Next to the remarkable '"music" played by bands which have become an indispensable feature of Chinese funeral processions, the wearing of gorgeous uniforms by the musicians is the most arresting feature. These are generally of a composite design, apparently embracing salient features in the uniforms of crack. British and Continental regiments since the days of Napoleon. And the musicians are very proud of them. How acutely proud was demonstrate ed by an amusing incident which took place in Elgin Road on Tues-lay.
Two funerals chanced to meet, each procession headed by a band of musicians, and, to the dismay of mourners and the delight of a crowd which quickly assembled, music @t once ceased and the two bands. began a heated controversy upon the subject of headgear. For one company sported a_ white plume, to the wearing of which the other band claimed an exclusive right. Words led to blows and the snatching away of the offending white plumes, and for some minutes the populace was entertained with a display in which the two bands combined for purposes decidely other than those of harmony. The funerals were left to take care of themselves while the musiciang fought. At length, the police intervened in the interests of traffic regulations, and the musicians reformed ranks, minus tivo or three soloists lost in the fray.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.