Lono_Stratheona, until a, few months ago Under-Secretary of State for War, is now second command of an Army" unit.
Returning to barracks one dark night recently was challenged by a sentry on the gate with the regulation "Halt, who goys there'
Using, his full title he replied. "Major Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal.
"Pass, Major Lord Stratheona" replied the sentry, "The other officer advance and sports meeting, it is s0 private, There are quite A few Interesting trees on the property and a hniee collection "of camellias In'pots. We shall ook forward to seeing these later in flower in the greenhouse. A pathway, which extends whole length of the garden on the weet side, was most Interesting. This has been arranged "underneath the boundary trees and behind the shrubberies, it must be a cool place for a stroll during the Summer and it also en~ sures more privacy; for the greenhouses and Kitchen garden are located at the south, and fof the property and persons. proceeding, there cannot be seen from the terrace. There is also pool and a high mound at the south end of the garden: "the pool however, appenre to be overcrowded with Water Hyacinth and other Sept, 24—We were down town yesterday and we admit that we folia much at home as canary at a eat show, We soon got tired of the jostling on the streets and entered one of the Oldest, f not the oldest, gardens in Shanghai. Wwe were looking at the fruit on the king ko trees at the entrance our thoughts wandered We thought of the number of persons who had passed beneath the trees since they' were plant~ ed; of the many Empire builders who must have seen them and of the people who have eft the trees behind them on their way to pose tures new, where they have continued their good work on Uehalf of their King and Country. We thought of the trenches which were close 10 the trees not so very long ago and of the men who had occupied the post nearby. Some of them may have been in the battle of France, some may have made the supreme snerifiee by" to do their Wo saw a lady lardons: trowel in one hand and a plant in the other and we thought of the thousands of Land Girls in England today Wwho have more or loss discarded "Jungle red" For the duration and become daughters of the sell, As we walked along the main driveway of {he grounds we could not help but admire their bright appearance: not so Tony ago they looked dull, but now Nower beds break the monotony. One, in front of us, was gay with zinnias and few groups of blue salvia, we also noticed a Small Batch of catmint and another of petunia, while a lonely tuberose was looking around a Its neighbours. On each side of the driveway were other beds: we were full, of red salvia while an edging of coleus Was arranged around ein four others. There are humorous specimens of the Chineve variety. of the Spindle tree (wonymus europe rus) planted {in the compound, it Is possible that planted for Autumn effect, but it is thought that at the time they were planted, there were few trees available and selection was dificult. We noticed a fine specimen with leose growing branches close to a stately elm; the contrast was very marked. There are Chinese palms here fand there and although these trees are not stately town "leggy." flower spikes anda touch of colour was prom vided in'some of the flower beds by an ocsional amaranthus, The extensive lawn was a leasing "shale of green and city dwellers Should feel indebted to Consul Balfour and Mr. Tutherford Alcock for their insistence on the purchase of the property thus providing them {with a much needed ity ung today.—w.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.