October 1917 The council invited us to a house boat party on Wednesday. 9. The fall weather is clear & crisp, delightfully stimulating Finance in China as conducted by the European Banks which control the country is a row-deal All values are based on the Tael which is not a coinage system but a mythical affair in the shape of an ounce of silver. After your gold is converted into Tael at the usual discount of 40-5% it must be again converted into Mexican or local Chinese dollars at another 4 or 5% discount. The Chinese have tried to regulate their own coinage