one at all.
Soon after our entrance a young man introduced a resolution that
superintendents and teachers be _compelled_ to be at their schools at
the hour set for opening. One of the preachers rose and said that
teachers _could not_ be _compelled_, and moved as an amendment that
they be _acquired_ to come promptly.

Then ensued along, windy, wordy controversy on "compelling" and
"acquiring." Seeing no prospect of a conclusion we withdrew. The good
auntie who had invited us followed us out in deep humiliation. I
said, we are sorry to go without contributing something to the
interest of the meeting, but this is such a waste of time, there is
no coming to the point. "That's jus' so, dear," she said, "but that
their ign'rance. Ign'rance _does_ waste time, honey. _Ign'rance can't
come to a pint._" That last sentence struck me as a piece of
epigrammatic wisdom.

* * * * *

CHILDREN'S PAGE

* * * * *

WONG NING'S IDEAS

AS EXPRESSED BY HIMSELF.

[Wong Ning is no imaginary character. He is a real
flesh-and-blood Chinese boy, living in San Francisco, and much
interested in the new and many sided life going on about him. So
we are glad to give you, in his own words, a few of his
observations on American life and manners.]

My name is Wong Ning. I born on home China, come to this country when
thirteen years old, and been here now seven year.

Little boy have very hard time on home China. Have to get up and go
to school at six o'clock--very early that--come home, get breakfast
at eight o'clock, and lunch at twelve o'clock; then stay till six
o'clock in the day. I no think American boy like that!

Little girl no go to school _at all_! Very funny, that! Have one big
house, on home China, where all the girls go every day; learn to sew,
make the pretty things, the flowers, the birds, everything! by the
needle. Little girl no speak to the boy--no! never! on home China.

On home China every one like the mother very much; give everything to
she. If a China boy no like the mother, no work hard for she, no send
she everything--Oh! horrible! _very bad!_ All the sons marry, bring
home the wife to wait on she. Not like the wife so much as the
mother, on home China.

The woman--the wife, the mother, the little girl--all work in the
house--sew, cook, make the cloth, everything! When they make the
dinner or the lunch, set the table very nice