By Hesr The tendency to look backward, and to compare former times with the present, to the great disadvantage of the latter, is a habit common to mankind the world over, and we in Shanghai are not exempt from this type of dalliance with modern history. Most of us number among our acquaintances those old-timers who make our ears tingle with tales of pleasant social times which were theirs twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty years ago. We may incline to agree that, in spite of modern comforts, central heating, refrigeration, cabarets. and improved dress-making establishments, the older inhabitants among foreigners had their moments, and many advantages which they enjoyed are debarred to ourselves. It remains for us to collect our reminiscences and entertain a future generation with the exciting days which were ours in the years of disgrace 1837-8, and incite pity by recounting how, in the dark days of Autumn, 1937, Grandpa could only get four full 20urses for dinner, and Grandma had to put away her evening dresses and take to knitting.
I am reminded of the proclivity to compare notes of different periods after looking over certain records of Shanghai social life as it was lived some thirty odd years ago. Most places have undergone "change during that time, but surely the metamorphosis which has taken place in our little burg must be more complete than that which has occurred in most cities of the' world,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.