Perhaps those most anxious about conditions in Shanghai are former residents now at home, for we all Ret numerous inquiries regarding our state. Those who remember us in the good old days find it difficult to visualize our present condition, To these we could say that so far as the social round is concerned there seems less change than one might have thought possible. True, many have gone under in the torrent of distress while others have had their supports weakened, but, as with all great upheavals in any part of the world, a rare few have actually gained, Immersed in the flood for a time they may have been, but they have: come up with -fish in their mouths so to speak. "Twas ever thus Considering the fact that we in cur little settlement and concession are entirely surrounded by devastation and that there is little sign of coming life in the way of garden stuff—for fields lie fallow and villages are deserted—it is marvellous where all the food continues to come from. 'True, housekeeping is much higher in cost than it was; the price of foodstuffs has risen considerably, but vegetables and fruit we have abundance for a good' deal of this being imported, and the comfortably placed housekeeper is suffering no hardship over supplies. Social life here has been getting simpler for some years, so that our present curtailment in courses and wines is less noticeable than it would have been long ago. There is still a round of good entertaining going on, and our parties do not lack their cream cakes, while now that the curfew is extended there is a fair amount of night-life prospering.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.