When somebody produces a pocket-lighter and scorns the use of matches in these days, it is tolerably severe condemnation of the type of matches which are in euro rent use. This, incidentally, is being done by at least one individual in Shanghai at the moment, and it is interesting to note it. He does not use the ordinary flint and tinder contraption which caused the British Army so much bad language in Flanders, but one of those petrol affairs with a small reservoir attached which light up without any difficulty. It may, of course, be merely a fad with him, but the inefficiency of at least 50 per cent. of the matches on sale to-day justifies his choice. And! in the absence of speedy improvement others may copy him. Meantime the Japanese, great manufactures of this commodity, are said to be taking a strong interest in the report that British and American capitalists have joined hands with Chinese in the establishment of match factories, which has led the Japanese to contemplate fol-owing suit. All we can say is that if Britons and Americans are taking part in the production of the nasty, dangerous things which are so often foisted upon us they ought to be ashamed of themselves and immediately mend their ways. And if by joint enterprise with the Chinese the Japanese are able to give us a decent article which will oust a lot of the present rubbish, they will be public benefactors.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.