By "Smov"
Shanghai, Jan. 9.
their ehurehelife Russians go by fa calendar that is two weeks behind the rest of the world. Thus this year their Christmas. Eve fell January G. while next morning: Christmas Day—they woke up to snow that had obligingly some _Insisted, " symbolically during the night, 'As many' foreign toms allowed their Russian employees to take even Monday January 9 off from work there were, to the great joy of many. families, three consecutive holidays, Although Easter is in. the eyes of Russians more of a holiday" than christmas. Russian children are still faithful in their preference for the inter. They can ' thus be counted more fortunate than their foreign friends, as a short two weeks after they. celebrate "foreign Christm: they proceed to celebrate their own. Once again they dance round the Christmas trees, receive presents. and Tive in a holiday atmosphere.
"The religious side of Christmas is faithfully conserved in the Russian colony. On Christmas Eve three Services were hold—matins at 8 a3 Mthurgy of St. Basil the Great To am. and vespers at @ p.m. 'These services were conducted by Bishop John at the Russian Cathedral and by Bishop Juvenalius at St, Nicholas' Church, "Although long, the Areh~ bishops! Service is especially colour ful, a8. in addition to the Archbishop every priest not connected with one or another church participates well. Two services wore held on Saturday January 7, the frst day of Christmas: 9 liturgy at 9 a.m. and vespers at 6 pin, with all churches packed to more than their intended Capaelty." Christmas trees were on Christmas Bve lighted only after the evening service, when the star of Bethlehem appears in the heavens. Even at this late time could be seen buying Christmas trees on the streets and rushing them home either on lekshaws or on foot to hurriedly decorate and light them up.
Christmas Eve Dinner Last year the Christmas Eve Dine nets winch Is served on table-cloth Iiberally padded with hay, was de-cribed" in detail in. these' columns, Two traditional dishes are. always present—"kutla" "and "uzvar." the Uirst made of wheat boiled with nuts and honey, and the second being, hothing but stewed fruit. On the first day of Christmas Russians paid Visits to their close acquaintances and Were met by tables laid principally. with cold duck, pork and all sorts of fausoge, turkey being saved up for Easter, Congratulations were extend. ed to each other by members of the Russian Club on Avenue Foch, while the "Sokol" Club, the Commercial School, the Second Russian Club in Wayside, the Russian Club on Avenue Foch and the Ex-Oficers' Club all veganized Christmas parties for children. At the Commercial Schoo! on Sunday, January ® presents were given (6 the children from the Rotary Club, with Inv. L, V. Amnoldov, Mr. TK. Ho. Mr F Berge. Mr. C. Baker and Mr. P, L. Moo officiating. Russian Bishops likewise visited has pitas and prisons with Russian me mates, and "conducted religious ser viees for the latter.
Russo-Asiatic Bank Liquidation In connection with a query made by one of ott readers regarding an toffee building of the defunct Russo-Atintic Bank and a plot of Tand in Peiping, both of which he alleges were sold atthe and of the year 1997 for Ch.$100,000.00, Inquiries at responsible quarters have elicited the informa-lon that the Administration for the: Liquidation of the Russo-Asiatic Bank did, after long efforts, sell this house and a Wot of land for the above-mentioned sum. A. portion of this sum has been paid in arrears to a certain Chinese bank, to which the Liquidating Administration has for "several years been in credit because of a lack 'Of means, 'The remainder of the sum in which' our correspondent is interested is still being Kept on the Current Account; and it be this fund that enables the Liquidating Administra-Vion (0 continue its work in hopes of a favourable decision being reached the ease of the Russo-Asiatic Bank in New York. at present up in court in that city. Nearly three and a half million dollars are, ax it Is known, SUI owing to the' bank's creditors, fand 0 share amani them the remain der of the sum of Ch100,000.00 realized from the sale of the office building and. tand in Peiping would, we were informed, give absurd results. In fact, it was stated, it is in the' interests "of the creditors "themselves that the work for the continuation of the court ease in New: York be carried on.
