I suppose you would like to hear about the school life of the children in China. The girls are never sent to school, as the Chinese do not think it is necessary for girls to be educated. Nearly every boy is sent to school at about the same age as your American boys, six or seven. From this time the boy's playing days are over. If the teacher sees or hears that any one has been playing after the school hour, he would be severely punished. What would your American boys think of such treatment? School begins at the first dawning of light, and closes when we can see to read no more. No intermission is allowed, excepting for the pupils to go home to get their meals. The first thing in the morning we begin to study the book of Confucius, all the pupils studying aloud. We shall have to recite to the teacher very soon. When we go up to recite, we must hand the book to the teacher and turn our faces from him. This gives no chance to see which word comes next. This is called backing the book. The consequences will be very sad should we fail in reciting our lessons. A new lesson is then assigned if we recite well. School dismisses for the pupils to go home for breakfast at 9 o'clock. The writing lesson begins as soon as we come back. We study again, and write again, {pg 214} and our copy books are examined by the teacher. The nest time we recite, the teacher picks out ten of the hardest characters from our lesson to see if we recognize them. We shall have much trouble this time if we miss. The teacher will inflict some curious punishment upon us and will say, "You know this very well, I suppose, but the trouble is, you are too old to study your lesson, and I am afraid you cannot see; I will give you a pair of spectacles for a present. Perhaps that may help you to see." Then he takes some red ink and draws a large circle around both eyes, and then we may go home for lunch. No one is allowed to clean it till coming back to school. Hardly any one with such marks wishes to go home for lunch; every one who saw you would know you had been in disgrace.