To the Editor of the "Nonnt-Ciava Dany News"
Sm—With reference to the com-rents macle by you in your leaderette under the caption "An Incongruous Setting" in your issue of the 18th Instant, and with a view to correcting an erroneous impression amongst your readers. may we, The China Funeral Home, declare at the outset, that the various necusations directed against us are entirely untrue and misleading and that the conditions in und around our establishment "are inlily exaggerated. 'The main Ing in which "funeral services are generally held is surrounded by Varge open space, and Is located at nome disianee from the neighbouring houses and, consequently, there can-Not be any' great noise which can be ealculnted to cause any disturbance for nuisance to the neighbours, Had there been any instances of this nature, we would have been cautioned by the appropriate Authorities, but far none has been received by us.
We may mention that our Funeral Home, which was established in the yenr ' 1932, is a Chinese limited Vabitity Company, run strictly in accordance with the Chinese Company Law and operated under a Meense granted by the Ministry of Industry and a Certificate issued by the Bureau of Public Health. It is the first Institution of its kind ever run by Chinese, and with Chinese capital, although, since the establish. ment of our Funeral Home, several institutions of a similar nature have sprung up. The inauguration of our Funeral Home has been hailed as a rear boon to the Chinese people, it hag Tong been felt that in a city Shanghai where the Chinese population has increased by leaps and an up-to-date Funeral Institution for service to the Chinese people was highly desirable, especially in view of the fact that In Western countries at least one or two Funeral Parlours or Undertakers can be found im every principal city street.
The popularity of our Institution shown by the that since Its establishment numerous cases. from Pamilies of high Government Onteials and Notables have been handed to us for service, and the fact that we have from time to time received expressions of appreciation and satis faction: for our eMlcient services from bereaved families, 1s sume lent. testi-many that conditions are not such as these described by Drsrain,: Great precaution has been taken by us with regard to the use of musical instruments In order the neighbours may not be disturbed, "and a set of ules prohibiting, the' use of gongs, cymbals and othe: noisy instruments rifler 12 o'clock at night, has been introduced and rigidly enforced, Our Funeral Home is equipped with appliances of the most up-to-date kind, and the staff" we engaged Is well-trained and experienced, lise take the greatest care in rei to cleanliness and sanitation. Every.
a corpse is washed and treated by us, disinfectants are freely used, and In cases where death has resulted from contagious disease, fumigation is employed. Our operation room. is connected witha special underground drainage system, 50 that no dirty water is visible, ' nor can any bed smell or odour be detected. The fact that our Institution to rigid Inspection by the "Omlcers of the Chinese Public Health Department is evidence. that there cannot be any neglect on our part as fur ay sanitary auditions are concerned. Visitors who desir inspect our Bstablishworthy enterprise, which is an absolutely legitimate business to the benefit and convenience of the Chinese community at large. Ever since the establishment of "our Funeral Home, repeated attempts have been' made with the help many influential Chinese living in the "neighbourhood, to induce " the highest local Chinese Authorities to Issue an Ejectment Order against us, ud it was only after we had sub: mitted our case in refutation of the various untrue charges made against us, that the said Chinese Authorities felt that. here was no justiftation to order the removal of our Funeral Home. are well aware that some neighbours are taking measures impel our" removal, in complete larerard of the feelings which held sway when people are eng Jemn and sacred services for their departed ones. May we hope that the publication of this letter will be taken.as warning that we shall be compelled to resort to appropriate means of stopping this abuse, savouring as it does of blasphemy. May we also suggest that foreigners living out of their own land should realize that differences of custom exist and if they find the experience distasteful their remedy is clear—to return 10 their own country.
Twe Cutxa Puneet Hon, Shanghai, Oct, 19,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.