We must confess to a certain of surprise at a question which is at present being asked in few quarters, It is being pointed out that the Durhams and. Gloucesters have been entertained on the occasion of their departure from Shanghai, but why is nothing being done' for the Punjabis? The question apparently pre-supposes the dea that the people who arranged the entertainment for the English troops have taken no thought of their Indian comrades in. the brigade, but this is surely a frame of mind on the part of there responsible for the query which docs very little justice to the understanding and outlook of the members of the committee in charge, The reason for entertaining only the Durhams and Gloucesters at the present moment is that these are the only troops which are Jeaving us just now. Incidentally their departure has been postponed only til next Saturday, It is exe pected that fully two months: will lapse before the Punjabis and other details of the Jhansi Brigade will be going, and it has all along been the intention of those who have bool instrumental in arranging the fate for the English battalions to pay a similar compliment to the other units of Colonel-Com. Sang ster's brigade, Most of us thought that it would go without saying that this would be the ease, but apparently a number have felt. that here has been some favouritism, Nothing of the kind. When the brigade arrived st was.aiaturat that the work of the foreign committees in looking after the welfare of these men should appear to be concen strated upon the English troops, yet when inquiry was made it was at once fonnd that, working through men who know what is. required for similar efforts among Indians, equal attention was being paid to them. In exactly the same way steps will be taken to given off to the remainder of the Jhansi Brigade in every respect as good as {hat to the Dorhams and-Gloucer The Appearance of Venus The appearance in the sky on Tacsday afternoon of Venus is said to have a particular significance politically speaking, in the Chinese mind. So far as we know Venus and certain others, known as di light" stars, make frequent appearances when' the sun is high in the heavens, but curiously enough Chic nese in Shanghai state that not since 1911 has this particular star been seen from our streets. Those who wore here in 1911 will remember the interest that Chinese took in the ease, and it will also be recollected that in that year the reigning dynasty came to an end. Hence the tradition has arisen that Venus appears only in the afternoon when some striking change in the government of the country is about to occur, and there is now full expectation that such will happen during months. Nobody would be surprised to see certain radical al-rerations in the condition of affairs Jong before the en(. of the year in China,-for although in this country an umeertain equilibrium can be prolonged far beyond the limits usually, given to it elsewhere, it cannot go fon indefinitely, In 1911 the" star apparently ushered in a period of unrest and turmoil, and what all would like to see is the star of 1927 bringing with it surcease from all that has happened during these years and a regime of peace and' prosperity for the: eotintry,.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.