'The great Chinese actor, Mei Lan-fang, has returned quietly and in mourning to his "home town" of Peking after a triumphal tour of the United States and Japan, Elaborate receptions had' been planned for Mr, Mei in Tientsin Peking. Foreigners and Chinese alike wished to welcome him, and express appreciation of his cultural invasion" of the United States.
But while the actor was travelling between Shanghai and Peking, his mother died, very suddenly. Chinese honour mothers even more than westerners, if that is possible. So all receptions were cancelled, and Mr, Mei returned as quietly as possible to his beautiful Chinese home here, 4 Nevertheless, several hundred persons gathered at the railway station to greet the actor. The brass bands, the cheering crowds and the triumphal arches which had been planned were lacking, but the crowd indicated by its suppressed thusiasm its approval of the actor's triumphs in foreign countries, Mr. Mei became the "mode" in New York and other American cities, But. in Peking, his home city, he is an institution. Not only does he head the list of actors, but he is also Peking's "official host" since the capital moved southward, When distinguished foreigners visit Peking, Mr, Mei always entertains them in his lovely Chinese rock-garden or in his red-walled home, filled with rare old Chinese art objects, His mother's death has delayed receptions "for him, but after a period. of: mourning, they will be held.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.