Shanghai cannot claim to be classed among the great manufacturing centres of the world. "Tt was chosen as a distributing centre for foreign imports and a collecting contre for native exports and the early residents naturally looked to commerce rather than to manufactures as the source of fortune which euch one expected to accumulate in a few years, The societ atmosphere of the place, moreover, was opposed to the introduction of European methods of manufacture, The idea thi machinery robs the poor man of his incom is almost really accepted as true in China, while the official class are strongly imbued with two ideas, first, that whatever profit the foreigner makes, the Chinaman must lose (where else can the profit come from?) and secondly the idea (not peculiar to Chinese) that if there is any profit to be made they ought to have it. The consequence has been that every possible impediment has. been put in the of the introduction of manufacturing processes until now an attempt is being made to show that foreigners have no right to embark in any manufacturing enterprise no substantial foundation, isles dangerous whatever, Direct opposition like this, with than stolid opposition to all advance. Western anethods have been gradually shaped to suit their surroundings and will not flourish in an uncongenial atmosphere, and by placing obstructions in the way of the supply of raw material the otticials can smother a scheme most effectually, and even the fear of such a thing happening deters people from investing en pital in undertakings that can only" pay a retarn if allowed free scope. It says much for the enterprising character of the members of this small community that
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.