The Diamond Jubilee of the "'North-China Herald' was marked by a fascinating survey of the previous sixty years history of Shanghai, with much also of the history of China during the same period, from the pen of that graceful writer and old friend the late Mr. George Lanning.
And looking back on that survey, some copies of which are still available for the interested, one is strongly tempted to add a sequel. But two difficulties presented themselves. First and foremost the lack of a writer with the proper qualifications to take up Mr. Lanning's task. Secondly, the feeling that the time has not yet come to write the history of these ten years.
The exact outcome of the great event of those years—the outbreak of the Revolution in October, 1911, the downfall of the Manchus and the declaration of China as a Republic—has so far failed to declare itself that it would be hardly possible to review this decade without exaggeration here, undervaluation there, distortion everywhere.
But as a 70th Anniversary Number must needs be historical we have approached history from another angle, with a series of articles which endeavours to show how new influences are taking effect among the Chinese, while yet behind them the old world China in so many, many ways pursues its well-worn path, placid and undisturbed.
Thus it will, perhaps, surprise some readers to find how many branches of foreign industry have now been taken up with the greatest success by Chinese. And as another sign of the times one may point to the fact that Chinese ladies are contributors to this issue, and with a very graceful command of English.
And then behind these "modern instances" are descriptions of the old local industries, which flourish all over China, in some cases unknown outside one tiny district, just as they have done for thousands of years, still bearing witness to the extraordinary Chinese ability to produce exquisite results by the most primitive means.
There is also a section devoted to special articles, illustrating this central idea, of the new China and the old China, not as evidenced in the contentiousness of politicians, but in the lives and doings of the Four Hundred Millions.
Let us hope that a Herald of seventy years hence will be able to tet bed they have solved the problem of this pouring of new wine into old bottles.
One word for our contributors. The great majority of the articles in this issue are by men who have been regular correspondents of the "Herald" for more years than any member of the staff in Shanghai can reckon, and we make bold to say that no paper can boast such a list, nor point to more valuable information than it has been their's from time to time to relate. Epoch-making events do not happen every week. But there has been little i the history of China occurring in their respective spheres of influence which these busy men, missionaries, doctors and merchants, have not found time to report to us. Their help, there can be no question, has materially contributed to the success of the North-China Daily News and Herald and its prestige as a faithful record of Far Eastern history, and we thank them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.