For all the world like a small lass-room, the main mission hall of the Ricksha Mission, tucked away in an odd corner in' Chapel, presents at evening time a picture to fire even the most sluggish} imagination. The little platform, surmounted by a desk, a toy monium, and an easel which helps} to create the class-room illusion, is tightly surrounded by semi-circle] of packed hums Men, women and children, ricksha-men and their dependents, form this serried mass of eager listeners to the platform's appeal. Not listeners only, for} when the harmonium, at the bidding of a Chinese helpers fingers, gives out the strain of a hymn," there resound in the hall the vigorous, if not particularly harmonious, voices of the audience in song.
Glancing round at the walnut skins which go to compose the human semi cle, it is surprising to} note the variety of character indicated. It is equally surprising to discover how little is to be detected of the class of humanity-which is described as "just above the brute." There are faces which might well mark the intellect of philosophers, poets, and even captains of industry. "Here and there is a frankly pid face. Just occasionally there! is one which suggests that owner sooner or later might make the acquaintance of a prison, if he has not already done so. On the whole, the impression of sorely] tried "but confident humanity dominates. 'This should not be very' surprising when the history of the: Ricksha Mission is studied. The' idea that the work in'which he. is, engaged necessarily attracts only the degraded. section of mankind is not very well founded. It stands to reason that a man who prefers to spend laborious days between the shafts of a ricksha rather than disgrace himself ty begging in the [streets has something more in him than the thoughtless fare would at, times conceive, Indeed, the helpers in the Ricksha Mission will tell you! that among their flock are to be; the' immensity of what has yet upon recent films. Probably Gloria' found students, merchants, and pro mon bond with their less educated comrades—misfortune, Misfortune, it is true, drives the man to the ricksha, but it is misfortune bringing out in him that indomitable courage which deserves recognition and support.
Seventeen years ago the founder of the Ricksha Mission realized these facts, and in endeavouring to bring to a humble and industrious set of men the help of comradeship he aimed at first at no other purpose than to give relief to the des-tute and succour their sick. He, knew that the ricksha-man, by the world outside, was held to be al pariah. He discovered, however, that the ricksha-man himself had no such poor opinion of his own place in the world. Or rather, he was possessed of that intangible quality of self-confidence which lent! itself readily to the ministrations of a sympathetic friend. When once} the realization came that the new movement directly attacked _the indifference with which the rickshs man was accustomed to meet, the effort evoked a remarkable response from its proposed beneficiaries. And 80 to-day the limited objects of the original foundation have bee panded to the provision of welfare work for the ricksha-men on as} elaborate a scale as the funds permit, In this hall, where every evening they congregate, with their children and their wives, a noticeable feature of their appearance is the neatness of their poor attire and the scrupulous cleanliness of the women, Not only does the daily meeting in the Mission Hall provide entertainment and spiritual comfort for the men, but it also gives them practical insight into] the problems of their daily occupation. The requirements of the traffic authorities are clearly plained to them, and there is cre fed a code of conduct which, as: observed by the ricksha-men, must greatly lighten the task of the policemen on the streets, Figures can be given to ind!
extent of the Mission's ight be mentioned, for instance, that the men come from about twenty different provinees in Chit and the dialect of scores of dists can be heard in that hall. In' one year the Mission supplies 278; meals a day. It holds 7,000 meetings. It reaches about 300,000) 5 people, and the four halls give shelter to not less than 17,000} ricksha-men, besides supplying them with odds and ends in the way of} farments and hats. This last item ives the key to a miracle which has often puzzled the visitor to Shanghai, and that is: The exact inspiration from which the ricksha-man derives sanction for the selection of his hat, As the meeting is conducted with ness displayed. Not a word which! the interpreter, who is an essential feature'of the gathering; delivers from the platform is lost. And: while the original English addresses! are being would be diffi cult to detect riy sign that they are unintelligible to the mass of the! hearers. Thi due to the exercise confidence Then comes the' end, and the meeting disperses into} the night, and the ricksha-men who have to do their rounds file out to! take up their conveyances for the ion of their regular routine! 's thoroughfares,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.