Tr is interesting to notice the various forms in which Comedy has striven to obtain a heaving for herself in Shanghai. The lively Indy is us irrepressible as in the days when Reynolds took her portrait, and showed how she straggled to enlist on her side the talents and the vivacity of Garrick, Shanghai stands to a certain extent in the position of the celebrated mime. On one side she-is addressed by the stern figure of Commerce, bidding her look at the altered state of affairs which the Telegram las brought about, and study those tragic but necessary lessons which Hard Times are so anensnntly and persistently striving to impress upon us. But while this gloomy appeal is knelling in the ears of the community, another voice is sug-Gne deve not epenk of a Bohemian eleesting counsels of a different character. ment: in Shanghai, and yet there is no word which occurs to usar the moment exnutly expressive of the temper we desire to describe. Certainly, a spirit opposed to a slavish day and night devation to office, is occasionally perceptible. Its counsels are genin! and good humoured. It says: give to Office the best hours of the day and the steady thought that can alone give assurance of success in the end, but also now and then recognize the place of Wit, "the flavour of the mind," which "penetrates through the coldness and awkwardness of society, gradually bringing mon nearer together, and, like the combined force of wine and oil, giving every man 4 glad heart and shining countenance." Thus ever and anon we have had very amusing original efforts in Shanghai. We have had occasional ballads, and aketchex, and parodies, and imitations, in the public papers, displaying infini Tumour, The various godowns in which "The Thespian muse was housed with Teas" often echoed to penls of hearty Inughter at the local allusions wherewithal burlesques were studded, and in the later days, when Comedy had a worthier temple, wit and humour sparkled in countless apt allusions, grotesque turns of phrase, fragmentary songs, and fan-tactic situations that were really worthy of professional humourist, and often had a freshness and true ring not to be found in the productions of the somewhat jaded jesters who supply fan to order, for the stages of the "Strand" -and the " Gniety.". These things, however, are for'a time over and gone, We may hope for a revival of dramatic enthusiasm, but at present it seems buried beneath the ashes of the Lyceum. There are indications however that it will rise again before long; and that the Genias of the place is not dead, the publication of Puck proves. Wehave alrendy noticed the current number of this amusing mis-cellarly, but we think its appearance is assign of the times worth note than a passing notice. We all remember the Shanghai Punch, "the Bund" and "the Griffin's Guide." There were good things in all, specially in the last little brochure; but the style of Puck is far higher. It is based on the great model for comic journalists, and it is not unworthy to be put on the same table with it. There is a completeness in the whole publication, that amateur writers and artists rarely reach.
We ave not exaggerating in this. Considering the very limited range of subjects which Shanghai, regarded politically or socially, offers, it strikes us as remarkable that so mach genuine fan can be got out of it. Some two thousand Europeans planted on a mud fiat, in the dullest of countries, engaged in the most prosaic and disheartening of pursuits, are found: to possess verve enough to act and almost to re-write dramas, edit periodicals, compose songs, and to do all three in a style of exceptional ability. And, all the time, busi ness is not for a moment neglected, and athletic sports flourish and abound. Phot such rigid and unpromising subjects as the losses on Tea shipments and the nou-dredging of the Woosung Bar should be found ductile and provocative of fan, speaks volumes for the buoyancy of Anglo-Saxon spirits and the vividness of Anglo-Saxon wit.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.