CHINA, in her rivers, has both a blessing and a calamity. Without railroad or country roads, rivers have taken the place of both. But these rivers have been allowed to silt up, and they silt up rapidly because of the loose formation of the soil. All the timber has been cut from the banks, so that you may travel hundreds of miles and not see any trees on either side other than a stray willow or two. The course of the main streams is from west to east. Rising in Tibet and in the mountains of West China, they wind their way south or southeast to the sea. When the snows melt in the mountains a great volume of water is suddenly added to the practically bankless rivers; and in some cases, as in the river causing the present flood in Anhui, the lower course of the stream is choked by a mountain on either side damming back the water and converting an immense area into a veritable lake.
In a recent trip of several weeks through the province of Anhui, I passed through portions of the territory now in the clutches of a fearful famine. To those living in a land of plenty, a land where famine is unknown, it is impossible to describe the heartrending sights seen. The country is low and flat; and the inhabitants, who are industrious, and under normal conditions a very peaceable folk, are almost solely agriculturists. Under the most favorable conditions barely enough is raised to last them through the year, and laying by a store for the future is an impossibility. So when, as in the summer of last year, about eighty per cent of a tract having a population reaching into the millions was covered by water for a major part of the farming season, it means that starvation faces eighty per cent of the inhabitants of this area.
Their only protection from the cold and snow is a mat shed, and at night they sleep on the bare ground. (Photos by F. E. Stafford)
I traveled for days in this section, and passed a stream of people traveling toward the south, hoping to reach the region of the Yang-tse River before death claimed them. There was the mother, evidently a widow, who had gathered together what little of this world's goods she had, and placed them in a basket. In the basket that hung from the other end of her carrying pole was her baby. Poor shivering little soul, it is almost ten to one certain that he will never see another summer. Such a sight as this I saw not once but scores of times. Families who own their home and a bit of land stay by the place they call home and try to keep alive. There is no way for them to work and earn money, for the whole country about them is in the same destitute condition. As the cold weather comes on, food becomes scarcer and scarcer, their tattered clothes afford less and less protection to their famished bodies. They burn everything that can be burned for fuel; and when there is any sun at all the whole family will be seen lined up on the south side of the house trying to get what little comfort they can from the sun's rays. And when they finally forsake the home and start on the dreary march south, many are overcome by cold and hunger, and die by the way.
Weakened by hunger and overcome by the cold, many lie down and die by the roadside
Portion of one family camp that contains half a million refugees
A starving family gathered on the sunny side of their tumble-down mud house
There is little hope for those who do not reach the regions not touched by the famine, for it is true all over China that the great mass of the people lead a hand-to-mouth existence, and they have very little that can be spared. Were the famine sufferers numbered by the thousands, the proposition of caring for them would not be so serious; but the number reaches into the millions. The picture shown is a portion of one famine camp that contains half a million refugees.
The poor starving people pass through the country like a great army of locusts, begging when they can secure anything by begging; but often they grow desperate, and falling upon an unprotected village, carry off everything eatable, not stopping short of wholesale murder to secure food. During my trip through this section there was a heavy fall of snow. With bare feet and almost bare bodies, the suffering of these people at this time I must leave the reader to imagine. Their only protection from the weather is a mat shed. At night they must15lie on the bare, cold ground. How it is possible for human beings to live under such conditions is beyond conception, for night after night on the road I slept with my clothes and overcoat on in addition to all the heavy bedding I had with me for covering. The food that most of these refugees are subsisting on is the very coarsest. Bean cake is a common article of food now used. This is simply the coarse yellow bean after the oil has been extracted, and in ordinary years is used only for fertilizer. Sometimes they secure a little flour and make a gruel, mixing it with a large quantity of coarse greens.
Mother and family with all their worldly goods leaving the famine region
Such are the conditions now (January). But the worst is not yet. No relief can be expected from the land before the middle of May, when the wheat is harvested. Unless help comes, death will surely sweep away a majority of the inhabitants of this great famine district during these five months. The following extract from a letter of a representative of the Famine Relief Committee will give some idea of what it will require to supply the smallest living ration to these famine-stricken people. This letter only speaks for one region of the famine area.
Since my return I have gone over with the Cochrans my estimate of a few weeks ago, that 1,000,000 people would be dependent on outside relief or probably die of starvation if kept in this region; and they agree with me that that is about as exact a figure as one can get at, and that it is not an overestimate. Five months must be counted on, and a family can not exist on less than thirty cash per head a day, if for that. This would, as you can readily see, amount for five months to three and a half million dollars Mexican; and this again is under, rather than an overestimate of what it will cost to keep the people alive for this whole time. They must have a little salt and oil, and they must buy fuel, as the ground is scoured clean of all dead grass. If you allow a catty of flour per head, the cost at present prices here would be nearly doubled.
