To the Editor of the '"Normi-Cinxa Dany News"
Sm—The article on an "English Family in Japan" in. to-day's issue was of great interest—and something, that most foreigners must think about sooner or later—though conditions may be different. The family in this article had to make a quick change Jon account of the husband's health—Jand they fortunately had 'a capital £2,100 or at C$1650 to the pound, C$54.650.00—which T believe is more ready cash than most foreign families in this "Paradise of the East" could serape together if they had (0, T recently read that the salaries of {oreign business men in Shanghai ran from $450.00 to C$2,000.00 per month, Jand that C $800.00 might be considered a fair average. "This average may 'oF may not be right, as there is such a variety of foreigners in this city jin business working under such a variety of conditions—and living such 8 variety of family lives—running all the way from a bare existence with few frills up to the other extreme that constantly have their names. the so-called Society column, spend large part of their income in' trying to keep up with the Jones, and who the tong run have little more to show for their money than the other extreme. Somewhere betwixt and between are the average families that live comfortably, enjoy life, and save some money for a rainy day' or toward retirement to the homeland oF elsewhere, Most families accumulate their money by saving, to. which added interest. Some of this may be invested in shares or securities of Few. families fever got rich through lottery Uekets faces, and other elements of chance the English family above mentioned_were in the C31,00000. a month floss and were able to save 20. per ent. oF $200.00" 8 month and' 20 Ber cent. is high, it" would have taken them 0" t0" 12 years to ace eumulate™ that amount, depending pon Interest, though at the present time their income is per" cent. of their principal. "As this article shows it'ts possible to. retire and live comfort anda healthy existence the" Japanese "countryside on "100 $500 American mangy or $1,030 Locat "currency. I. believe that one could aso tive in Peiping on this Smount and lead a satisfactory istence, and in'zome of the "other lesser ports in China," but "not Shanghai, However, 1 believe it is natural for most foreigners to want to retire their own' respective countries among' their own people. he most frequently entwined retirements from Shanghai these days seem to be the Police, afte: 20 to 35 years of service, and" with a. pension. Tao nol believe the averse business man Shanghai to-day is. subject toa Pension, unless he accumulates the Pension' himself, with the exception 3 few of the' big firms and banks.
'On the other hand, foreigners. china "to-day" should "be more. con cerned about the future than they over fave been before, Rapid economic and Industrial changes are taking' place {and the recent exhibition of the Race Course. gives some idea of products made. locally. This, combined with "the. progress "that Chinese are making int 'Western education, is already bringing about 3 decrease in' the foreign "population China—and as the momentum in creases the decrease will be. faster We save this take place in Japan, and veitnout doubt it will take place. in China, except not so rapidly. How: ever, every" foreigner "should "give more thought to his fulure. and the fair, of i family, and pecially sibiitiea for' his children. At one the education snd employment, pose
time 'Shanghai "was considered." paradise for stenographers, but that longer true. The salaries that were once paid are no longer {eSday. and 'Chinese. girls are givin their" foreign sisters. considerable competition. It" is very' dificult for the average Corcign boy to nct a suitable chance at all, and i wil become increasingly" dificult 'A foreigner who has. spent 15. more years in the East, with. the Heriodie home teaves, would find. dite dificult to. yo home and part AMI over again—providing" a suitable Connection could se made. "Compe tions much Keener at. home for Jobs, and with eeriain exceptions the tan at home is on the inside track.
When at home last year, I. spent some. time "in Now. England and Tetind that between New York, and Portland, Maine, there are hundreds villages and rural communities where 'a country home with a. lot of ground can be bought for from one five thousand dollars and on easy payments if necessary, and. that ould live on one of these places, have a ear, Send the children Yo the nearest school (free) all On US$I00 month or possibly less, depending Upon ircutnstances. Lain told that this' is so true. in other parts of might desire also spent some time in that of New England and was told that one could tire and live very inexpensively Devonshire, which is rolling and hilly farming' country and one the loveliest parts of England, Certain of the insurance companies the United States have advertised the names of lovely small college towns throughout the country where you could retire and live in comfort on USS100 month—it you had one of their choice annuities, However-—whether one has to leave China "suddenly, "as "the English family did for' health reasons, of whether it is brought about' by inging economic conditions, unless one is Provided with a pension, oF has worked out his own scheme' for Aetirement, it is something for every foreigner io give ciretul thought to, 'A Forum: Weexty Sunscmmen 10 mz Nowrn Cuixa Monat rosta raw 10 TE USA, Shanghai, June 27.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.