Hongkong. May 10.
The tumult and the shouting that came with the Jubilee Celebrations in Hongkong have died away. Now It is possible to reach a given point et a previously arranged. time—for no longer are you likely to collide with a dragon half a square in length, or young Chinese girls with enamelled faces and theatrical robes, whirling about in mid-air on a walking stick held in the saddle of 4 small patient pony. But they were gorgeous processions, anti I have yet to see anyone, Chinese or Euro-can, even the most blase, who has not taken off his hat, figuratively. least, to the Chinese community for their energy and enthusiasm.
Especially the latter. For three' days there was a distant thud of drums plainly audible from mid-levels, and quite deafening in the town. It was as if Dunsany's Gods from the Mountain were descending. upon us—not from the Peak, heaven forbid such a thought—but' out of the still reaches of the night. "There was stillness to be found, if one only went far enough away.
The Emperor Jones would have felt perfectly at home here, for it might have been African tom-toms Barly on Monday morning house servants scurried about to get the day's routine out of the way. "It was ike a Chinese New Year in midsummer. "Mississ—ee—ee, I" g0 Hongkong-side, Took-see," was the usual request of the Kowloon boy and amah, and those in the Colony were of the same mind, Going into Hongkong, as mid-level servants call the business section, was not 30 simple for those from the other side, Ferry-boats were packed and jammed all hours of the day, and there was no fighting one's way onto them.
No doubt many wondered just what the average Chinese thought was back of the Celebrations. Did any of them understand that the Colony's observance was only a small art of a far-flung celebration which was having its origin in London, in the midst' of stately and ignited surroundings?
The word seems to have passed. along by bamboo telegraph, even as did the news of the three-day Chinese processions. For the Colony, with characteristic placidness, went fon broadcasting the usual bits about 8 climate, which at best is dubious, and che lights in the Harbour, which are duplicated in many ports, but From @ portrait by Miss Doris Montagu B
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.