To the Editor of the "Nonra-Cuina Datty News."
Sir,—I noted with regret that a very large number of people were turned away from the exceedingly interesting lecture by Mr. RB. 0. Andrews at the K. A. S. rooms on Wednesday afternoon, and felt it to be a great pity that more had not had the opportunity of seeing the magnificent photographs and of hearing it.
It is true that a number of in teresting people who might conceivable be good for a lecture pass through Shanghai but it is equally true that there are amorly Shanghai's stable population plenty of others who are very capable in the same direction.
'A new and, it is to be hoped, enterprising Municipal Council is soon to be elected. it be submitted to them that series of lectures (the arrangements for which should be handed over to an enlightened S. M. C. Sub-Com mittee elected for the purpose) might be very acceptable to quite a large number of ratepayers and their families?
Odd though it must appear to ala vast number of people, it is none the less true that there are quite a lot of women and men in this! dol place—not necessarily infirm or senile—to whom fox-trotting and jazzing still remain unattractive. There are even some who would like to be a-learning in their playtime, provided that the means were pleasant and not too strenuous.
But a vague suggestion at "Jectures" is not particularly useful. With great diffidence I proffer an idea or two. A large number among us possess gardens. Would not a monthly or fortnightly lecture by some experienced amateur Shanghai gardener be of inestimable value to the less seasoned? That travel lectures on the lines of that we listened to yesterday would be welcomed, it is hardly necessary to emphasize. The R. A. S. lectures are, as a rule, a shade too technical and specialized to at tract very large numbers—besides, (I am open to correction) most of them are for members only. 1 wonder, however, whether within the R. A. S. a@ course of more serious lectures on such a subject, say, as anthropology, might not be appreciated. Judging by the audiences at the Sunday afternoon concerts, periodical lectures on music and in direct connexion with the programmes produced, would. la my humble opinion. be of mense value. But there are any number of subjee's, even as there are plenty of possible lecturers, but the thing wants lifting out of a groove and shuld be taken hand and organized by some publi" body; which is why I suggest the S. M. C., who have made such a marked success of their Sunday Is it a fact, or did I misunderstand a remark to the effect that Shanghai did not possess. a sufficiently powerful lantern to show Mrs. Andrews? colour photographs yesterday? No pun meant when I say that this is really rather a dreadful reflexion.
T am, ete.,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.