Of all the many attacks which have been made upon the Shanghai Municipal Orchestra, and there have been many during the last twenty years, that which correspondents have made within the last few days is probably the most impressive. The late Dr. W. E. O'Hara, shortly before his death, raised the question of the retention of the orchestra in the light of very definite hospital requirements for the poor, and correspondents to this journal) have returned to the charge. It has to.be admitted that so long as the destitute are unable to obtain medical and hospital treatment the maintenance of an orchestra, especially in times like these is an unwarranted luxury. If the community as a whole were carrying out its duties to the poor and under-privi afford the little reason why it should not have one. But correspondents contend that that is not the case and that continuance of the-Bervices of the Orchestra cannot now be justified.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.