The anniversary of the birth of Confucius, the great Chinese philoso-Jpher, who lived in the sixth century before Christ was. duly observed in China, Suitable celebrations were held Jand Government offices closed, ]was also a Bank Holiday observed by the "Shanghai Foreign Exchange Bankers Association in a substitution for another Bank Holiday, Such as the first Monday in August, which has been observed chiefly through the influence of British banks and is still the great holiday in England. As a business arrangement, course, it is very convenient 10 ce-ordinate Chinese and foreign holidays in order to avoid duplications and complications but the student of Confucius might cynically observe that he despised the money changers og thoroughly as the founder of the Christian faith although Confucius never claimed divinity. But times have changed and great economic principles which Confucius never appreciated are now holding sway even in the observance of his birthday. Perhaps the time has arrived when spiritual forces are deemed superior to mammon—although the great philosopher never scorned indulgence in athletics and Tecreation for which a day's holiday Provides ample opportunity,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.