Apparently nothing can be done. 'Many attempts have been made to stop the Wheel running. 'They have all failed and, under existing conditions, will continue to fail. The 'Wheel is too strong for them, Tt belongs, we understand, to a Spaniard, is' leased to a Mexican, and ig min by a Portuguese, This the triple dernism" with a ven-glance, The beauty of the system that when a warrant to raid the place is sought fox at one Consulate, the, Wheel can be instantly transferred to the nationality and protection of another, The same sim-pio device was used with great effect for a long time by the former Wheel in North Honan Road Extension, But. that establishment was outside Settlement limits and, through some unfortunate misunderstanding with the Chinese authorities, it came to an untimely Tea, sucecator, better advises has established itself well ins the Settlement and defies eviction, One hears curious accounts of the flat in which the Wheel is housed having been built expressly for gambiig, Access can only be had by a lift, all visitors are carefully Yooked over through a trap in the door before being admitted and it said that all the gambling paraphernalia can suddenly be spirited Away into secret cupboards at any unexpected sign of danger. This! nay, however, be only-romances. In fact, the defences of the Wheel appear to be, impregnable beyond need of mechanical devices.
Alhambra., That is an extreme ease: and ho doubt many patrons of the-Wheel can lose without inconvenience. But it safe to say that most of them cannot.
And then what is to happen' of course, repudiate their chits and snap their fingers at the Wheel; no decent fellow likes to do that, Altcrnatively, a load of debt possibly for years, or perhaps desperate expedient, which ends in gaol.
Moreover, one Wheel almost inevitably begets others. We are told that there are actually eight or nine wheels in different parts of the Settlement. These others, it is understood, could be shut up without difficulty; but the police, for obvious reasons, do not care to Proceed against them while the Principal offender flourishes with impunity, By the laws of some countries gambling of the kind that goes on at the Wheel is no offence; and while those Inws remai operative in any part of Shanghai or for any section of its community, there is no redress.
Possibly: the Diplomatic BodY might bring pressure effective ly to bear upon such of their col leagues as are free under thei countries' laws to allow places like the Wheel, For the reputation of Shanghai is at stake at a time wher. it least wants any mud-slingit Port Said is a 'a reformed character nowadays, Must Shanghai take up its discarded mantle?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.