'The unusual situation esting in China, capecially "in the arena' which. nave. suffered already from the hostilities and sin those which fare facing the grim prospect of being the scene fof battles in the near future, has -had the unfortunate effect of putting a stop to many of the picturesque celebrations which have been 1 feature of Chinese life for centuries. Henes today's celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival wil pose in Shanghai with very little but the consumption of the special cakes made for the occasion, to remind the people of one of China's oldest observances. The native banks will keep today as a holiday, while In many Chinese. shops and stores the junior employees will be liven the benefit of the occasion. "As a sottlement day, it is reported, Shanghai has nothing to fear from today. and therefore the shadow of the nanelal gloom which too often accompanies settlement days should not fall on this art of the world, The Dragon Boat Festival, it will be recalled, commemorates the death by Jeaping into a river of Chu Yuan, a statesman who lived during the days of the Warring States, more than {wo thousand years ago, Tired of giving advice to an erring monarch who would not listen to it Chu. Yuan committed, sulelde as a gesture which will never die. At first the anniversary of his death was observed pilgrimages to rivers, when sacrifices were made to satisfy the water gods. But Inter there developed the famous dragon boat races, which wore some years ago banned by the Nationalist Governmeni, but were later "allowed on the rineiple that what the oficial eye does not see the heart need not grieve over. These races are more popular in South China than they fare here, and In that part of the country are attended by displays of fireworks. and also an unfortunate number of accidents, There is always grent competition among the different cogon boats to be first post the post. Incidentally, there is 9 considerable amount of Kudos tached to winning this Face, oF one of the series of races. Boats are often sponsored by guilds and other organizations in the city where the races are taking place. The rowers are usually professionals engaged for the occasion, fand. their talent for. showmanship. sometimes Is worth a much as their skill us paddlers, 'There fs, in a small way, a8 much local betting fon the result, as there is on the result of a focal' Derby tu other countries.: And after this one glorious day in the year, it is pathetic to see the dragon' boats beached for the next twelve months, with their magnificence dwind-Ting Into tinsel until the painters get to work for the next year's contests.
Cholera Outbreak The early advent of summer, the quick spread of cholera in disteiets around Shanghai fud the energetic measures which the Japanese fre taking for the purpose of protecting, 90 for fas ts possible, Hongkew and Yangtszepoo, nituraily arouse some anxiety. as to whether the Public. Health Department is adequately safted to meet. the emergency which Is now {eaped. Tt will be remembered that. since the outbreak of hostilities Targe number of men have either been dispensed with or have retired in the ordinary way, s0 that the strength the Department "io." considerably below formal and, itis feared, not capable of dealing with any sich emergency as a serious epidemic Tight create. Tt is obvious that should cholera and kindred. diseases become. epidemic in th course of the next fow days within the Intornational Seltlement, Shanghai will be faced Wwith'a period of acute. anxiety of anything from Inree™ and a halt months. Tt Io not "known hhow many of the stof of the Public Health Department, being Iecally enyaited, are still avallable, but if there aca any, it is suse gested. that steps should be taken for' their wzagement, atleest temporarily, while any, measure calculated to make the' Department Stronger than it Is at present would be heartily welcomed. There is in this no desire to eritithe either the Department er the Council, for {wos not reasonable to believe in the early days" of the hostilities that they would have been continued in the way they are being now. But it seems apparent that it would be better to-spend money nov, in anticipation of trouble, than to lay out those large funds. which may necessary. it the situation which is feared ever gels out of control.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.