Soogow The Garden, ity-—By FB tance. Kelly & Walsh, Shanghai ang Tourists from abroad, and Shanghat residents, will welcome this book, The Chinese have always coupled the names of Soochow and Hangchow as being closely associated with each other, both in historic interest and in seenie charm. The kingdoms of Wi and Yueh, represented by Soochow fand Hangchow, were at rivals and at war with each other. Since Fu Ch'al, the Prince of Wu, could not be conquered, the Prince fof Yueh selected a beautiful woman, had her trained for three years in the aris of entertainment, in music, dancing and playing the lute, and then presented her to his rival. Thus It was that, by charming him to herself and away from the affaire of state, she gradually secured the downfall of her spouse and brought honour to her native city.
With "this new book as guide, visitors from without should come to Soochow in great numbers and jsallsty themselves as to the rival claims of the two cities, As one who has spent most of his working years in Hangchow and mest of his early boyhood in Soochow, T am torn between two opinions in reading this book. I'shall never be satisfied until have visited all the spots so ce-lightfully described by the author.
On the cover is a most charming picture of.a Chinese garden, one of the many for which Soochow Is famous. On the inside of the cover is a splendid map of the waterways Jaround Soochow, including its many Jeanals and lakes. Soochow is. the Venice of China and for its waterways far more interesting than the Venice of Italy. The photographs Jare excellent, though. some of them Jean be improved in. further, editions [which are sure to follow. Those of green foliage, sky and open landscape would have been bettored by the use of panchromatic films with colour screen, 'There are six "Sight-Seoing Trips", joost of which have carefully prepared map with the itinerary indi-eated in red ink, Many other places {of Interest are also mentioned, In-nding. the shopping district," For those who wish to shop in' more detail, there Is an excellent and larger map. of the city. For the {tourist there is no redundant material.
The chapter on the history of Soochow Is most Interesting as well as the chapter on Soochow's Pre-eminent /Scholar.
Tt might be suggested that the map attached to Trip 3 might face the opening page. There are a few places [where more dates could be given, In {fact in certain sections of Importance, dates are entirely omitted. At the fend of the book It Would be of advantage to have a carefully prepared Index'so that one could at once turn to any material that describes isforleal personages and names. places. These suggestions, T am sure, Will "be Incorporated In ature "edi=
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.