Watsonians' Welcome to Famous Head Master: Upholding the Credit of the School Nearly a score of Watsonians—unfortunately not all known to be in Shanghai, as some had other engagements—gathered at a tiffin party in the Pclace Hotel, last Fri-Jday, to welcome Dr. John Alison, the famous Head Master of the great Edinburgh school, who is on Jo tour of the world, accompanied lby Mr. Ryrie Orr, Editor of the "Grecaock Telegraph," who was his chum in their school-days in Watson's. The tour is a present from Watsonians to Dr. Alison on his retirement.
Dr. H, Lovett Cumming, who pre-led, said that, when there were ratsonian Societies all over the world, it was strange that so many had been living in Shanghai for 30 Tong without the knowledge that they were -fellow members of the famous old college which had turned Jout many of the finest men in the Empire. Although he might not remember all of them, they all knew Dr, Alison as the finest master of jarly Edinburgh school and one who had the reputation of keeping the best order in any class.—'They were late in forming a Watsonian Society in Shanghai, but his visit] had been the means' of bringing them together and now they intended to make it a strong and usefal unit in the chain of Watsonian Societies around the world.
The Chairman then presented Dr. Alison with a set of silver ash-trays in typical Chinese style as a memento of his visit.
Dr, Alison, in reply, told his old something of the achieve-rose of other Wat-He said they not only kept alive old friendships, but brought together those who, through ference in years, had not previously met, thus helping all to retain memories of the old school.
By giving prizes, they also assisted stimulate to greater efforts the present pupils, and where such prizes came from foreign countries it helped to keep before the boys the fact that there were other and greater places than the spots they knew best and reminded them of great tasks that were open to them, Again, such societies could give a helping hand to new arrivals and he jeould assure them, as a Head Master, that, when a boy came to say good-bye on leaving the school, it was @ great relief to be able to cive him introductions to older men who would help him because of their association with the school Dr. Alison then gave an entertaining account of his experiences in the United States and Canada, saying that in every place in which Mr. Orr and himself stopped they were met by deputations of Wat-sonious, often in the small hours of the morning and in wretched wea ther, and given the warmest of welcomes.—Their numbers varied from over 30 in some places down to five or six in others, but everywhere there seemed to be some. Only in Yokohama was there not a Watsonian to meet him, but when they were nearing the port a wireless message invited them to dine with a number of other Edinburgh boys and they had a fine time with men from Fettes, the High School, Stewart's, the Academy and Gilles. ie, a piece of generous hospital which greatly touched him.
Kobe he met three Watsonians.
"Now you are together," concluded Dr. Alison, "stick together, not only for your own sakes, but for the school. It will do none of you any harm to be reminded now /and again to keep up the credit of the school."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.