The year 1939 will for the Russian Colony be marked by an interesting event. In spring a batch of young Russian engineers will for the first time leave the Centre Technique Superiewr—an institution founded der the auspices of the French authorities specially for Russian youth. Four young men are at present completing their studies in the Electro-Mechanieal Department and four in the Architectural Department. Dip-Jamas will be signed by the French Consul-Generat in Shanghai. February five years will have elapsed since the founding of this higher technical college. It was the Society of Russian Engineers that first. got the idea for the founding of such a college, and their plan was supported the French authorities, The Institute is headed by an Administrative Council with Mf. Charles Grosbois 38 Chairman, Mr. M. E. Gran as Vice-
Chairman, and M.A. S. Jaspar, Guillemont, Prof. Shishin, the Principal, "Mr, Zartsin and Me. Povarov (both lecturers) as members.
Classes are held in the evenings. in the premises of the Ecole Remi. Fees are only $100 a course. and several students receive stipends. Excursions to. factories and buildings in the course of construction are frequently undertaken. Laboratories and workshops have been kindly lent them the Franco-Chinese Technical Tnstitute "Aurora".
The Professors of the Institute notice the large percentage o¢ success and diligence among their Students, in spite of the fact that most of them must work for their living as well. Some students are. members of the Russian Regiments, and even with the little spare time their, disposal work with remarkably good results. It seems fairly certain that the young engineers who will receive their diplomas next spring will be able to find work in this" profession in a short space of time.
While Shanghai is a magnet that Jaraws Jewish emigration from Austria fand Germany, many Russian emigres living here continue to think of leav-Ing the city for Australia, Canada or the countries of South America. Russian newspapers recently published information received a short time ago from Russians who left Shanghat for Chill. Mr. B. Jakovieft, former teame inspector of the local French Police, is at present living in San~ yo, while Mr. and. Mrs, Sobludaieff, who sailed from Shanghai 1-year ago, the Katzenelbogen family. INF. Eliseef and others have also made that city their residence. So far there are few Russians there with their own cottages. Santiago, however, is a rear elly with a population of theee million; and with energy and a Knowledge of Spanish it is not too dificult "to. find work, Life for feinigrés in Chill is inexpensive, yet not a few Russians are in sore straits and live only on the money collected from charity balls. In the ranks of the employed there are some who work in their professions, some who work in offices, and some. as farmers (mostly on chicken-farms). The eneral impression eiven by alt this motion is that only for Russians of means is it advisable to leave for chil Prof, Kitchin's Lecture Prof. 8. F. Kitchin, one-time President of the High Court in Viadivostok, recently gave a lecture in the Russian Club on the reforms of the rear statesman and former Prime Minister of Russia, Mr. P. A. Stolypin, who in September 1911 was killed in a Kiev theatre by the revolutionary Bogrov in the presence of Emperor Nicholas If. It is the general opinion that had not death struck Stolypit so tragically early, he would have een the only man who could have saved Tussla from the revolution.
This lecture was filled with facts and interesting detail, all the more Prof, Kitchin worked with Stolypin Saratov when the latter was Governor at the time of the first revolution of 1905, Bishop Juvenatius, Chairman of the St, Viadimle Jubilee Committee hi poid a visit to the French Consul-General M. M. Baudez and to the French Consul Mf. Auge and presented m each with a medal struck memory of the "950th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia. Bishop Juvenalius expressed his gratitude to he authorities of the French Concession for their attentive attitude toward the Russian colony" and their care for its indigents, children espe cidly. Among those' present at the reception were Mrs. Jourdan, chair~ man of the French Benevolent Society and Mrs, Dupuit. Champagne was served after the ceremony.
An interesting fecture on the subject of "Coun, Moursviev-Amoursky and Admiral Nevelskoy" was given by Mr. N.P. Medi at the Russian Historical Society on January Among other things, the lecture revealed how ninety years ayo Russians occupied the Maritime provinces and built Vladivostok, the outpost of Russian influence in the Pacifl. Me.
V. V, Lamansky acted as chairman.
Russian Medical Society the last meeting of the Russian Medical Society Dr. E. Martin and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.