To the Editor of the "Norru-Cuina Dairy News."
Srr,—May I ask for the cour: tesy of some space in your valuable paper. 1 wish to state a few problems which were suggested to my mind during last night's meeting at the Town Hall of the Health Commission; and which my. stupid female shyness prevented me from expressing in response to Mr. Brooke Smith's general invitation to the audience, to ask questions or give opinions.
(1.) Admiral Barrett, in his very excellent speech, mentioned the fact that many young women come to Shanghai every year to work in offices, shops, etc., and who are obliged to live in lodgings or boarding houses.
He laid particular stress on the loneliness of the lives of these girls, so far away from home and its influence; and asked us to imagine what their evenings must be like.
He told us plainly that we citizens of Shanghai must make ourselves responsible for, the adequate housing, and general) recreation of these girls.
Mr. George Fitch then told us about the scheme for the new Y.M.C.A. which, among other excellent features, is going to: contain 250 bedrooms for bachelors: these rooms will be allotted as far as possible, to newcomers to this City, so that they will not be exposed to temptation through lone-lines before they have had time to made friends. My first point is what of the girls? "Where are they to be housed? Who is going to care for them? Has the Y.W.C.A. any similar scheme on the tapis? Girls need friends as much as boys do; and they are as open to temptation, from sheer loneliness as men are.
(2.) Again referring to Mr. Fitch's speech anent the proposed Y.M.C.A. building, he gave the impression (I may be wrong, but. d. that is how it appeared to me) that this building will be for the use of American and British men only. The acquaintances thus formed between the members of the two branches of the great Anglo-Saxon family, he honed, would induce a better knowledge of each other and help to clear up some of the misunderstandings which have been so prevalent of late.
This is of course an ideal which every right-minded person will support. but—and there is the rub he persistently called this future building an international Y. M. C. A. In this case it will certain-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.