We have always heard it said that fat sorrow is better than lean, and though there are some griefs which can in no way be compensated for in any worldly way there are minor troubles which can be considerably aided by ample means.
We would not consider the trials through which we have passed during the past year as major sorrows (that is, speaking of foreigners), according to some standards. So long as we have kept our health, a good roof, and enough to eat, with sufficient to pay for all this, we must regard ourselves as fortunate. One woman we know, when asked how are with her, invariably "Oh, the baby is well, hubby hanging om to his job, we are al) fit, so the world is a wonderful place." It is when Fate aims at the baby, one's job, and health that major troubles really arise, so we all try to keep our sense of proportion and to be thankful for small mercies.
Small means, however, can cause a lot of distress to people in Shanghai who, up to the present time, have always been able to live decently and happily despite enforced economy. A case in point arises out of the sub-letting of low-rented but good houses of the terrace type which have always been occupied by clean-living foreigners. Now, in many terraces of this type a few houses in each are let out to hordes of Chinese of the lower classes.
Houses which formerly held not more than four or five foreigners now have fifty or sixty Chinese tenants. house in Basingstoke for the summer, and the latest news of them was that they had had fourteen Shanghai folk in to supper one evening. It is a pity Mrs. Clements' good house-boy was not there to give a helping hand, but if the local help gave out trust that Shanghai guests woùld prove useful when it came to the washing-up.
Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Pope and their rather large family are happily settled for the time being near, London. Mrs. Pope writes to say that she wonders why on earth they all spent so many years in this city since she finds home so very much to her liking Mrs. B. M. Dallas arrived in Shanghai from Australia a few days ago. This long-time resident spent some time in England and was on the point of returning last year when our "war" began so she went on to Australia instead.
Miss Rice, formerly Matron of the Country Hospital, is now in Ireland but intends shortly to return to Shanghai for the winter. The attractions here are her muy friends.
The softening effect of the curled fringe is well shown in this photograph of dark-haired Miss Marcia Ralston. For evening it ties up well with the shoulder-length curls.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.