Mr. J. W. O, Davidson and Mr. R. E.
Stewardson were the guests of the Committee of the Royal Society of St. George at the monthly luncheons on June 24.
The President, Mr. E, S, Wilkinson, proposing the toast, referred with satisfaction to the fact that H.BM. Acting Consul-General had received this carly education in Shanghai before leaving for England to enter that famous school Christ's Hospital, where Mr, Davidson in the space of sight years—partly in Newgate Street and partly at Horsham—had attained fo high academic distinction as a Grecian before entering the Consulai Service as a Student Interpreter He is now a Governor of his old school, Mr. Davidson's family had long-established associations. with the Far East, Mr, Wilkinson pointed out, as the Christian names, Wallace Jand!' Ora, clearly showed. Me. Davidson and his' brother attended the first of Shanghai's public schools the com-any were told and it is stil remem. ered how they were escorted dally to their lessons by a sheep dog, Expressing an old Shanghallander's pride in the career of one who had 30 long been intimately associated with the City, Mr, Wilkinson referred fo the varied experience of the Consul-General during his 28. years' service. He had covered nearly every province in China, had served in the War as a Captain with the Chinese decorated 1926 andthe ina recent honours list. Everyone hoped and expected that Mr. Davidson would eventually return fo Shanghai with even greater dis-function to his credit, Of Mr. RB, Stewardson, a distinguished architect, Mr. Wilkinson. desired to speak specially in that other [capacity—a sensitive and accomplished artist on whose genius the Society fidently' drew when it required inspiration for the decorations at its annual Ball, Mr, Stewardson had threatened that "never again" would he tackle that arduous task, but Mr. Wilkinson evidently had faith in the ne of persuasion when the next came, Mr. Stewardson gracefully aeknow= edging the toast committed himself to what the Irishman would call_an evasive answer: in short he reiter= ated the negative with smiling emphasis, Mr. Davidson also claimed the Tight to be brief in his thanks, ventured to rally the Society on' it President's gift for archaeological research in the. pursuit of information fon its guests' personal history and expressed his pleasure at being able to accept the Committee's hospitality that day.
Another toast was drunk in less formal fashion—to Mr. C. 8. Speyer, the "Society's faithful Hon. Almonet and Hon, Treasurer, who is making short dash home to England at the fend of next week, Mr, Speyer's splendid services to the Society wert gratefully noted by the President.
The Committee will not held any more luncheons until October, when it is possible that ils first guest will be Mr. Herbert Phillips who is expected to arrive to take up his duties as HIM. Consul-General on Sept. 21.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.