Shanghai must read the annual reports of the Missions to Seamen with mixed feelings—of gratitude to the devoted little band of men and women who so well minister to the needs of seamen temporarily visiting this port and of some embarrassment at the meagreness of the amenities which restricted financial resources an offer in so important a shipping centre, One day it Is to be hoped Shanghai will see to it that the men have here an Institute fully worthy of Shanghai as the Union Tack Club is. Meanwhile it is pleasant and instructive—to observe that the modest little new recreation room in ite first year of service has fully proved its worth and, to use Mr. rove an inspiration to a "happy and construc-The work of the Mission accommodation during the year for over 10,000 men. 'The general public can share in this good work not only by personal ser vice and donations, but by supplying the Mission with' magazines, books and periodicals. The tedium of seagoing is immeasurably relieved by perature of this kind and it is the simplest thing in the world to remember to make that clearance of superfluous books and papers a real, service by completing it with the despatch of a parcel to the Seamen's Institute at $41 Broadway.
A siftject of considerable import ance has been raised by the corres Jpondence on the provision of commercial education in Shanghai, Rapidly developing changes make exceedingly necessary to ensure that the young Shanghailander properly trained to justify his ex-stance in the commercial life of this important city. Circumstances should fend to reduce the need for firms to Took overseas. when filling vacancies which normally require foreign staff. Schools which train the - foreign Shanghailander are alive to the Increased severity of the competition which has to be'met in the vast improvement of Chinese clerical and commercial assistants, he object therefore should be so to improve the educational equipment of the for~ more confidently look to. posts which eign Shanghailander so that he
hitherto have been fled by the holders of definite qualifications acquired leither in Europe or in America. In city of this size there seems to be no reason why this should not be possible. The foreign community should carefully consider Its cor orate responsibility for the proper technical education of Its young people. This might be ied to the attention of the Chambers of [Commerce on the lines suggested by the correspondents who have special Knowledge of their subject.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.