by Shanghai, Jan. 4.
As expected, the New Year was in the colony met merrily and even Flotously, with a spontaneity not seen for'a Jong time. On the night of December 31, the three Russian dibs were filled to overflowing, and in all other amusement places "Russians were present in considerable numbers—especially at the Cercle Sportif "Francais. That night Rus-alan: restaurants, cafes and cabarets did 4 roaring business. It may have been that the city's overcrowding has brought it new money, or that the celebrations were in the nature of a feast during a. plague, but at any rate Russians did not stint in toking a "fling" either at home or somewhere "out." Perhaps it is. cotise lurking in their minds is the but carefully concealed thought that no one knows whether it will fall to. them to celebrate another New Year twelve months hence, and where they will all be at that time, At noon on the first day of the yer," mutual congratulations were extended in the Russian Club, and a few people paid the New Year visits, though In Shanghai this custom ying out through a disuse, to which late homecomings "after seeing in the New Year contributes, Champagne Flows 'That night, characteristically enough champagne' owed freely among. Russians, Russians ike champagne even more than the French, and of Jate the more expensive and well Known, brands of the sparkling liquid have been augmented by other brands, less expensive bu quite satisfactory in colour and taste, especially if served out of a frozen bottle into. dainty. glasses. As matter of fact, champagne bubbling in crystal, iced glasses Is a subject that has in no small' measure en-Hehied Russian poetry and song.
The coming resignation of Mr. Sterling Fesseden, General Secretary of the Shanghai ' Munfejpal Council, was given large prominence by the Ruslan pross and provoked lively discussion in the colony, proving yet another time how close Russians have grown to the life of the city and what an indivisible part of a whole they now represent. With. Mr. Fessenden, as one of the city fathers, the: whole history of the Russian colony after the revolution 1s interwoven, Russians remember him sines 1023. They remember his role as the Chairman of the. Municipal Coun-in 1925, the year of the famous general strike; they remember his participation together with the. late Mr, A.D. Bell in the creation of the Russian Regiment, S.V.C.; they remember the frequent visits he used {9-pay on official Russian holidays, His intended retirement has called forth qenerai.and sincere regret.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.