(Continued from page 325.) will be when Mr. S. 1. Hsiung's excellent translation of the old Chinese play, Precious put on. at the Little The play is an old one, but thas never been regarded by Chinese example of their classical drama, and it says much for Mr. Hslung's translation of it that it should be immediately elevated, even though perhaps temporarily, to the position of a classic in the English Tanguage. "Lady Precious Stream" belongs to the commercial theatre in this country, and seems to have been lations, much as the story of Punch varies in different puppet-[shows at Home. In the translation made by Mr. Hsiung, which has been published ina delightfully ith edition by Messrs. Methuen, items of description and "explanation have been interpolated which greatly simplify the foreign reader's under standing of the action of the play fand stimulate his enjoyment. The ceremonial depicted in the play has crap and splendour of its own and the characters, judged by the yardstick of the behaviour of the statesmen of today, do and say the most amazing things. 'The 'Prime Minister' says: "To-day is' New Year's Day. 1 want to celebrate it in some way. It looks as if it is going to snow. T propose that we have a feast here in the arden to enjoy the snow" And later: "What a beautiful scene the snow makes! Having wine and snow we must also have some poems celebrate the occasion. Who Is. going to write them?" And on that sore It Is possible to close with the question: How's that, Mr. Ramsay -Mac-crumbs to the blandishments of the P.W.D, the approach to provision of fan alternative artery tends to be revealed, This, for example, may be discovered in Peking Road where the progress already made in widening has now given a definitely increased freedom to traffic. The difficulty in the way of adopting an Intensive Programme of road-widening is chiefly that of expense. This does not arise solely from the cost of compulsory acquisition; it Indirectly throws economic loss on the community by reason of the extra dislocation caused by setting back houses in occupation, Mr. Peek to be complaisant regarding the possible ineresse in the rates. In principle his theory that 2 20 per cent. rate more suitable to Shanghai's mun!- cipal needs may be sound. Yet, look-Jing to the present state of trade and consequent depression under which the community is labouring, it must be fioted that such an increase might be excessively burdensome to foreigners and Chinese alike. The trae problem cannot be discussed entirely in terms of the inconvenience jeansed to: the less than 15,000 car-owners in Shanghai. Moreover if regard be paid to conditions elsewhere [ud a realist estimate be taken of {the actual time occupied in negotiate ing the dally rush periods, endorsement of some of the more pessimstie statements made on this sub-Ject—not by Mr. Peek—becomes almost fantastic. lovers to add to their collection A wonderfal opportunity for outport Mbrarlans and other bo0k-extremely reasonable prices. prices
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.