Chiistmas habits of Shanghai residents are undergoing a drastic change this year as a result of local conditions.
Although s considerable quantity fof letters and parcels has been handled by the Chinese Post Omee and despatched to Europe, the United States and other parts of the world representing gifts of residents to families and friends abroad, a considerable reduction on last year's figures is reported, During the Christmas' mail rush' this year only about 200 parcels a day have keen handled at' the local Post Omice as compared with nearly 400 dalty in November last year. Ordinary Christmas letters also show a deere comparison with last year, One reason advanced for the decline in parcels is that some people have sent money home to purchase presents, thereby avoiding customs formalities for in eases of small gifts postage and customs dues actual-exceed the cost. of the present, Local conditions, however, are largely responsible for' the decrease which applies also to Christmas cards and. other mail despatched at this. time of the year, Normally, the quantity of mail handled at Christmas is generally about 30 per cent, higher than Jat any other period of ihe year, ac+ cording to the local postal authorities.
The popularity of sending greetings by cable and telegraph—a custom Introduced in Shanghai some years agamis increasing and, also has its effect on the exchange éf cordialities at thie time of the yel going to lend money on security of Feal estate,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.