To the Ealtor of the "Norm-Ciaxa Dany News"
Sm—I wonder if It would be considered very presumptuous for a newcomer to question a remark made in a letter of to-day's. issue regarding [prospects for retirement.
"Your correspondent says-—""every. foreigner should give more thought to his future and the future of family, and especially the education and employment possibilities for his children. It is very dificult for the average foreign boy to get a suitable chance at all, and it will become infereasingly dificult." Later, he remarks—"Competition' is much keen-for at home for jobs..." Here, quite agree: the average boy, with Ro special bent, has—or had,' when I eft England. last August—very rear aitictily in finding suitable opening at all; schoolmasters fare (or Were) constantly at their wits' end to know what to suggest for a boy. to take Ue a But In the 9 fouths I have been here, T have found things very ditferent; of course, Tam not in a posltion to express any opinion as to the future of foreigners in the Far East though the employers I have oonsulted are by no unanimously pessimistic. "I can say, however, I Rave had far more actual requests for boys than I have had boys. ava able; 1 have had to write, not once oF twice, to say that T regret I have 32 no boy available for the vacancy offered, In over 20 years' experience In home schools, 1 could never once Lately, I have bothered the Heads of various large concerns to enquire BIN what prospects (it any) there were for boys of good character and in ood Possession of their School Certificates (the minimum: requirement of most Arms at Home); I received most courteous and helpful replies; several employers took the trouble to come $645 and call" on me personally, to dis-Ju effect, I found that for boys with these qualification had' far more openings. than I could All. Naturally, these openings offered only very small salaries at Jarst (but that is very different from having to pay a heavy premium!); very and in several [for keen boys, however, there are
cases, definite chances are available of being put on an agreement providing home leave These posts are not merely clerlcal ones—they are very varied, and offer plenty of scope for initiative and keenness.
In view of what I have learnt, at frst hand, X am very" doubtful if Berents are wise' in sending their Boys home to school, merely to obtain better openings for them in the, future, unless, "of course, an entrance into a profession is required; '700 even then, the preliminary schooling can be done out here—but perhaps Tram blassed on that point!
Marmews, Cathedral Boys School, Shanghai, June 2, Some Old Time Memories To the Editor of the "Nonru-Cunca Dany News"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.