COMPRADORES, Oct. 24.
Tax Hupeh revolution gives rise to many side issues, and it will be well not to allow the major interest of the supreme struggle to obscure the possibility of minor dangers, Among these we would call special attention to the danger of Chinese refugees arriving in Shanghai in a destitute condition. For some days past there have been strong suspivious that the refugees are being scandalously "squeezed" by the ships' compradores. In want of ready money, passengers are compelled to pawn their jewellery to these gentry. The charges, it is said, are often exorbitant, the promised accommodation is- possibly not forthcoming, even then, until more jewellery has been surrendered, and at the end the refugees arrive in Shanghai practically penniless. We quote common report.. But one such case at least has been brought directly to the notice of one of the leading shipping companies of Shanghai, which is now sifting it; and there is unfortunately no inherent improbability in the story. In any event prevention is better thun cure, and it is urgently necessary that' stops should be taken to prevent complaint. The distress of the coming winter, even without the aid of the revolution, must be acute. It can scarcely full to react even upon the normally well-to-do Chinese population of Shanghai; and the prospect of local embarrassment being increased by the addition of large numbers of destitute refugees, to whom we
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.