Shanghai, Apr. 9.
It Is painful to: record the passing of a much loved and respected resident of Shanghai for many years, in the person of Alfred Brooke: JSmith, The only comforting thought is that cable news from London reports his death as sudden and 50 he was spared the suffering he Jensured some two years ago when hho was: stricken with ill-ness and experienced much pain, Mr, Brooke-Smith had a distinguished career in China and represented that type of man who enjoyed an almost: unique position of popular~ ity, inasmuch as his character commanded the respect of a vast num-liber of Europeans, Chinese and Japanese in all walks of life and when the time came for his departure from Shanghai. in 1928 this respect and admiration was testified in singular and crowded demonstra tions and utterances of all classes: and creeds who vied in doing him The late Mr, A. Brooke-Smith honour and expressing their sadness in losing a valuable and trusted friend and counsellor from their midst, Mr, Brooke-Smith was born November 3, 1874, at Yokohama, After serving seven years with Messrs, Findlay Richardson he joined Messrs, Jardine, Matheson & Ca, in 1897 as assistant in their Import andj Cotton Milt Department in Hongkong, On May 1, 1918, he was appointed Director and was Senior Director at Shanghai from 1919 to 1926, and also' Managing Director in 1924-5, It is needless to say how his able Jdirection and leadership was regarded ty the firm, where his business ability, foreign and innate integrity enhanced the reputation of that House, In 1919 he was elected to the Council and served on the Watch and Health Committees, He was Jappointed Vice-Chairman' in September 1019 and re-elected in 1920 and Jappointed Chairman serving on the Finance Committee, Again re-elected In 1921 he was appointed Chairman, serving on the Finance Committee, He did not seek re-election in March 1922 owing to pressure of business.
In a company of men who in ihe past have given of their best in the Municipal Council, his name will fever be remembered,' Mr, Brooke-'Smith's activities were by' no means confined to the Council, for he served on the Committee' of St, George's Society and was president in 1925, He was Chairman of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, and served on the Committee of the British Chamber of Com-
His enthusiasm for all sports, particularly shooting, was well known and he pursued this with zeal in spite of a physical handicap the was never heard to complain Jabout. It is impossible to recount all his interest in everything tha pertained to the welfare of Shanghai every department of social work. and the Y.M, CA. have good reason to remember' him for his sympathy with this work was abundantly expressed, To those who knew him as an intimate, and his social circle was very wide, a deep and abiding sorrow Jwill be experienced by all who look ed forward to seeing him agai "Brookic" was one whose nature radiated friendship and confidence, with him the talent for acquiring affection from all sorts atid cent of men became an art, but an involuntary art, for he was' most and self-effacing always and the innate truth fof his character knew no poses or falsity, Here in Shanghai, although immersed in a multitude of affairs, a man of strong will and definite opinions, he made no enemy.
To his widow in England a profound sympathy is both respectfully and affectionately offered.
"May the earth rest lightly on this! very dear old frlend—c.ns,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.