"So sorry to have forgotten!" we say of some duty engagement which has in reality been resting heavily on our social consciences. The damning knowledge of having deliberately elected to cut this in favour of some more promising diversion colours our regrets all too darkly and gives a hollow sound to all protestations, Honest is the best policy, after all," we reflect, but what wouldn't I give for a poor memory!"
It is surprising that we do not see in the "Wanted" columns advertisements for a poor, or should) We say, good memory. A docile, er biddable memory would meet the need, for we are obliged ta remember really important mat-tera, and after all, most of our engagements we prefer to keep. If one's mind could be trained ta remember the proper. names of our friendg and not the soubriquets impishly bestowed on them behind their backs, it would make for additional popularity, also.
Moreover, many people arriving in Shanghai have found themselves seriously handicapped by consciences of the Dissenting or New England type. This makes them unable to enter into thd spirit of things here and renders them more or less of a drag on any social evening. On the other hand those who hava after many painful struggles managed to lose or do away with a "sense of obligation," duty-complex or pricking conscience often realize when packing their wardrobe trunks for a visit to Home and Mother, that such attributes are favoured rather than otherwise in the circles which one is to revisit. But after a conscience once been shown the door, it is hard to whistle it back again, and the Orient has gained consider disrepute overseas just on this account.
The best way of meeting this difficulty might be for incoming passengers to leave their rigid scruples, overgrown consciences, and the like at the dogk, just- be fore going through the Customs. They could be conveniently stored subject to owner's call at any time. -Even better would be a rental system which would supply any brand of morals desired for furlough and in that, way a.conscience might more than pay for its up-keep.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.