Feb, American Shanghailanders will celebrate to-day with double zest. Last year, the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Washington Jeould not be suitably honoured here owing to the existence of the State of Emergency. Good Americans had to take eager note of celebrations of the Bicenten-
Jary in their native land and be satisfied therewith. No doubt graceful amends will be made to-day and especially—tonight, when the time-honoured Washington Ball is to be held Jwith all its customary glory Young American women will enjoy the thrills of a great social event which, after a lapse Jof two years, will seem to be almost like a revival for their especial benefit. The fashion is to describe the modern girl, be Jshe American, English, French Jor Scottish as a personality from whom all illusions dropped jand to whom nothing can be communicated in the way of Jenthusiasm or emotion. As for her coaeval, the modern young it is quite impossible to him as anything but protected against th weaknesses which led his father and his ancestors to haul down their flags before the advance of empanoplied beauty. So, indifferent and oppressively wise, the maiden of the hour confronts the impregnable fortress of masculine un bel It were perhaps tactless to remind the present generation that the type was not unknown a hundred years ago. Here is the intimate portrait of Miss Julia Mills in imminent danger of emergence from her teens: she "had had her trials in the course of a chequered existence... been unhappy in a misplaced affection, and being understood to have retired from the world on her awful stock of experience, but) still to take a calm interest in the unblighted hopes and. loves of youth."
No doubt there was a masculine counterpart but enough "has been said to show that all that is modern is not necessarily new. So, if perchance some debutantes. to-night should decide to enjoy themselves and exercise to the full the traditional prerogatives lof their sex, no one will be inclined to reproach them; the danger to the triple-armed young victim of such- pleasant guile }will be ignored at his peril.
It is certain that the author of 'The Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation," in whose honour this day' stands, will cheerfully smile on them from
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.