To the Editor of the "Nowti-Ciina Datty News."
Sm—It is but natural "that "Saddoned Dog-Owner" should be incensed at the police of the French Concession, but 1 would ask him to give credit where credit is due, and. admit that his dog was com: milting a flagrant breach of regula. tions in deciding to go for a walk by itself, The only possible verdict against the police employee con-"justifiable canicide while in the execution of his duty"—with a rider congratulating the police on their eficiency and zeal in not overlooking the most trivial infraction of the law Let us cease this petty and seurrilous traducing of a noble body of men. Where can we find a force more worthy of admiration than the French Municipal Police? If some of their activities sem to be rather trivial, is not this solely because their efficiency has been Brought to such a high pitch that no major problems remain unsolved, and no energy but the reorganization of the outlet remains for their constructive social life of our dog colony? Is it nota fact that armed robbery and burglary in the French Concession are things of the past? Nobody has been kidnapped here for ages. The opium trafic, far from being condoned," has been completely. Stamped out. Unlicensed brothels no longer exist, there are no illegal lotteries here, and all gambling Joints have long since been closed. Political refugees are not tolerated, re not allowed to hatch their Plots. within the Concession. Th Annamite traffic constables are the most efficient and intelligent in the world. Our womenfolk "are never harassed by filthy scrofulous beg And of course, all homeless, stray, starved, mangy and rabid works have long since been rounded up and painlessly sent to the happy hunting grounds.
Having accomplished all these admirable ends, a less energetic Force might be content to rest its laurels. But not so with our magnificent French Police. Like Alexander seeking fresh worlds to ble parasite on the community, that ig only tolerated on condition that he learn by rote the Thirty-nine les of dogdom and conform Strictly to each and every one on pain of swift retribution at the hands of the Law, backed by all the majesty of a mighty Republic.
If at first some few incidents seem, suggestive of petty bureaucracy, a moment's consideration conclusively prove that everything is for the best in this best of all possible places of residence. For example, the unthinking might consider it unnecessary and offensive interference when two dignified dogs, promenading quietly on: leads in charge of a Chinese boy and 'a coolie are haled off to the station by a French (foreign) policeman, and there held to ransom for five dollars apiece, But this ig not
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.