To the Editor of the "Nowrat-Cittva Datty News."
Si—L sent in THE SuccessrUt Desiw. May I therefore make a few comments, Mr. Editor? I re-ret 1 am constrained to treat the matter with a certain amount of seriousness and that my letter may not provide such good copy for you as the facetious material you are receiving from the other side of the once, But you yourself say in your editorial of June 12 that the Subject is much too important for anything but plain speaking. With this L enrively agree. Let us have Lain speaking then. Let ignore the wit and half-wit in the criticisms and see how much con structive matter we can get from quote from the same editorial "the technique of "such work is extraordinarily exacting.... There fare "definite principles as to what may properly appear and what decidedly ought to be avoided. Certain ideas ave looked for in the oral suggestion, the allegorical and Ristorieal "ranking high." Obvious Jy. Bub what principles are we to apply to Shanghai? British, Ameri-enn, Japanese, or what? Tt does not seem to be understood by some of the critics that the composition of crest, ting or similar emblematic abject Is not 80 much a matter for fan artist, as such, as thority inthe science of symboleography, For example if Gealing with an enrively British Community the thing to do, would be to put the matter in the hands of the Royal College of Heralds. Jao a ease in point the British
it arms determined by this bod:
1 Council of Tientsin had But what body or person can constitute themselves as an authority in the cuse of the International Setllement of Shanghai? There is no such authority and even if the Council adopted the suggestion of fneroasing the prize offered to a am that would bring in artists of outstanding reputation" I doubt whether they would get much bet-for results than they have already obtained in the eighty-eight designs Submitted. Unless the ortist happened to be lucky enough, by a Btroke of genius, to have a suitable subject flash to his mind, a satisfactory design could probably only be discovered after weeks of re: Search into the history and govern mut of Shanghai and the heferoerieous interests and aims of the city's community. Yet then, doubt-Jess, your columns would again re-echo to the howls of one section or other of the community.
1 Will those people who criticize the subjects incorporated in the d big as inappropriate to, Shanghai De Keind enough to let.us have their ideas of a theme that would satisfy Who Shanshaj community as a whole. IL is a simple enough matter to say you hate a thing because it is black but we would be mush more iiterested if you would tell us the right colour. It isn't necessary to be an Artist to do this. The theme is the most important, thing, Perhaps the following will be of ome slight assistance. At least it may help to show what "ought to be avoided."
The Other Design submitted two designs, one of which, as you all seem to be aware, fvas finally passed by the Council. But this design we are informed in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.