To the Editor of the "Nomt-Cmva Dany News"
Sm—In a comparatively recent contribution to your columns, under the caption of "Dawn of Shenghaly" "Bulbul" sang sweally and " most Interestingly nent old Shanghai, a theme upon "which the writer is really Interested, Later on, in your correspondence columns, a query wes put as to which was the oldest club in Shanghai and In this connection nobody put forward the claims of the Club des Ballin for that distinction.
'This club was a flourishing institution in fin de slecte days and it is not impossible that itis sti in existence, wad situated of" Nanking and wher, after ping Wroudh a harrow wily' door and up a long passage, the visitor "found" himself in. exceedingly cory social club, a portion of which was devoted to! what the Visitor "in" his lgmorance, " termed "skittes"" There. were other: forms of amusement, however; everyone Seemed to. be' on the best of ferme with his fellows and the spirit {o0d-fellowship reigned supreme.
'The present scribe visited the Club jon one occasion, (circa 1901) his tleerone being atr. Menearint who, was understood, was a member' of the Committee The visitor, on his Introduction to the members, wer informed Uhnt he was then "standing in the eldest Club Delving in your Ales of long ago, the accounts of many interesting and curious happenings, sre found set forth, not a few of which une doubledly would be very Interesting {o'many of your readers, 1800, for example, on January 3, there ts along and extremely interest: ing review of "The Story of Shang-hal, From the Opening of the Port Foreign Trade" bon, a wor of 124 page, and published bythe Worth-China Her Bablshing Gos" was writen by"
W. Maclellan, "Tt was published $1.00" and to-day the present. scribe would cheerfully pay Ave times: that mount for a copy.
The review ig written by the Editor, iz, Robert Little and tu iiselt is well worthy of reproduction to-day, forly-our years Tater.
Agiin, on Ociober 8 of the same year, in 2 leeding. article, "Uncle Bob" lays down the fact thet to be real honest to-goodness "Old Timer," one "must be here (Shanghai) Previous to the Bate of OMuddy That being so, and "Uncle Bob" being a veritable power in the land to-day, Ales! There are no more pucee "id "Timers."
this extremely interesting Jeading article which Ts too. long. for. reproduction herewith, "Uncle Bob" has Dely- dig at some" of his contem-Poraties when he wrote:
'There are xi im Shang Hal sober, aderiy' gentlemen who 9 to. Church Guletly on Sunday, in black coal, Stho have had very stormy and adven-
Hie concludes with s request that several of those worthies favour with a short screed. describing some their escapades, but apparently the invitation fell upon dear ears.
im upon Shanghai, May 10,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.