ay and Prosperous Outwardl Poverty Hidden Away The Editor of the "Central China Post," Hankow, who recently visited Shanghai, has summed up his impressions' in the following interest ing leading article, which appeared in] it his paper on September 28:—Shanghai, the Paris of the East. This expression has been used s0 frequently that it has become trite, but la it true? To a recent visitor who has observed both places, there is nothing to justify the comparison. In the European Capital, the visitor} is in a city built up gradually through the centuries with all the Deauty of architecture and fine open spaces which are the corollary of practically all ancient European cities, "In Shanghai, he is in a city of such rapid growth that only the term mushroom is applienble. Fine buildings there: ary, _whicb Dosseas beauty. of design that foretbly. strikes the visitor. on "his Journey up the Whangpa, and, were il "Shanghai built in "the" same! manner, there would be few cities to compare' with it. "As it is, this fine architecture is confined to one section of the town, and there any comparison in this direction: ends.
Paris has a reputation for gaiety; and its inhabitants have been regarded as artists who excelled all others in the pursuit of pleasure. "If it tg-on this that the comparison is founded, then the pupil has outdistanced the master in every direction, for no city in the world of its size' and population can boast many ways and opportunities openly, class now outnumber the purdy white partners provided by the various syndicates catering for this class of public pleasure. Moreover, the cabarets in which Chinese and other Asiatic nationalities predominate as dancing partners are Just as well conducted as the purely and have an especial appeal!
urge section of the community by reason of their cheapness in comparison with those that boast a hypothetical exclusiveness.
Were this the only example of Chinese penetration, the residents of Shanghai would hate little to worry over with regard to the future, but, to an observer, this penetration appears symbolic of what is proceeding in other and more important directions.
It would be wrong to say! that this is totally unrecognized, but exaggeration to state that Shanghai as a whole is suffering from a fied in time, will result in disaster to the international community.
Bolshevik Aspirations The peaceful penetration in the political sense is greater and of far more importaneg than the social penetration which is, after all, nothing more than a phase of Chinese encroachment, the foundation of which is undoubtedly the Provisional Court. The Shanghai community, while enjoying themselves hugely in every direction, have pinned their faith on a defence force which they have grown to.regard as a permanent fixture, and in doing so seem to have lost sight of all but the military phase of both Nationalist and Bolshevik aspirations.
ways too numerous to mention, Chinese thought and Chinese methods are gradually gaining a hold on the community whi will be extremely difficult to shake off when the awaken ing comes, and what has ready been given in the way of Chinese participation in the government of the com: merely the first step towards complete or at least majority control of the Sot ment within the next few -years, Property to the extent of millions taels has been purchased by' purely Chinese organizations, and this process continues unabated, not only in the Settlement itself, but in Frenchtown, and outlying districts within the municipal area, lose "their money at other games and which police are apparently unable deal with as, they would be dealt!
1 "easily, Again he. roared, the di layed of filling not only leisure with in Paris any other city where Indy waved him away, Romeo con-hours. but those which should be gambling of this nature is prohibited. tinued still higher, and the gather-The enormous sums of money going ing horde.ot Chineae: set up. squeals of approval. Tt wan a tense situa into the pockets of the syndicates same may be said of Shanghai. which control these affairs must when came the devil Prom.early evening until after dawn, spike the Chinese "in their "most Capulet's, wid, as devils usually do. not only visitors,.but a lange pro-sensitive spot. To this may be seized the staging, it swayed portion of the inhabitants as well dangerously,.and came an idea. rush from gambling house to cabaret Again he roared, warning Romeo and wice-vevea the whale night long to come down but' the: monkeyliko To.the casual observer, Shanghai actions wont on and the. goal. was} appears as-one of the richest cities near. \And.such a goal. When {in the-world, and.if one refrains from came Capulet's ultimatum.
Jooking beneath the surface this'is and with, that the rejected one took Evidently it was turned down, the impression one carries away. Poverty, which exists to a far matiors.in his.own hands. Drawing creater extent than many actual res-back. distance to get a running' [idants imagine, is carefully hidden start he ame on like a locomotive from sight, and all is outward safety and crashed, into the base and prosperity, with a resounding bang that made
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.