One of the visitors was the world-reowned humourist, Marshall P. Wilder, sometimes called the up-to-date Court jester. A dwarf in stature, and with a tiny hump on his back, he looks more like a lad of ten than a man of 37. Every one likes the optimistic little chap, who always bubbles over with merriment. No one takes him seriously, despite the vein of pathos and universal philanthropy so closely treading on his lighter moods. Madame Emma Eames Story calls him ''a human sunbeam," a truly felicitous compliment, for surely Wilder makes the world sunnier by his presence in it. Apropos of Madame Eames Story, it will not be news to many residents that she was born in Shanghai, and dearly loves the city of her nativity. Calling on her the other day, we had a chat about many matters, among these a little talk about Li Hung-chang in whom the "Diva" was greatly interested, and who continues westward his triumphant progress, All Germany lay prostrate before him. 'The Emperor himself kowtowed to him. Bis-marek, if we credit the not always accurate newspaper reporter, entertained him Fredrichsruhe, with' sausages and beer. The Krupp gun makers, the iron founders, and all the manufacturers, fell down and worshipped him. And lo! he smiled and Diessed. them—and came a Where were all the expected orders for machinery all the fat contracts for ships, and. the Dig agreements for guns and_ammunition 'The Germans looked at one another afte' he had crossed the frontier and said in loud tones that he was not so great a man as they had thought. Then France and England laughed. Now that he is approaching our shores there are plaintive appeals in the pers, that we do not make too much of him, that we give him cordial and kindly welcome, and that we do what we can to please him, but nothing more. It is thought both on the Continent and in England that Germany has ducked the Imperial Fagle too low before a wily Oriental, and the feeling here is that we should preserve our dignity even though we do not sell him our goods.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.