"A lovely day for dying," observed George, with the emphasis of one repeats a slatement for the time. We still failed to grasp, this meaning. So he pointed—impatiently to a shop whose sign announced that those within undertook "Dying Work. Executed by} Electric Motors. Also we can Limit Jon Delivery of Goods." As there seemed to be some relation between ithe annoureement and the gene state of unrest, this last was di metly reassuring. It was cor forting to reflect that there was a limit to execution by electric motors. Reassurance was enhanced by the sight of " window full of garments that had "died by electric motor." There were garments of the flimsifest material for ladies: two dozen pairs of pongee trousers: and other hot weather apparel such displayed by these establishments la to encouraging the shiver-even in mid-winter—no doubt. with
ing beholder with the thoughts of balmier days to come.
Replete as were both sign and jsplay with themes for specula-ym, they were not to prove the main attraction of our saunter.
This was encountered a street or two further on. Here 2 Chinese, stripped to the waist, the rest of im—barring bare feet—encased in the thin cotton trousers affected by the masses in August, proclaimed a heartless world that not only was he cold, but that he had had nothing to eat for five days. The wind was from the north and fraught with that degree of m ture which makes the Shanghai lander wrapped up for the day in [Jaeger wool undies, tweeds, lun ber jack sweater, a suit of medieval Jarmour, and an Arctic sleeping bag, feel half-clad. One could conceive, therefore, that the naked one might the cold. On the other hand, doubt arose concerning his five day fast.
Jed George; "It must be very trying to be without food for five days!"
We agreed whole-heartedly, but ventured to bring certain evidence to his attention. "As the miserable lone was rendering the conventional [Confucian "Pennywangler's Li ment," Opus I. (for both Major and Minor,) and was concentrating. Jon the tremolo demanded for the, 257th "Ai-yah,!" he began to un-Jdulate his arms in the approved manner of a Salome dancer, revealing biceps that were like' those lof Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney rolled into one. Pectoralis major land minor made of his chest a [young nail keg. A peep at the sub-Ject's rear elevation discovered latiskimws doris, of -al, meaty enough to supply sll" of Pootung—with steak for a day, wore the possessor unfortunate as to be "executed electric motors," and without limit on dctivery. "Thin ax were his, tton trousers, they precluded any view of thighs'and calves. But to judge from the torso, they should those of a Greeke god.
George, though convinced that hhere was'no case of starvation, was. again fumbling with his loose change, when we had an inspiration, "Let us wait and see if his countrymen give him anything," y|we suggested.
'We waited. Pedestrian after pedestrian passed on without vouch fsafing even a glance, Came, how-lever, @ prosperous-looking Chinese who' not only. paused, but, inter rupting a series of howls" worthy fof an amorous tomcat, entered into conversation with the miserable one, Wordy argument ensued, the bulk of which was lost to George amd yourself. Tt_seemed, however, the miserable one was actually bargaining for something. But without rest. The well-dressed terlocutor departed, grinning from car to ear, without' bestowing a nolo cash' on the mendicant.
The next to stop, look, and listen was a labourer. He, 00, inter-rapted with "volley of quest The miserable one did not. dein to answer at first; but after a Tittle grew confidential in between wails. 'To our utter astonishment, the labourer suddenly delved into fan inner recess of his person, and produced 40 cents small silver which hho Wwanded to the other. In return, hho received some. minute' instruc:
ions, and then hurried off with the countenance of one on whom ¥or-tune has at long last smiled.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.