Dearest Krirry:—Just to show what a sweet and forgiving disposition I possess I'm writing you in spite of your unfeeling remarks ing my delinquencies as a correspondent. Your criticism concerning the length of my epistles I pass over in dignified silence, merely stating that in Shanghai's amort set short letters are as stylish as short skirts once were, also that snappy 'Stories' makes as good reading as an unabridged dictighary.
As to the actual number of letters sent you, permit me to bring to your attention the enclosed list of letters mailed for me by the office during the month of November. I have blue checked those sent you and note that they amount to no less than five, count them—five, which does not include the sundry packages mailed to your ungrateful self, Do I hear your abject apology? O certainly, don't mention it.
How was I provided with that handy little comeback? I don't ordinarily preserve documentary evidence for occasions like this but being of a lazy disposition I let the compradore's department do my book-keeping for me, and this is the account they sent me. The! compradore? Kitty, he is the most wonderful institution of the Far East. If I had to choose between jhe Great Wall and the compradore I shoul! vote for the latter every time.
Ta explain the great national invention of the compradore, let ma begin by telling you what he does for me. My monthly remuneration comes from his hand, its original figure sadly diminished by the total of a number of chits, carefully pinned to a neat little statement which recounts how on divers occasions one Phyllis Benson, has sent down frantic appeals to said compradore, begging him to placate importunate shroffs (you know, Kitty, that's Chinese for a bill collector) by meeting the amount of the taxi bill herewith or any other intrusive account.
Besides this there are any number of times when I have suddenly awakened to the chilling fact that I haven't a cent in the world, nor much of a bank balance. Then what do I do? Cable home? We haven't the funds for it. Borrow from friends? Most of them are equally impecunious. Take it out of the Savings Bank? Why- lose interest if one doesn't have to. Appeal to the compradore? You've guessed it, Kitty. In my fairy-tale days I used to wish for a magic purse that would always fave a five dollar gold piece in ib, no matter how many you took out. Well, the compradore's the next best bet. He has a much nicer disposition than the book-Keeper at home who hung on to .jbeen his own and always had something to say about the increas-jed price of silk stockings if I drew $10 before pay day came round. But here the compradore's more accommodating than any parent I ever had.
Who was tt came when I was broke. And loaned me ten before I spoke'
The Compradore so kindly. Who ts it keeps accounts for me And handles all my banking free?
The Compradore so clever. Who is it always has on hand Cash to dispense with manner The Compradore, God bless him!
Well, as we were saying before jthe foregoing lyric was wrung from us by our feelings of gratitude, the compradore is about as important as any one person in a firm could be. I used to think tha Taipan was a pretty big man, and I still admit that he knows how to manage a business. Yet, nevertheless, and notwithstanding, he consults the compradore, and takes his advice, too, when it comes to buying and selling gold and_ giving credits and playing off one merchant against the. other.
We, being an old and important rin, as foreign firms go out this: a-way, have enough of a banking account behind us so that our compradore simply had to give usa bond for the amount of business that passes through his hands. There are plenty of firms out here; however, which start on nothing much but a pleasing personality and great expectations, who find a compradore who will furnish all the capital for the new enterprise with the hope of making hig fortune as soon, or better still, a little sooner than the members of the firm. Ti a shrewd compradore thinks the new firm has a good chance for a money-making future "he won't; hesitate to put into the business a hundred thousand dollars or more and pay all its bills till it begins to make money. Often he hasn't the money himself, but he always knows how to get it. Then if the firm succeeds be has landed a good berth for himself.
Not only for himself, either, but for all his clerks, shroffs, and office boys. He hires, and fires them and collects a little commission on every job he gives out, and of course he draws a commission on all the business done. Its a very small commission, however, that he charges the firm, but I suppose there are various advantages derived from the position not apparent on the! surface. course if the firm 1 goes under the compradore sinks 1 too, and I should think there must have been a number. of drowned compradores during the business depression of the last two years.
Just to show you that Madge and!
I are still exploring let me inform you that we are investigating the company's funds as if they hadjtemples as the Chinese New Year; ragged and hungry-looking men advance and the ceremonies are more interesting. Just behind the: Pahsienjao Cemetery ea Avenue Joffre is the Foo Li Zen Yuen Nu temple, with the biggest Buddha I've seen about these parts. The priests come from Pootoo, the sacred island that I'm going visit next summer. We are taking the handy- little "Guide to Shanghai" and checking off all the places of interest' as we visit them. As soon as I finish the book I'll begin to think - about coming home.
Good-by darling, and dowét forget that I'm writing you frequently and that the compradore keeps count for me.
Your misjudged but forgiving pal, Pum
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.