taking away their government pay. He believes that all distinctions between Manchus and Chinese should be abolished, and it was shortly before the death of the great dowager that he had her send forth an edict permitting the intermar- riage of the Manchus and Chinese.
 Lost by a Leg.
 As a result of all this, the Manchus and the leading officials. including the re- gent, resolved to clip Yuan's wings while they could. They did it adroitly. They had the emperor send forth edict com mending him for his great services to China and saying that the government was sorry that he was suffering from leg disease Gheumatism) and could walk only with difficulty.
 This. reads the edict. 'incapacitates him from office, and we desire that he should vacate his post and return to his native place for medical treatment We order it so that we may show our con- passion for and consideration of him..
 Yuan was given so many days to get out. He took his son with him and it is reported that both wept as they left.
 III tiit iiitdntAllt udH lS OulN OU ltdiS of age He is Just on the edge of his prime. Sc has 20 years of good work in him, and there are great possibilities that he may be again in the saddle. As understand it, he is not a rich man. hay ing. through his life, cared little for money, spent much and lived we'll He has a family the most of his children having been educated abroad.
 Chang Chi Tung.
 The removal of Yuan Shih Kai left Chang Chi Tung as one of the chief ad- visers of the regent and such he remained until his death short time ago. Chang and Yuan long ran neck and neck as the leaders of the empire. Both aspired to control the policy of the government. and each has done much to merit fame. Now Yuan has been in the ascendant, and now Chang; and again both have run along together working in common Chang was by all odds the most famous Chinese scholar of his day. He believed in the classics, and looked upon the west ern sciences as an adjunct thereto. Yuan is in favor of modern education and modern. Both men advocated China for the Chinese, but Yuan would bring in foreign teachers and engineers, while Chang Chi Tung wanted to educate the Chinese for such problems abroad and employ just as few outsiders as possible at home. Both men have held the high est positions as viceroys Yuan has gov erned the capital province from Tientsn. and Chang has had under him the mighty viceroyalty of Hankow
 Chang Chi Tung was recently asked to take the position of tutor to the baby emperor. but he declined the honor be- cause of his three score years and the want Of more time for his government papers. He has been the chief literary man of the present administration. and the fiowery edicts which were sent ont about the funerals and the deaths of the dow ager and the emperor were penned by him. Chang chI Tung's Monkey. Notwithstanding his ability and scholar ship. am told that old Chang Chi Tung was as full of superstition as Chinese coole. He believed in the transmi grafton of souls. and imagined that he came from monkey. The origin of this belief Is from a tradition concerning a monkey which was kept in his fathers house up to the time of his birth On the day that the stork brought the little Chang this monkey mysteriously vanished and according to the theory of the spirit doc tors of that time, its soul must have passed into the newborn child. That Chang Chi Tung really believed this I cannot say, but his friends tell me that whenever he was accused of foolishness or of imprudent action he usually replied: How can I help it? That is the way was born; it must be the monkey in me- !" Big Chinese Statesman.
 In addition to the men I have men toned, there are dozen or more con-