"To the Editor of the "Norri-Cuma Day News"
-Sm;-I enjoyed "Country Di description of the little white flower he buna in his early morning rambles, and' chuckled to think that am grithologist should object to long names in connection w flowers, when even the house-s TOW has so high-sounding title; but then, of course, I am only one of the "general public!" I notice Mr. Sowerby has taken exception to his friend's spirit of fun, which seems a pity. I do not know either gentle-an; but'whereas "Country Diarist" appears to be whimsical, refreshing and full of quiet fun, his friend Seems to be rather aggressively efficient and lacking a sense of hhumour;—that is, on paper.
lam afraid 1 agree with "Country Diarist." After all, the poor "general ie" do not always adhere glibly to names of scientists. What about "cowslips" that make those sweet-scented golden balls I used to play With when I mas a kid? Or, again, "buttercups" that carpet meadows with shining gold? Also "corn-Bowers" that look like bits of the Sky dropped down? And so on these are not tonguetwisters.
But flowers are not the only recipients of the names of humans—who seem to have an undue desire [o perpetuate their memory. What about "Chomo Lungua" which means "Goddess, Mother of the Eternal Snows" changed to the prosaic name "of "Mount Everest"? Possibly (though it must have been quite inadvertent) this latter name is pro-photic, Mallory and Irvine were full when going in the direction of the bridge, and an empty bus is as as a genuine bald cure. This one with one sole alternative to walking the two mile stretch, and that. sole alternative is "bumming," which in plain English means "hooking lifts on trucks.
Successful "bumming" is by no means easy, and the technique can only be acquired by daily and constant practice. As I started as law recruit in this new game, I got a tip from an old hand and I shall quote his phrase, the meaning of which prompted me in writing this letter, "Its no use trying to get a lift on a foreign-driven car, they never stop."
One would think that the area, being in the situation that it is, the foreigners would help the foreigners. But do they? I'm telling you they don't,
SANDWICH.
Shanghai, May 26.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.