'The tendency to took backward, and'to compare former times with the present, to the great disadvantage the latter, is a habit common to mankind the' world over, and we in Shanghai are not exempt from this ype of dalliance with modern his. tory. Most of us number among Our acquaintances those old-timers who make our ears tingle with tales of pleasant social times which were theirs twenty, thirty, forty, or tity Years ago. We may incline to agree fashioning of their garments, Obviously though, the men were further removed' from. good tailors than were the women from good Gressmakers. There was not "the Sdherence to good line which one notices to-day, while "froos" huns. frightfully badly, and were like hhothing go much as drain. pipes shape, Coats, which buttoned with five buttons. nearly to the chin, Incked present day moulding. and less attention apparently was given the days when the British Women's Association was first formed. tnany- will remember that one great Feason mentioned at the time for, the desirability of such, was that of service.
This Asiociation was formed in the days whan Shanghai_was_prosperous, given to much social life and Entertaining, and when there was not So much call as has happened of Fecent years upon charitable endeavocr, Consequently. many inquired chat, if they joined, would be offered. His. Billinghurst, Tremember, pointed Cut that those joining must ask themselves not, "What can T get out of this." but, "What can I put into {eto help"" Succeeding executives have stressed this point, Mrs. Whitney has not only urzod this recently, but has been able to show what" tre: mendous services to the community London, Dec. 28 The weather did all ti could for this Christmas.
Frost went, thermometers rose, the sudden change from cold to warmth was as much, to blame for many "livers" as the Christmas fare, and fog settled down Tike a badly made pancake.
jed couple coming to us on Christ mas afternoon by. cat took over an hour to get one mile from their house, then gave it up, returned home and came down by train. AMI over the Midlands it was the same.
Not, for years have we had a fog so thick' that road-travelling by daylight was! Impossible.
"Nevertheless it has been a good Christmas—record amounts of money in circulation, record masses of let tore and parcels sent, record number: revived in. occasional fragments by Inter generations, which produce their own styles answering to their own needs, T often think that the only: people who can really ft into and harmonize with a Tudor house are the few remaining families who have Eved in one since it was frst built Education for the "Classes"
Startling disclosures were made of the decline in numbers of boys sent to public schools wore made at the Headmasters' Conference before Christmas. The subject was fully set out by Miss Grace Leybourne, who for some time hax been inquiring into the relation between Small families and costs of educa~ tion. After the war there was a {remendous rush to send boys hat, In spite, of modern comforts, central heating, refrigeration, cabare\n and Improved dress-making establish tents, the older inhabitants among forelghers had their moments, and many advantages which they Joyed are debarred to ourselves. Tt remains for us to collect our retminiseences and entertain a future generation with te exciting days Which were ours in the years of Sisgrace 1637-8, and incite "pity by recounting how, in the dark days Autumn, 1937, Grandpa could only: fet four full courses for dinner, and Grandma had to put away her even-Sng dresses and toke to Knitting Tam reminded of the proclivity compare notes of different periods fiter, Looking over certain records of Shanghai social life as it was Rived some thirty odd years ago. Most places have undergone change Aluring that time, but surely the metamorphosis which has taken place in our little burg must be more complete than that which has Secured In most cities of the world.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.