centre of the grounds, upon whose oval, sloping lawn the bandstand is situated, I found, to my surprise, that one of the "boys" from the hotel was patiently awaiting my arrival with a long cane chair. Taking a seat like the rest, I lay back smoking a cigar, enjoying the somewhat cool night air, and listening to the band, which was discoursing some very pleasing selections.

From my position I commanded a good view of the river Huang-pu, which ran close past the east bank of the garden, and the moon was high in the heavens, shining gladly down on the pleasant and not unrustic scene.

It was indeed a pretty sight: the calm, shadowy waters, and the picturesque gardens, bathed in the soft light, and adorned, not only by exquisite tropical plants and flowers, but also by numbers of fair and faultlessly-dressed ladies, sauntering to and fro in their varied costumes between the shady groves, where the fragrant air and the whisper of subdued voices were highly suggestive of a "Midsummer night's dream," and the meeting of the fairies, when Cupid's shaft is silently "quenched in the chaste beams of the watery moon," or launched at the heart of some fair Helena with delightful precision which imbues her with love immortal, aud adorns those lily-blossom cheeks with the first blush of maiden joy-so highly significant of an invitation to "ask Papa" or some other near and dear guardian who lives in this matter-of-fact age, and wears the orthodox "frills" so hurtful and injurious to love's young summer dream.

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II.—PECULIAR CHARACTERISTICS.

N

EXT morning I was awakened by the attentive "boy" who had attached himself to me on my arrival. Opening the door, he called to me in a loud voice, "Massa, you wantchee chow-chow? Jest now blong bar parze ten, nearly leben!" By which he meant to convey, in the most correct "pidgin" English, that breakfast was ready and that it was getting late.

It was a beautiful day, and the fresh morning breeze fanned the scent of exotic flowers about my bed, which had been haunted, through the silent hours of night, by legions of hungry and daring mosquitoes, whose tuneful but monotonous hum makes you feel drowsy and tired. But they always do hum when prospecting about your person for a soft spot, and they generally perch on your nose and begin preliminary operations there, with disastrous results to their victim and eventually to themselves when he becomes better acquainted with their habits and more accurate in his aim.

Never strike a mosquito until his proboscis is firmly imbedded in your flesh and he is about to regale himself, or you will surely miss him. For it is better to wait and make sure of your prey than to drive it to extremities; for once it becomes demoralized and desperate it will worry you fearfully all night until its voracious appetite is appeased. It will feed itself by taking sundry snacks from the most unprotected parts, keeping you in suspense and agony during the short intervals while his confederates engage your attention.

It is bad policy to despise or to underestimate the power of an

enemy. This must also be borne in mind and observed when dealing with mosquitoes. Never turn upon them in blind fury, and imagine that you can exterminate the whole race by a vigorous and untimely attack. Face them bravely, and, above all, stoically -as you would a crowd of bullies-take one at a time, and wipe them out in a scientific manner.

Among the Chinese classics is to be found a short story teaching filial piety by illustrating the exemplary maternal love of a Chinese youth of past ages. It tells how once a venerable lady was greatly troubled by mosquitoes which gave her no rest, but who was equally blessed by having a kind-hearted and dutiful son, who, every night before his mother retired, nobly lay in her bed, allowing the mosquitoes to mosquitoes to draw his blood until satisfied. Through his commendable devotion she ever afterwards enjoyed good rest. It seems evident that mosquito-curtains were not used in those days.

After breakfast I went out and paid a visit to the editor of the North China Daily News, with whom I had a long interview, which ended in my becoming a member of the editorial staff, a very handsome suite of apartments above the offices being placed at my disposal, also suitable conveyances.

I take this opportunity of testifying my unprejudiced opinion that with the one exception of the Hong Kong Daily Pressthe North China Daily News is by far the most authentic, and most ably edited journal in the Far East.

Having a few days' grace to accustom myself to the place and get settled down before commencing my duties, and having seen my rooms, I set about the purchase of necessary furniture, as I had no intention of remaining at an hotel longer than possible, it being a somewhat expensive luxury.

My esteemed friend and literary confrère, Mr. O'Shea, has recently founded a new journal in Shanghai, entitled The Chinese Gazette. His great experience and well-known ability will no doubt make it a valuable source of information on Eastern matters-especially as, according to his own statement, he has "secured the co-operation of many of the leading writers in China, and has sources of information in Peking, Tientsin, Hankow, and the chief Treaty Ports as well as in the chief news centres in the interior of China."