As on prev e 14th of July this year, was observed as a gala day on the French Concession, and there was a reception at 10 a.m, at the salon of the French Municipality. M. Dubail, Consul-General for France, having been addressed by M. Orion, Chairman of the French Municipal Council, replied as follo Moxsievk ne Pxestpest, Mes cites comvarriores—Jo vous remercie, an dela République Frangaise, des félicitat et des deux qui vierment d'etre exprimés.
presence ici témoigne que vous nez et appréciex sea institute République Frangaise est ouverte A tous; elle ucceuille toutes les bonnes ites, elle est tigre de tous les dévouements, 'Sur tous les points clu globe, elle se prévecupe des enterprises commerciales et industrialles qui font La richesse d' peuple; sur tous les points clu globe ness elle est soucieuse clu progris social et des ccuyres civilisatrices qui font lo pros des nations et qui sent Jo glorieux héritag den tres.
Quant i Phumble representant clu Gou-Lose a peine, Mr. lo Presid vous re mercier des dloges immerites que vous lui adresse, est confus il potise que vous Hhaye de so grat jus en tom d jo me Conseil dadisinisteation ents dignitaries de nos missions catholiques, par les representants de notre haute finance et de ire haut commerce, votre précieux ree Tes consolls Aécongs de volte experience, mon cher ident, avec votre appni 2 tous, mes aintenit while foreign policemen with fixed bayonets lined both sides of the passage. Phe Band of La Lyre, which was placed on the landing of the staircase leading eu the upper storey of the building, played patriotic airs at intervals, The decorations this year wore of a somewhat different design to those of last year. The arches, of which there were two floral and one of gas on the French Bund, occupied the same positions as before, but in place of some of the motives were transparencies, The arch against the Yang-king-pang bridge had the allegorical figure of the Republic holding the French flag, and standing in a chariot drawn by two lions, The main arch had four transparencies of the figure the Republic holding a flag and with a lion in the background. There were from. eleven to twelve thousand lanterns used, of various shapes, designs and colours, while a new feature was the small flags stretched across. The other decorations were similar to those of previous yenra, Lut there were not ssu many gas jets, only the letters R.F.
gas being put up on the bund, and the per end, u wise arrangement, as in previous years the light was always being blown out by sudden gusts of wind, The Messageries Maritimes gateway had a grand gas star. Along the Rue clu Consulat and the Rue Montauban were other arches, while the sides of these streets were lined with Venetian poles bearing flags and shields with the monogram When all the lamps were lighted, the effect was very pretty, and the pagoda ab the foot of the Rue clu Consular with its thousand odd lamps, was "a thing beauty" if not 'a joy for ever," and was greatly admired.
Various French residents on the English Settlement also had decorations and illu i those at the French Bank being very artistic from the way in which the lanterns were arranged, In the evening M. Dubail had a reception by Intern light at his residence on the Bubbling Well road, which was attondod by " large number of French and other foreign ladies and gentlemen, and several native officials, including H.W. Nich Taotai,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.