From troubled South Shansi where ex-Communist forces are pursuing "he-that-fights-and-runs-away" tactics against the Japanese and everything is in a state of great uncertainty comes one happy note as reported by a "North-China Daily News" correspondent, A card was received by a missionary from a Chinese postal commissioner with a request for "some selections from Shelley and Keats, the two British geniuses, who have not been equalled style or imagination, Selected pieces are w. lam for. I have no appetite for long poems," the writer declared, The correspondent does n@ indicate whether the request was met to supply this brave artist with gems of poetry and elevating extracts as he continued his job not very far from the Japanese front line but he does make pertinent remarks that it was a worthwhile effort and pictures him sitting down and asking with Shelley "If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind," or finding solace in these lines from "Endymion":
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth Of noble natures, of the gloomy days, Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkened ways Made for our searching; yes, in spite of all, Some shape of beauty moves away the pall From our dark spirits....'
It is hoped that the postal inspector received both his Shelley and his Keats and that his noble nature will continue to exist untroubled by the gloom of his surroundings,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.