In many respects the Chinese are a most rational and practical race. Here is a case m point. During a recent anti foreign-devil riot at some place between Tongu-tu and Kaiping, the mob, by way of emphasising its patriotic sentiments destroyed a good length of the railway tha,t h&s recently been carried through the district. Tho local mandarin—a Chinese Buskinite apparently—-instead of using the forces under his command t» quell the disturbance, sent his soldiers to assist m the pious work. The embank ment waslevelled for some distance, andthe rails thrown into the river, and an attempt was made to destroy the bridges. Mr Kinder, the head engineer, kid the state of the case before the Toafcai' of Tiensin, who is the head director of the under taking. Toatoi sent for the mandarin, and addressed him.jth.us:—"To please yourself and friends you have destroj ed the railway track- To please me. you will put it back just as it was before.' If, one month from to-day the trains are not running the same as before, you will lose your head, and your family and ancestors will be disgraced. Mr Kinder estimates the damage and Joss by non-running'of trains''at' fifty thousand taels (about £2,soo),'which sum you will have to pay out of your own funds to the Company. For labor, all your officials, soldiers, and the townsfolk will work as you direct them, receiving no money for their labor ; and all salaries are stopped till the repairs are complete. I shall appoint a board of punishment to return with you, wita power to torture or im prison anyone who makes the least dis turbance " ov p-ovibie.;' Thg mandarin bogged for'mercy oil the plea that, as tlie country was'inkier water,' he ;eou}d not possibly get mud and stones wherewith'to build the embankments. ' The Toatoi saw the force of this plea, and said he woujd give him a chance. He could pull down any qi hi§ forts, lie liked m order to pro vide material"for 'khd repair of j,lie "railway s and he would give him three montlis'aftef the railway was completed to rebuild his forts at his (the mandarin's) own expense. In rather under three weeks the trains were running again, and they are now re building the forts. How long would it have taken to bring aibout the same' re- '' sulti 'England-."Truth,. 1 '

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