'A long room, the boarded ceiling supported by slender wooden posts, gaily decorated with festoons of coloured paper and evergreens, rei cotton banners with cheerful grectings in gilt letters both in Chin and English hanging from the walls, at one end a raised platform with' a reading desk and harmonium, the whole room filled with row after row of low wooden benches.
Such is the hall of the Ricsha Mission in Alabastar Road, one of two places where some thousands of Shanghai's most humble yet ye-y useful citizens congregate and feel that they are at home and cared for.
A Lusry Cuorus-
When, a few evenings ago, a "North-China Daily News" representative, under the guidance of Mr. George Matheson, Honorary Director and Founder of the Mission, visited the premises they were occupied by a throng of several hundred coolies packed along the benches like herrings in a barrel, all listening with eager attention to the words of their teacher, holding forth from the platform.
The teacher having finished his discourse 2 very small boy took his place at the harmonium and played a hymn tune. Then the congregation" began to sing. At first only row of little boys chimed up, but as the air became more familiar, following the words printed on a screen and pointed out by the teacher, coolie after coolie joined in with gusto. As singing, judged by ® European ear, it was one of the strangest, most ear-penetrating renderings possible to imagine and altogether beyond description: but as a demonstration of cheerfulness and good feeling it was most ea-tirely satisfactory.
A Scene ror 4 Parnter, The hymn being over Mr. Matheson addressed the coolies. In the simplest phrases he told them what he expected of them—how to behave with honesty and politeness. Mr. Matheson has great faith in the innate goodness of his men, and that faith is not due to his own optimism but is the outcome of long experience that what he tells them to do they try most faithfully to fulfil.
In this connexion it is specially interesting to recollect at the present moment that as a result of this kindly instruction and trea: ment the ricsha coolies refused join the general strike last June although strong efforts were mad? to induce them to do so.
As Mr. Matheson spoke it was fascinating to watch his audience. The pale rays of the incandescent gas lamps sharply accentuated the high lights and shades upon hundreds of countenances such as could only have been drawn by Hogarth But whereas the distorted features of Hogarth's pen always portrayed vice, these faces, no less misshapen very often, were irradiated with simple satisfaction at the words ut reassurance being spoken.
Creers For "'N
-C. D, N."? Reapers To those who have come forward so generously with contributions to the Ricsha Coolie's Fund this Christmas it will be pleasing hear that as Mr. Matheson explained to his andience~-that his visitor was a representative of the "N.-C. Daily News" the coolies stood up as one man and gave vent a most hearty cheer. Afterwards a former riesha. coolie, now one of the Mission's helpers, came forward and expressed on behalf of his colleagues the warmest thanks for the fund so successful.
Mr. Matheson promises his flock that no ricsha man who is in need will be turned away from the shelter and, there being some tens of thousands of these men in Shanghai, it will be understood that contributions are not only welcome and needed at Christmas time but all the year round.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.