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HALLEY S COMET IN CHINA. xliof a striking poster by the Christian Literature Society.At the same time letters were dispatched to six tractsocieties pointing out the importance of preparing theminds of the Chinese people, lest secret societies workon their feelings, causing much unrest and possiblyriots in different parts. To prevent these sad consequences, all classes in China, merchants as well as missionaries, were all equally interested, and the help ofthe foreigner could be relied upon to aid in circulatingthe tract.As a result of these letters, in addition to theChristian- Literature Society s tract, tracts were preparedin Hankow, Shanghai, and West China. Practicallyall of these tracts were on sale at a very cheap rate longbefore the comet became visible to the naked eye inChina, and this was a great advantage. The Chinesenewspapers reprinted these tracts with comments oftheir own, agreeing with the views set forth in them.Copies were also sent to all the high officials of theEmpire, and to show the interest they took in the tract,it was then that the governors, inspectors of education,etc.,from Yunnan to Manchuria, ordered 33,000 copies,which they distributed to all their official subordinates,thus covering every corner of their provinces. Consulswere also zealous in the good work. A letter to theNorth-China Daily News of January 26, pointing outwhat the literature societies were doing, met a warmresponse, being backed up by a leader on January 28.The attention of merchants being thus secured, many ofthem bought quantities for distribution among theirclients.The Christian Literature Society found means tohave its tract posted up at some 3,500 post offices andtelegraph offices throughout the Empire, and the tractwas posted up in many schools. Altogether 115,000 ofits tract were sold, 2,000 of which went to Korea.The following table shows where the tract went as faras traceable.