Just as the Dragon was about to stretch himocif last Thursday, eaus-ing everyone in Shanghai to tele-Iphone through to everyone else for the purpose of inquiring, "Did you feel we were on the point of erasing' jan error in what we had typewrite ten. We were seated on the very edge of our chair and leaning well forward, when the room began to sway. The result was that we toppled forward, affectionately burying four face in the typewriter: ud bestowing a fervent soul-kiss ribbon. Incidentally, we bashed our Jnose; anid in so doing were vouchsaf-Jed @ momentary glimpse of Shanghai of the future—a vision comforting in the extreme, in as much as we now know may, certain things with which we have! long been familiar are destined to) endure, Preparations for unveiling the memorial to China's Ultimate Triumph had been under way for months. For some reason best known to themselves, the authorities hast refused to disclose the design—which was understood to be the work of Mr. Wun Lung, a consumptive seulptor—said to' represent the figure, on a heroic scale, of a Chinese peasant fondling the Dove of Peace and crooning to it, "Ah, this side ong time no have see!"" An Jelaborate and special niche hed-been prepared for the statue in the Central District.
Hero we were, precipitated into the scene at the very moment of the unveiling. The streets wore throng-Jed with Chinese ant foreigners who were on the very best of terms with another, The Chinese military were out in force, their multi-coloured uniforms lending a rainbow aspect to the econo, their medals visible through the heavy fur capes neces-irated by the extreme cold of the day.
Ths speech-moking was very nearly concluded. A high oficial, through his interpreter, had assured everyone that this was the prowlest moment of his life, ilastratin it did once more, "the traditional friendship between the bear and the honey pot. Some one replied in kind jon behalf of the parties of the accend part, and the band of the Tibet bulary feelingly rendered, Hail, the Gang's All Here!
A hush,' such as marks the throng of worshippers in some vast cathedral, descended upon the erowsl as the High Inspecting Commissioner of Fleas' Nuptiais stepped forward and tugged at the silken cord, releasing the veil. A' gasp of escaped the—specta-to be followed by a second gasp, this time of wonder. For there, meticulously placed in the just-sufficient space between the base of the pedestal and the wall of the niche, on either side was a private snugly wrapped up in his master's Fog, and sound asleep.
No one in Shanghai but had entered whole-heartedly into the eelebrations attending the marriage of Miss Ah Sheeza-peach, the daughter of the President, to Mr. Washout Scarletti, nominally First Consul, in reality Absolute Dictator of Rejuvenated Russia, Much surprise, the sure, had been occasioned by. the fact that the venerable Major Bowwow, who for years had refused to look at a sunset because of its colour, had officiated as best man, [Comment on this, however, was soon Host in the general rejoicing. Who can ever forget the mystic beauty of the myriads of illuminated junks sampans on the Huangpu? Had not this spectacle been almost matched by the brand-new bunting and flags assumed by the trams? It was the next day, however, that the wonder of wonders transpired. The multitude had assembled long before dawn to glimpse the passing lof the bridal coach, and through all the weary hours of waiting had comported itself with exemplary pa-tien. It was close to noon when a tant fanfare of trumpets was. heard. Ten minutes. later, voliee, minus batons and arms of [any Kind, gradually persuaded the crowd to give back on either sida Now comes the sound of galle hoofs, and a cheer bursts from ten thousand throats as—as the equi-Page of Mr. Halfpoint Down-hurtles Past, revealing the owner, conquer-loot, which he would salt chow to the highest bidder before donning the "government's" form. hing board, the other half-way the Mafoo's spine, busily jotting Jdown the very latest figure supplied by the Naturally Industrious Bonk Cathay. a Hew overvne nia over she! fact that the Yangtze Gorges wera fence again accessible! For years, fas you know, many had intended some Gay to explore the cavern wherein was said to repose a stone likeness of the Dragon, 250 feet in length. Some had scoffed the exe istence of the image, resenting the implied connexion between this and the episode of the Garden of Eden, the Nevertheless, a, traveller from ber yon Ichang had returned to Shang hai with the information that not only was the Dragon there, bat that its eyes had taken to shining nights, to the extreme terror of th people of the district, Thus cama about the joint expedition of tha Society for Providing Sampans with Fire Escapes, the Cathay Limelight Society, and the Needlework Section the Shanghai Body for Better and Bigger Radishes, Night had long since fallen wheft the representatives of these august Jaggregations approached the eave, Sure enough, there were the Dragon's eyes, all aglow. Not only, this, but his purring could be dise tindly heard, while half-familiar, choking fumes filled the entrance to the cavern, 'Then, horror of bots tors!... the beast begins to move towards them.... a cty, Jof despair, a rush for safety. inexorably'the Thing comes on. they are lost... yet stay. 5 jab, Joy! ah, blessed relict!... 14 is'only Int, John Henry' Owners Jdriver, of Hungjao Road, who at Tong last hag found a good place to park his fiver while attending show at the Lyceum!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.