Delicate Behaviour of the Gentle man Who Stole Mr. Swann's Hat 7 Thieves in Shanghai are developing quaint and almost lovable idiosyneracies. The gentleman who is alleged to have paid a surreptitious call on Mr. Lowder accepted an Invitation to call again, and, unlike quite a lot of people with social engagements, actually turned up. Further he put his host to no inconvenience, for though the hour of his call was late he was thoughtful enough to enjoy himself without disturbing anyone, while the things he took away were a delicate com. pliment to Mr. Lowder's tastes. In all respects he seems to have been a very perfect gentleman.
Now, another member of the school has come to the fore, in the person of the Chinese who called on Mr. R. N. Swann, of Messrs. Beck aud. Swann, in the semblance of a gentleman following the honourable calling of a chit coolie, and, as his need was dire, purloined Mr> Swann's hat. Not with the desire of permanently depriving him of ownership, but to enable him to raise sufficient money to tide him over the N ar. There is a delicacy about the whole matter that is positively charming. Had he asked Mr. Swann for a small loan, the chances are that being a stranger he would have put Mr. Swann in the uncomfortable position of having to refuse him. '0, being a man of some gentility, he refrained from the obvious, but coarser jacthod. No real gentleman in the Chinese press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.