THESE stories possess the merit ofnot being true, nor are they necessarilyfounded on fact; they were writtenduring three years’ service in China, andtheir conception served to more or lesspleasantly while away many hours. Ifthey afford the reader as many pleasantminutes, they will have well fulfilled theirpurpose. To those whose ideas of aChinaman are gathered from the good-natured,doddering idiot as he is so oftenrepresented on the stage, he is hereshown in a different form, however inadequatethe portrayal may be.