Harbin not only feeds itself better han Shanghai, but knows how to amuse itself better than this city. Such is the opinion of Mr. Serge Ermoll (Ermolaeff), popular musician and orchestra leader who recently returned here after spending the inter season in Harbin and vaca. tioning with his orchestra in Tsingtao juring the summer. Residents of Harbin are to this day a gay. tribe, states Mr. Ermoll The most fashionable "night-spots" are the Fantasia, he American Bar and the Yacht Club, where merriment reigns from 9 o'clock in the evening to 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. Japanese visitors leave promptly at 11 o'clock, while foreigners stay to the closing hour. As regards epicurean eating, Shanghailanders ¿ can only envy residents of Harbin, claims Mr. Ermoll. The only phase of life in Harbin that did not appeal to him was the laxity shown by men in their appearance. Zontrary to the accepted custom in Shanghai, they wear evening dress only on the most rare and exceptional occasions. As no American films are at present shown in Harbin due to the unfavourable exchange, and as films of German, French and Czechoslovakian production do not provide sufficient entertainment to audiences that have been "spoilt" by Hollywood. cinema houses augment th programmes with stage-shows, Thes last no less than an hour, and in Harbin it is customary for anyone doing to the cinema to first enquire as to the programme of the show and then interest himself about the picture. Throughout the whole season Harbin boasted a fine symphonic orchestra composed of Russian musicians.
Master Andrei Yartzeff, 13-year-old pianist who recently appeared in a number of concerts in Dairen, has returned to Shanghai. Master Yartzeff is one of the pupils of Prof. B. Zakharoff, and gives hopes of a brilliant musical career. In Dairen he played in the "Concordia" Hall, the biggest in the city, where the Musical Society, itself under the auspices of the South Manchurian Railway, arranges for the appearance of only the best musicians. Starting his concert with the "Pathetic Sonata" of Beethoven, he concluded it with Mendelssohn's "Rondo Capricio." The huge audience was enthusiastic in its response, and called him out endlessly. The next day all the newspapers of Dairen were generous in their attention to this concert, and people who had heard him play stopped him in the street to express their admiration. The youthful pianist received many presents, and was given several invitations to play over the radio.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.