As stated by this writer, thirty cash a day will not be sufficient. But granting that sixty cash (2¾ cents U. S. gold) feed one person for a day, then the price of one of your family meals would supply one of these destitute Chinese with food for nearly three weeks.
At Ying Shang Hsien, Anhui, we have a church of twenty-three baptized members, and a number of earnest inquirers in addition, and this place is in the southwest edge of the famine district. There are several families among the members and inquirers who will have to have help from now on till next summer, otherwise they will die of hunger.
A. C. SELMON, M.D.
LIBERTY
By Editor
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THE APRIL SIGNS
By Editor
THE MAGAZINE WITH THE MESSAGE
The Eastern Question
By Editor
Two intensely interesting articles and a well-arranged Bible study on this timely subject
The Infinitude of Space
Another article on astronomy by the editor
Transmission of Disease through Milk
By D. H. Kress, M.D.
Easter and the Resurrection
Bringing out some grand, good truths
The Advancing Apostasy
Reviewing in new settings the rapid, stealthy steps
The Birth of Isaac
Or the promise to Abraham
The Decay of Protestantism
Strong, convincing quotations and arguments
What Shall Be the Sign of Thy Coming?
A Bible study, helpful and important
Current Topics
The usual good line touching on very recent events
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Manuscript and Business Addresses
By Editor
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Payment Required for Papers
By Editor
N. B. We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance. When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the SIGNS are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon to pay for them. Please read the papers you may receive, and hand them to your friends to read.
The Keys of the World
The Keys of the World.—John Fisher, the maker of England's navy, believes in the world rule of the Anglo-Saxons. In the London daily News he recently said with much enthusiasm: "Has it ever occurred to you that there are five keys to the world—the Straits of Dover, the Straits of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, the Straits of Malacca, the Cape of Good Hope? And we hold every one of them!" There is still another, Constantinople, which England would greatly like to control, for the same reason that she controls the others—they are keys to mighty situations. But while she does not possess Constantinople—the Straits of the Hellespont and Bosporus—she will take care that no other nation possesses them. Hence her anxious care of Turkey all these years. Will a seventh key be the Persian Gulf? or the Straits of Ormuz?
War and Peace Prophecies
By Editor
Read the article on War and Peace and the prophecies relating thereto on page 10.
Spiritualism: Its Character and Extent
By Editor
We call especial attention to the first of three articles by Professor Rine on Spiritualism, its character, extent, etc.
The Sanctuary Question and Salvation
By Editor
The Bible Reading on page 9 in connection with Mrs. White's article on page 3 presents much information on the sanctuary question, the priesthood, and the plan of salvation.
An Uplifting Poem
By Editor
Tho in a way personal, it is more. We refer to the little poem on page 9 by Mr. C. P. Bollman, formerly on the editorial staff of this paper. The poem itself is helpful, uplifting.
The Relative Safety of Wine and Water
By Editor
There are many who excuse themselves for drinking wine, saying it is harmless, safe, etc. Read the article from the Sunday School Times on page 12, on the relative safety of wine and water.
Overcoming Evil by Doing Good
Do not try to overcome sin by thinking about it, even thinking how evil it is. Overcome evil by thinking of the good, doing the good, and as far as possible forgetting the evil. "By beholding we become changed."
Pneumonic Plague in Manchuria
The awful malady in Manchuria is not the bubonic plague, but the pneumonic plague, for which no remedy is known. It spreads "with the rapidity, and almost with the fury, of a forest fire;" and every human being infected with it, we are told, is almost surely doomed to die.
California Teachers’ Pensions
By Editor
The California Senate has passed a bill to pension teachers sixty years of age who have served as teacher or superintendent for thirty years, twenty at least of which have been in California; and to those who have served at least thirty-five years, counted from the age of twenty forward, thirty of which must have been in public schools of California. Those in the first class to receive a retirement salary; those in the second, a pension. Josh Billings thought that one who had taught district school for twenty years ought to have a "penshun for the rest of his life and a horse and waggin to do his goin' around in." Our State legislatures are not quite so liberal.
Yiddish Evangelism and the Sabbath
By Editor
Several tracts have come to our table from Mr. Philip Sidersky, the "Yiddish evangelist," of 300 North Eden Street, Baltimore, Md. One of these tracts is devoted to questions that are based on one of C. T. Russell's tracts to the Jews, in Yiddish, which Mr. Sidersky says denies the personal manifestations of God in Christ, the Trinity, and the work of missions. Mr. Sidersky follows the unique plan of preaching to Jews in the streets through a megaphone. We know little of his work. We hope that in leading Jews to accept Christ, he will not turn them from the Sabbath and law which Christ gave.
