A Festival Passes In a world of kaleidoscopic changes such os fave occurred in Europe within the brief [space of a year, those great and abiding sym-bois as the customs and festivals of a people traditionally observed stand out in sharp relief, JO-case in point was the Mid-Autumn Festival fon Wednesday. Dynasties disappear, empires wax and wane as the magnificent' opening chapter of China's great classic, "The Three Kingdoms," states, but perpetual and unchang-ting ate the customs of the people who see Jaround. them constantly recurring manifestations of nature which they associate so intimate-with their own lives. Chinese festivals are picturesque and extremely homely. There. Is Eenorally a pretty Zable with @ nice moral in jem, and as the Chinese are strongly animistic fin their beliefs religion or nationalism plays little part in. their really important festivals. The Mid-Autumn Festival is particularly attractive, for although it is almost a cult of moon [worship it is more like the harvest festivals of Jother countries when there are thanks and re-foleing for the bounteous products of nature turing the year and hopes of peace and conentment during the coming year. Alas, China tike other countries, has been unable to escape light of militarist contest, but Wednesday's fselebrations were widespread' and sincere. spite of two years of war and the disruption of trade and normal existence through the division the country. into two spheres, nature was extremely prodigal during the year, All over the country, within and without Japanese controlled territory, abundant harvests. have been gathered as if by some immutable law of compensation wounds to man and earth have been Jassuaged. Were the spectre of war removed [there would be national prosperity. In Shanghai, a "boom" is being experienced, temporary, true, but still real. Everybody, with the exception of curio dealers dependent ehiedy on foreign trade, report good business and. the [Chinese are good spenders when they have anything to spend. Some people describe this happy condition as a "protective" form of prosperity—living on accumulated funds and not representing real prosperity. Perhaps so but it indicates confidence and that is a powerful factor for stability even though it may not be related to Improved farming conditions. Nevertheless, the forces of destruction cannot continue indefinite-and the people's enjoyment of better things found a marked reflection in the observance of fid-Autumn Festival although the moon shyly hid her head in Shanghai.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.