In what might be termed the sudden "Europganization" of Shanghai through the influx of several thousand Jewish refugees, the lack of an amenity typical of Europe has been revealed. This is the public drinking fountain. Most towns and cities in Europe have these fountains where people may obtain a drink of water on hot days. In England the only redeeming feature of some of the hideous public memorials to respected alderman and worthy civic leaders is the provision of a clock and a drinking fountain, and the transference of a large body of Europeans to Shanghai does emphasize the contrast. Of course, there are obvious obstacles in Shanghai which are all too familiar in a city not noted for eminent cleanliness in the habits of the population, but it is difficult to ignore the important difference existing between Shanghai and cities abroad. There once was a time when the unfortunate relationship of dogs and Chinese in regard to certain public: amenities were associated although not in the precise sense which propagandists attempted to exploit, but present-day conditions offer the reverse analogy. Whereas a dog or a horse can obtain a.drink at public troughs and Chinese coolies may get a drink of tea from the urns provided by charitable institutions, it is impossible to get a drink of water without paying twenty cents admission to the Public Gardens. It is possible with an extreme degree of bravado to walk into a bar and ask for a glass of water, which generally will be forthcoming after the preliminary surprise has worn off, but there is nothing public about it. One hotel in the central district generously has a jug of iced water prominently disposed at the end of the bar for the moneyless and thirsty foreigner to use, and the privilege is gratefully utilized. But beyond that there is nothing.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.