There may be some slight doubt in the mind of M. J. Em. Lemiére as to whether his birthday falls on August 11 or August 12—owing to the Tact that he was born almost at midnight between the two days eighty years ago—but there was no doubting the unanimous enthusiasm with which his many friends in Shanghai yesterday wished him "many happy returns of the day.
Last night at. the Cercle Sportif Francais a large number of Lemiére's friends entertained him to dinner in honour of the occasion, M.
Eizear presided snd in a happy speech proposed the health of the guest of honour which was enthus as tically honoured with musical ae companiment and the usual cheers and a tiger. Others who bore testi-many to the varied aspect of M. Lemire's activities during his long residence in Shanghai were Judge Sir Allan Mossop, Messrs, M. Speelman, K. E. Newman and H. G. Wood-kead, during which some interesting reminiscences were given, more particularly by Mr, Speelman of M. Lemiére's amateur theatrical activities. M. Lemire replied in a touching och after which a very pleasant, evening came to a termination Despite his years, M. L re is ill actively connected with the Revue Nationale Chinoise,"" which he founded in 1929, and of which he is still very much the Editor When visited by a "North-China Daily News" representative, he was surrounded by books, pomp! proofs, clippings, pencils," pens, a typewriter and the dozen' and one other tools of his craft. Those meeting M. Lemitre for the first time would be literally astounded to learn that he was eighty years of age, he looks and acts so very much young M. Lemiére was born and raised in Paris. At the age of 23, he made his first visit to the Orient, going to Japan to join the Chemical Laboratory in Yokohama. When the head of the laboratory died, he re-calls, a delicate diplomatic contre-temps for the choice of his successor between two equally capable assistants, M. Lemiére and a German doctor, The matter was finally settled by the. appointment of "a Japanese to the position.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.