The cheerful exponents of brass instruments, for so long feature of this ey's minor gaieties in funeral and other processions and wedding celebrations, have now come under the close scrutiny and within the scope of the reformative urge of the civic authorities of Greater Shanghai.
Acting directly under instructions from the Mayor, General chen, no less than the Commissionfers of the Bureaux of Public Safety, Education, and Social Affairs, have taken the matter in hand and have now promulgated their views in a set of regulations specially to curb the artiste inconsequences of the "professional brass bands.
The Commissioners have quite evidently given the matter close study, for they observe with ruthless severity that these bands "engaged by residents to play during wedding or funeral processions, are not only garbed in strange apparel but do nat know what they are playing for." This harsh criticism is borne onl by the observation that "at wedding celebrations they play slow (unreal Girges or sometimes foreign national anthems, while, in. funeral process sions, they play wedding songs, thus making themselves the laughing stock of both the Chinese and foreigners The Commissioners now go on to say that guidance has not been lacking, for some of these bands have Jobsorvéd regulations already laid down and have Improved accordingly but the great majority continue their blithesome but nonetheless erring ways. The Commissioners are. further perturbed at learning that, to make matters worse, the hearses. in some recent funeral processions were found to be equipped with radio-receiving apparatus broadcasting songs fand other items altogether unsuitable for the due and proper solemnity of funerals, On orders from the City Govern ment, and on the fads of the case, the Commissioners will take steps to suppress such "professional. brass bands" that fail to make due d's-Unctions and speed the soul of the departed as joyously ax they make merry for the wedding guests;~sad also "hearse shops" which eater too assiduously to the comfort of those required to mourn at the more Tengthy funerals. Accordingly "the offenders are thereby ordered to al tend and take note Before the war the Alscrily, then lurider another name, changed hands several times and finally became the property of a Russian princess. With the outbreak of war she was in sian. waters but when. the Russian monarchy was overthrown the Alacr~ ity was taken over by the British Meet. and subsequently was sent out to Hongkong as steam yacht to the commander-in-chief of the China Station.
In. 1922 Comdr. Dixon went home Inthe Alacrity. Apnarently—the ownership of the vessel was in dis pute and the Admiralty ordered her return. endieitis. "We had insuMcient to turn bake or to make for the n est liner," Comdr. "Dixon said, the operation was performed with what instruments were avallable in mid-ocean and proved very success ful"
The weather, Comdr. Dixon added, was fortunately calm, though the Al-belly was rolling gently and the engines were kept full sloom ahead, The Alactity ts now in English waters, Comdr. Dixon said, and. be-Tieved that she was owned by Mr. Garham White think she is now in Poole Har-our, Dorset, run as a club," Comdr. Dixon said, "I must try and see her yhen T'get home and think T should become an honorary member."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.