The old adage about not casting a clout till March is (out (Shanghai version) has been amply proved by the activity of the Shanghai thermometer this week, for in three days a drop in the maximum temperature of over twenty degrees Fahrenheit has been recorded. Strangely enough, Tuesday, which reached the peak of 75 degrees Fahrenheit, had only a seven degree higher minimum temperature than yesterday.
With the arrival of the balmy blue skies of the early part of this week, overcoats were left hanging up in dark corners of wardrobes and cupboards by the larger majority of people. Open-neck dresses came out into the sunshine, gloves were conspicuous by their absence, and only here and there a more modest person would continue to wear a scarf even during the noon hours.
Newcomers (anyone living in Shanghai for less than ten years) could be heard remarking:—"Well, it looks as if summer is coming!" Old residents (those resigned to the vagaries of the Shanghai climate and always expecting the worse) seldom bothered to correct them, being quite content to leave it to the weather. And the weather came through in noble style to show that not yet may mosquitos burst into song and lambs into mint sauce.
On Sunday, the thermometer around the Cathedral hovered at a maximum of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The next day, it went up by six degrees, while, in a final last burst. of speed on Tuesday, it proudly registered a maximum of 75 degrees. On Wednesday, however, the thermometer was clearly showing signs of strain, being only able to chalk up a mere 69 degrees. Yesterday, it was definitelyhiling, with a Zikawei recording of 53.1 degrees Fahrenheit.
Will it get colder? Only to-day can tell—but the grey clouds of yesterday evening were none too pleasant an omen. Yes, it certainly looks as though to-day will definitely be an overcoat, and possibly a scarf would not be out of place.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.