Dying in China
By Editor
Dying in China.—It is estimated that from one million to two million persons will die of famine and exposure before they can be helped; but this is on the supposition that millions will be helped by those whose hearts are touched. It is thought that thirty cash, two and three fourths cents of our money, will keep a person a day. Dr. Selmon suggests sixty cash, or five and one half cents a day. How many are there who wish to donate enough to keep one person for 150 days at five cents a day? How many half that sum? or one fourth? or any amount? Read Dr. Selmon's article on pages 14 and 15, and then act as your conscience dictates. We will credit and forward all donations sent us. There are many who spend from 25 cents to 60 cents a meal, from 75 cents to $1.50 a day, who could live just as healthfully on one half that amount, and would be greatly blessed in giving the rest to the starving fathers, mothers, and children of China.
When Nations Can Disarm.
Hudson Maxim, the great gun maker, in an article in the San Francisco Examiner of Feb. 22, 1911, says that "when human nature becomes so altered for the better that men are actuated by a stronger passion to do good to others rather than to 'do' them good, then we can spike our guns. If nations ever love one another so that they can take their armor off, it will be when human nature is so changed that greed is turned into benevolence, and the possessor of wealth is loved more than are his possessions. For the present, international love-making must be done with the armor on, and the sword must be worn where the hilt shows." Why?—He tells us: "Human nature is to-day very much the same thing that it was in old Roman times."
Victory Over Temptation
The devil will never "let up" on a man as long as he feels there is hope of ensnaring or overcoming him. Sometimes for a while his temptations do not press hard, and the tempted soul thinks he has won the victory, and becomes careless, perhaps presumptuous; and then the devil comes again, stronger than ever, and often the man fails. But if you fail, get up with your face toward God. Array yourself against your enemy by placing yourself in Christ's army. In Christ you may be ever victorious.
Sense and Science
By Editor
Sense and Science.—This journal has often pointed out that the "star" which guided the wise men to Christ was not a material shining orb, but a company of shining angels. Prof. William R. Brooks, of Smith Observatory, Geneva, N. Y., made a statement in the Y. M. C. A. service of the Court Square theater in Springfield, Massachusetts, February 20, which a news despatch says has caused much comment. After showing the fallacies of certain theories concerning "the Star of Bethlehem," he said:
So much of the miraculous attended the birth of Christ that it is my firm belief, even as a scientist, that the Star of Bethlehem was one of the manifestations of the power of Jehovah.
And why should this call forth comment? When Christ went away, a cloud of angels received Him. When He comes again, He comes with angels. Acts 1:9-11. When He came the first time, the angels in shining glory announced His birth. Why should not a company of the shining hosts of God light the magi on their way to the Christ? Professor Brooks speaks not only sense, but the higher science.
For Freedom — Medical and Otherwise.
By Editor
In a general way, as among the various medical schools, we have favored, perhaps prejudicially, the "regulars," the allopaths. Personally, we have known the need of any of them very little. But we do believe that any person has the bounden right to choose for himself whatsoever doctor he will from the "regular" school to the Christian Science practitioner. Nor do we believe that the State ought to pass any laws that will have the effect of exalting one medical school above another. We believe in religious liberty, liberty of the soul, as long as the equal rights of others are not contravened. We believe in the rights of the body on the same principle. We do not believe in State medical supervision of our schools. Leave this to the common sense of school boards, parents, and teachers.
New Cures for Serious Diseases
It is claimed by an Austrian doctor that a cure has been discovered for progressive paralysis, caused by overwork of the brain, and which hitherto has been considered incurable. It is said that thirty per cent of the cases treated have fully recovered. Another serum to cure spinal meningitis, it is also stated, has been generally accepted by medical authorities, and will take its place with vaccine and diphtheria antitoxin.
Questions and Answers Subscription Offer
By Editor
One of our subscribers, a gentleman in Brooklyn, New York, to whom we are indebted for numerous favors in the way of newspaper clippings, and whose subscription to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES does not expire till December, 1911, sends us a check for $3.50 for a copy of "Questions and Answers" and an extension of his subscription for two years.
Send your own and another subscription at full price, $1.75 each, or your own for one year at $2.00, or your own for two years at $3.50, and secure "Questions and Answers," nearly 300 questions answered; more than 250 pages, with two indexes and full table of contents.
Our Policy in Advertising
By C. H. Jones
In view of the fact that there are so many fraudulent or misleading land schemes now being placed before the public by ardent and sometimes dishonest promoters, it is the settled policy of the managers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES to refuse all advertisements and notices of this kind, even tho they might appear to be safe and legitimate. But by an oversight a notice of a land proposition appeared in a late number of this paper, and having received several letters of inquiry and criticism concerning the same, we wish to say that we have no means of knowing anything definitely in reference to the merits of the proposition. Therefore, we suggest that all persons interested make thoro investigation before investing any money in the enterprise; and what we say in regard to this will apply to everything else of like nature.
