26th October.
From an announcement in our vertising columns it will be seen at a very attractive programme 3 been prepared for the winter sion at the Public School. Noth-g serves to mark the difference tween Old and New Shanghai fter than the immense number of ildren and young people generally, here was a time when a foreign \ild was looked on as a rarity, and many years after that the com-; unity would as soon have thought voting money for the construction a battleship as for the building of school. Now not only have we a bool belonging entirely to the mmunity, financed from the public inds, and' supervised by a committee appointed by the representa-ves of the public for the purpose of irecting the ordinary day-school ork of the institution, but the council have wisely agreed to ex-and its assistance to those children riper years who, though in business uring the day, are anxious to perfect remselves in such things as were untouched or unassimiluted in reit younger courses, In this way hanghai is being brought more and ore into line with great cities at ome, where many a successful man ates the beginning of his ascent om the day: when, intent on self-provement, he determined to gain the good he could from such gencies as these evening alasses.
We have said the syllabus an-ounced is attractive, Its subjects any be divided into the necessary nnd the'desirable, the former pre-aminating.. It is impossible for any oan to do much. for himself in shanghai unless he is good at figures ind has the pen of-a ready writer. Ne mention these things first of all 1ot because they happen to come first in the list, but because they cully are the basis of mast successful york in any commercial centre such ws this, Those too who hope to keep to date and to have an intelligent appreciation of the business of the far East should not be ignorant of course aid down for this, as there is ts geography. There is a special
or the equally important matter of bookkeeping, 'The- advanced mashematics are doubtless intended for such as mean to take up some branch or other of engineering' work, and with geometrical drawing will form a basis of knowledge-upon which a very substantial superstructure may be built. Another subject for which there cannot fail to be'a considerable demand is electricity. In these days of progress with whab.was supposed to be a mysterious fluid in our youth, there is no saying what will nos be: done in the nearer future by electricity, and as the course promised is described as " practical," there should be a number of ambitious young men eager and willing to avail themselves of the expert instruction offered them. The use of electricity in the Far East is in its infancy. What may not be its future over the length and breadth of this immense empire unbiassed in choice'and unhampered by vested interests? One more promising subject mush be included in our list of the necessaries. We cannot do without dwellings, and we want good ones, Building construction, therefore, is sure to appeal toa good many budding architects, clerks of works, and overseers who, without the direction to be obtained in evening classes, would have to prope their way through technical Books as best they might or, more probably, content themselves with that rule of thumb which in these days promotion is impossible.
As if to show that Shanghai is nob altogether material in its tastes, there is provided for such as are inclined that way a course in English litera+ ture from selected authors, It is quite possible that amongst the many continental ladies and gentlemen here who speak English so admirably this opportunity to' study something of the best in English literature may appeal with some force, and it is certain to do so amongst those of British blood who love what is beautifal in books as well as life. The same may be said of the course of historical study of selected epochs.
Last, but by no means least, we come to what by many will be considered the most desirable courses of all, viz., those under the auspices the St. John Ambulance Society. All that has gone before, both in the necessary and the desirable studies, may be not unfairly described as selfish. They are intended entirely for one's own good, The advantage accruing from them will only in rare instances be shared with some one else, but _in the "First Aid," the "Home Nursing," and the "Hygiene" j courses the knowledge to be acquired
merely a better father, or mother, or may cantly musics of its possessor not brother or sister, as the case may be, but a better member of society and one whose presence may in time of accident turn the scale of life and death.
These lectures are to be given by gentlemen well known to the community for their professional skill, and if students so wish they may pass an examination in each course, getting the society's certificate for any one and the medallion for the completed course. The classes for Indies add gentlemen are separate, and it is expected that both will be well attended.
We feel that it is quite unnecessary to recommend so useful and varied a syllabus as has been prepared by the school authorities. Ts desirability is evident on the face of it, and nothing remains but for those who need help to avail themselves of that so fully offered.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.