THESE stories possess the merit of not being true, nor are they necessarily founded on fact; they were written during three years’ service in China, and their conception served to more or less pleasantly while away many hours. If they afford the reader as many pleasant minutes, they will have well fulfilled their purpose. To those whose ideas of a Chinaman are gathered from the good-natured, doddering idiot as he is so often represented on the stage, he is here shown in a different form, however inadequate the portrayal may be.