Depending upon the point of view adopted, the Race Course is to-day either a spot of enthralling interest or the most appalling place on earth. Until well on in the afternoon the coolie reigns supreme, and adapting the different grounds to his fancy of the manrent, he does more in the way of absolute idling than anyone not of his class could hope to emulate. From time to time various gangs of the fraternity are seen to pull a mower or roller, but it is done in a dignified and leisurely kind of way, more as a change from the occupation of lounging about, it might be surmised, than with any intention of getting the work done. Other denizens of the place are seen to carry loads of bamboos at widely separated intervals, and there is much joy in this occupation. No motors disturb the free use of the terrain, and for once in his life the coolie is free to wander promiscuously with eyes closed and attention wandering afar. When he gets in the way of golfers'and is warned off with shouts, if not imprecations, he evinces a mild surprise, and if- he does show signs of getting out of the road they are very minor ones indeed. The younger idlers invent games of cricket for themselves, and it is to be presumed that meantime somebody or another is paying them for so doing, just as in the case of, the-sedate indivi. duals.who—spend their mornings occupying the basket chairs before the Polo Club and from this coign of vantage placidly contemplate feverish foreigners who chase the elusive golf ball. Idling would appear to have been brought to a fine art, and of a truth it must be of infinite sweetness—idling at the cost of somebody else's pocket.
AN association has been formed inside the Chinese City for the extermination of flies and mosquitoes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.