In these days of strain it is pleasant to find how robust is the spirit of the irrepressible Shanghailander: Therefore, without at the moment venturing to take sides, an admiring salute is given to the correspondents who find time and inclination to discuss the Municipal Orchestra. There is no need to take sides for fundamentally no disputant wants to impugn the Orchestra's musical talent. The discussion seems to develop variance of opinion on the Programmes chosen. On this point it may be well to observe that the Committee responsible for the Orchestra wisely leaves the selection of items to the expert chief. For one thing it would probably have to devote itself to hours and hours of wrestling if it attempted so daring a feat as the reconcilment of all tastes among its members. There will be general recognition of the benefits which the Orchestra bestows on Shanghai at this moment and a correspondent gives a further and unexpected reason for acclaiming its musical talent. In their off moments its members are efficient and Public-spirited drivers of cars and patrollers of Shanghai's streets by night. How rany delinquents dealt with by the "curfew" Specials realize that they may have the privilege of being ushered into a moderately commodious cell by a first violin or a piccolo? If the Specials' staff could be induced to throw discretion to the winds and reveal the beat on which Maestro Paci disports himself how many would not cheerfully break a regulation for the pleasure of being conducted by him to durance vile? Or is that the Maestro exchanges the baton for the steering wheel of a transport wagon?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.