In a side room, on the side of] the building, were the sweet pea displays, the most _beautiful of which were naturally the! entries in the Sweet Pea Society of England medal competition. The sweet pea exhibits on this occasion were not up to the usual standard fon account of the recent adverse climatic conditions. In this room was also a beautiful exhibit of! baskets of snapdragons, as well as the public Schools entries for flowers the school room, jo room were the ferns and mosses, while farther back in another room wer the vegetables. These latter were not up to the! usual standard this year owing t9 the lack of rain and the Into spring this year.
The several activities of the International Order the King's Daughters in Shanghai as set out in the Order's annual report makos interesting reading. The energetic members, both voluntary and paid, have undoubtedly been doing an extremely valuable charitable work in this city.
During the year there were 194 admissions to the Convalascent Home, including people of. seven different nationalities, made up a follows:
104 Russians 4 Philippines 17 British 1 Serbian 6 Portuguese 1 French 1 Japanese The Home was closed because of Chinese hostilities on January 11. The matron ai on February and patients on Saturday the 14th. This precaution proved a wise one as two shots struck the home—one breaking a shutter of the office window the other Todging on the east side of the house.
The report of the Charity Organization Committee has some interesting comments to make o Provision for the "Down und Outs.'
The homeless unemployed man (it says) still presents a great difficulty, The enlargement of the Municipal Work Shelter has been of considerable help. The problem is by no means solved, nor will it be till the public ce-operate in this scheme of Begging Evil The commit ice calls. public attention to the growth of the begging evil, which, it says, manifests itself in two particular forms: (1) by the writing of letters and (2) by street and door to door begging; and Points out that it is anxious to be of service to giver and receiver by offering its services to guide the former and. adequately to help the latter. If) the person. begging ix riven an Enquiry Ticket," (to, be obtained at the committe oF chit, his. circumstance Yestigaied, and, if neces applicant helped, or refer most fitting local agency to meet hia particular need. A full report in a every Instance. is issued to. the sender, Home for Insane scheme for a Cottage Home for care of the destitute, mentally deficient and the insane is atill being considered. It is hoped that the Home will be a reality before next year.
The Committee dealt with 241 new cases during the year.
Of this number, 129 had been in Shanghai under six months at the time of applying at the office.
'The Order has been well supported during the year, but good use can always he made' of donations.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.