Christmases in Shanghai in the war years 1914-1917 as reconstructed from the pages of the "North-China Daily News" of those days speak of an altogether more homely Shanghai than the one we know There was less of everything in the way of entertainment but, on the other hand, there were such pleasant things as house-boat trips and railway excursions on which to spend the holidays.
Necerthelless, a shadow was over those war Christmases which was more noticeable in a smaller Shanghai than it is today.
"No very elaborate preparations have been made in Shanghai for the celebration of Christmas," observes the "North-China Daily News" on December 25, 1914, "and the holidays will, judging by all appearances, be spent in a very quiet manner. The business houses, shops, ete, will, of course, be closed as usual and there will be the ordinary house-boat parties and trips up the river. But the Christmas spirit is subdued, and although the children will be as merry and bright as ever, the effect of the war will naturally tend to suppress the otherwise joyful feelings of their elders."
A number of parties had already been given, "the biggest, perhaps, being that held at the Customs Club on Wednesday evening: A huge Christmas tree was loaded with good things and these were distributed by Mr, J. Elder."
"The British Post Office will be work till a late hoi in the evening. December had been a record month and quantities of etuily packed flowers had been sent to outports.
The AD.C. produced the pan-tom ime, "Puss In Boots"—the chief actors being Mr. G. B, Storme:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.