"Have you ever seen Victoria Nyanza waterfall, Mother?" asked little Damiu, squirming about in his characteristic fashi "No, Damiu," replied his mother, curtly; and then added, "That is to say, only on the screen at the cinema."
"Or Niagara Falls?" persisted the youngster.
"Yes Damiu, I've seen Niagara Falls, once. But what makes you ask about these remote places?
"Here is a book that tells all about Victoria Nyanza and Niagara, and. other waterfalls," explained the little boy. "It must be wonderful to see them. Shall I ever be able to see them, Mother?"
"his mother reas-doubt by the time you achieve man's estate things here in China will begin to settle down, enabling others to settle up. Tt may be that the Good Exchange Fairy will throw a little something your way, and then you can travel and seo these things. Provided, of course," she amended, "that they have not dried up by that time through being devoted to man's noblest achievement—industry.
"Tell mo all about the Good Exchange Fairy, eagerly said the youngster, on whom the bulk of mother's speech was lost, "Not in," she' answered very erossly; "It is a tender subject with me. And be careful not to mention it to your father. Ie until the Good Exchange Fairy is kind to me before being able to sce alli. these things'
"It costs lots of money to travel, Damiu," replied his mother. "But my little boy is not to grow discontented. Haven't I often told you that Shanghai, the world's fature metropolis, the garden spot of Cathay, the Paris of the East, and what not, contains everything anyone might want to see, from an Alp to a dunghill, and from ocean to a puddle? fear I don't understand," said the puzzled youngster; has your lengthy speech to do with ria Nyanza or Niagara?"
everything, Damiu," she snap-
"Sorry," said the boy, contritely; "But please explain just what you mean, Mother, about Shanghai containing everything."
"I mean that, being a fully equipped community, mentally, morally, and physically, we are able to supply the questing visitor or resident with waterfalls, if anxious to have them, which the meio ity are not, or ought not to "You puzzle me more and more," protested the youngster, at the same time careful not to arouse any more allusions to the slipper.
"There is nothing to be puzzled about, Damiu. On the very next rainy day, I shall take you to a combination of Niagara and Victoria Nyanza, both waterfall and lake, and you will realize how splendidly equipped, geographically, our fair city "You do uso such long words, Mother," sighed the urchin. "But please do tell me where this wonderful spot stone's throw from here, answered his mother succinctly, "and very properly on what ig called an artery of traffic. While we aspire to be very modern in Shanghai, we are reluctant to part with our ancient landmarks. See, it's. raining again, and in an hour at the most, we can go over near the Mal and see Niagara and Victoria Nyanza functioning nicely."
Little Damiu was now all attention. From the way his eyes twinkled, and from his eager squire ming on his chair, it was evident that at last he gleaned what his mother was driving at.
"Oh, goody! I know!" he chortled, clapping his hands. "You mean the place where those drain pipes come down from the roofs, near the exchange shops!"
"Precisely, Damiu," corroborated his mother.' "One has as fine an ice there of Niagara and, one could wish. And's not raining hard enough to ensure a maximum waterfall from the pipes, the constables "obligingly congregate beneath, and spread their rubber coats to' make a delightful spray.
"Then, as to the lake, This soon forms in the crevice near the sidewalk, enabling passing motor cars to swerve in and complete the necessary effect, plus a little mud." is no Cave of the sighed Little Damiu. "What is Niagara without a Cave of the Winds?"
"Damiu, there is," eried his mother; 'a splendid' Cave of the Winds!' Put on your cap and your raincoat, and Ill take you right over to it."
"Please, Mother, V'd rather not out. T quite remember the place. Don't make me get all wet again, please!
"Very well, Damiu. Will mother's Little boy promise not to grow discontented about waterfalls?"
"Cross my heart!" said the youngster earnestly. "They won't take away our Niagara and Victoria Nyanza, will they, Mother?"
"No fear, Damiu, at least not till they have solved the one-way traffic problem."
What is one-way raffle, Mother?"
'A. Scotchman with a bank book, Dai RR
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.