srd March, Tr is rather hard on Shanghai that after so many years' enjoyment of a band go well trained by Commander Vela, for which the ratepayers have cheerfully voted year after year what-Cone the' Band =p femiiien thought necessary, we should sud-deci, be. left altogether in the lurch. Itis generally known that Commander Vela and his accomplished wife have always treated the bandsman with every possible consideration and kindness, and we cannot but regret the very unfur attack that was made recently on the genial Commander by one of our contemporaries. As the correspondence published in. our columns yesterday morning with the Municipal Council minutes indicates, every possible concession was made to the bandsman by the Band Committee and the Council; but the fact. is that recent occurrences in the Philippines have turned the heads of our musicians, unless it is their patriotism that incites them to return and fight for their country. Should they be found hereafter in arms against General Otis, we trust that our American cousins will understand that it is by no means With our consent that they are going back to take high military commands; nor have we with any sinister intention allowed them to pick up at the Volunteer parades the military knowledge which we assume that they are about. to place.at the disposal of General Aguinaldo,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.