Musty opinions are not rule improved by airing, and I have an idea that whatever argument is brought forward in favour of securing in the near future some method of transit in than rickety ricebas, mously-driven carriages, must necessarily be of the musty order, as 80 much has already been said and written on the subject. Nevertheless I am going to point out another phase of the question in the hope that it is a new one and will to some extent demonstrate As far as I can gather the old-time scale of domestic service is being completely readjusted per force of the rapid growth of the foreign population, and one of the growing pains we are consequently suffering from inadequate supply of ricsha coolies. It appears that the unusual demand for domestic servants has succeeded in elevating many houseeoolies to the position of honseboys, and I am told that the vacancies thus left in the ranks of house coolies are being gradually filled by ricsha coolies for want of any better substitute. Now as the necessary strength of the latter is the acquirement of years of practice, what will become of the people who cannot afford to keep a carriage? Besides which the congested state of the traffic in the busy parte of Shanghai is beginning to call for more pluck and nerve when riding in a riesha, than the average human being is possessed of. Indeed unless one is the fortunate owner of: a good mafoo and a steady horse or pony,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.