16 THE ACORN The first was the departure, last week, of the Chinese special envoy, Mr. Tang Shao-Yi, for America to present at Washington the formal thanks of the Chinese Government for the return by the American Government of part of the Boxer indemnity. Chinese development as to transportation has now been signalized by the arrival in America of the Chinese officers of the Yunnam-Szechuer Railway, who have determined to build that railway in accordance with the most modern plans. As to finance and currency in particular, an imperial edict has now made the coin known as the Kuping or Haikwantail (worth about seventy cents) the Empire's standard coin. Thus, over two thousand years of currency anarchy, due to the multiplicity of local coinage standards, should have an end. Most striking of all has been the announcement that the Emperor and Empress Dowager, had approved the text of a Constitution. The Constitution was proclaimed at Pekin a few weeks ago, and its text has now been published. The sister Republic of France, as represented by its principal papers, is keenly interested in the future of President Roosevelt, after he has dismissed his lictors, risen from the curule chair, and descended into the forum as an ordinary citizen. He is going to be a mighty hunter in Africa. "Good", the press acclaims. He is to become editor of a prominent journal. That is better still" they add. However, wonder is exprest that one who is so highly favored at home should seek repose from long political labors in a dangerous, probably even desperate trip into the Dark Continent. But his very political toils have fitted him for the hunting of wild beasts, declares one of the Paris papers. Charles W. Eliot, whose resignation from the presidency of Harvard University is to become effective on May 19, 1909, has been at the head of that institution for forty years. Although he is seventy-five, he is not old. It is true that he is no longer young; he is simply mature. His strength is still equal to more than an ordinary man's day, and his mind is still open to new impressions and convictions. Photographs taken from airships or balloons have long been considered a practical method of learning the whereabouts of an enemy's force or fortifications in time of war, but snapshots by a camera attached to a pigeon are an altogether new idea. This minute photographic apparatus is the invention of a German, Dr. Neubronner, and has just been patented The officials at the German Patent Office were disposed to ridicule the THE ACORN 17 invention at first, but after proofs of its practicability were offered, their opinions changed, The German War Office recognized its strategic value, and they believe that photographing pigeons can render much assistance to a besieging army. Do ships have eyes when they go to sea? Are there springs in the ocean's bed ? Does the jolly tar flow from a tree? Dots the river lose its head? Are fishes crazy when they go in seine? Can an old hen sing her lay? Can you bring relief to a window pane? Or mend the break of day? What vegetable is a policeman's beat? Is a newspaper white, when it's read? Is a broker broke when he's making dough? Is an undertaker's business dead? Would a wallpaper stair make a good hotel, (Because of the boarders there)? Would you paint a rabbit on a bald man's head, Just to give him a little hair? Would you pay a policeman with silver coin, Because nickels aren't made for coppers? If a grass widower married a grass widow, Would their children be grasshoppers? If you ate a square meal would the corners hurt? Can you dig with the ace of spades? Would you throw a rope to a drowning lemon, Just to give the lemon aid? The Shorthand Writer.