Mr. Ross in returning thanks for the handsome gift remarked on the extreme difieulty of saying "thanks" fon such an occasion. He did not make a speech in the accepted sense of the word but, in his own inimitable conversational style, delighted the Jcompany with a few reminiscences. In his long years of residence he had met botanists and big game hunters, Admirals and others of whom he specially selected for mention the late Capt. Plant who had been a lifelong friend, and Mr. Wu, for many years the agent of the China Merchants 8. N. Ca. To Mr. Wu, who was one of the guests, he expressed his thanks for much kindly advice and help during his early years in Possessed of a retentive memory Jand an interesting style, many of his lends have suggested to him that jin his leisure he might find time to write a book. In his remarks Mr. Ross referred to this and mentioned one or two subjects for treatment, such as "People I Have Met", "Walks and Pienies Around chang", and "Domestic Economy." In this last he would place some of the amusing, things that happened when the men of the community had to keep house during the strike in the early days of 1927, Mr. Ross left Ichang on the May 25 and expects to sail for home in the P & 0. Rawalpindi on June 12.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.