While the men remained in the dining-room to discuss, one supposes, he inexhaustible topic of ex chan and its idiosyncracies, the wi were led artlessly to reveal their reasons for not going away. To save expense, of course. One really could not afford such luxuries as bungalows t the seaside this summer, or a journey to Japan, the difficulties with Chinese amahs—how could one! And last summer how awful it was. In the rather primitive hotel in Japan, what comfort was there?
The eventuality of air-raids possessed the Japanese military mind to the xclusion of any -consideration for visitors to their country and they are always thorough in their methods. The blacking-out of lights at about 7 pum, several times a week, was far from pleasant. There was no danger, of course, but it felt rather erie sitting in the dark when one could neither read nor knit, At the seaside resorts in China it was better, but towards the end of September it became very cold and he knitting of woollies was the s occupation. Then there were reiemongers with tales of terrible hings happening in Shanghai, until Me radio dispelled fears with messages from husbands and parents that everything was all right, and their houses still intact. And ihe imposibility of booking passages on ihe coastal steamships and the discom-(ort from overcrowding. Not aga would they willingly risk such experiences. It wasn't worth i
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.