There is much to be said for the arguments of Via Mepin on the question of declaring a holiday over the anniversary of the commencement of the hostilities around Shanghai last year. On the face of it there appeared much to commend the original suggestion, but, on examination, it is clear that it will not do. In the first case such a step would be indicative of a feeling of panic which does not exist, and in the second it is incompatible with the dignity of any governing body to suspend the normal operations of a large city because a few misguided terrorists may decide to mark the occasion with the tossing of bombs. And further it would be a step entirely foreign to the spirit of Shanghai, which, during all those months, when the danger of death and injury from anti-aircraft artillery were daily phenomena, went about its business with a quiet courage and determination of which the whole community, Chinese as well as foreign, may well be proud. A holiday would w doubtedly result in thousands of idle Chinese about the streets waiting to see what could see, adding considerably to the work of the authorities, and possibly affording miscreants a better chance of escape. The answer seems to be that Shanghai should go about its business in the ordinary cour: things, though readers may very well be advised to keep their women and children from approaching those thoroughfares which experience shows to be the normal foch of dan ger on occasions such as this. That is the Ordinary counsel of prudence, but whether it will be followed or not remains to be seen, for it is astonishing what risks some heedless people will take merely to satisfy a very idle and c ntly mischievous curiosity. For the rest the matter may be confidently left in the hands of the authorities who may be expected to do everything in their power t minimize trouble if any should occur.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.