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REVIEW.
Verse and Worse :
ings of TUNG CHI (J. O. P. BLANL). With Illustrations by W. D. STRA.GHT. Published in Shanghai, 1992. Few dwellers on the China Coast, we imagine, have not at one time or other come under the charm of Mr. Bland's occasional writings. The fruits of his prolific pen have appared in a variety of papers. some in the Rattle, some in the North-China Daily News and others in the home Press; wherever given to the public they have been valued no less for their ripe flavour of Far Eastern life than for the intrinsic merit which is theirs, for the true grasp which the author has of the significance of things in the conflict and intercourse of the Criental with the Caucasian. By those already acquainted with Mr. Bland's works in their fugitive form this gathering of them together into one volume will be greeted with approbatiou; it will doubtless also have the effect of extending the large circle of his admirers. Of outertaining writers ou
Selections from the Writ-
every-day subjects in the East the number is lam ntably few. The man who can agercome the ennui of coast-port life, with that sordid spirit of money-getting that mainly permeates it, who has eyes to observe matters other than market quotations and can write lightly and with abandon in despite of a declining dollar, is to le crowned with admiration. Mr. Bland possesses all these attributes. His entertaining writings bear the impress of the humonrist and are us cheerful as the philosophy of Mark Tapley. Yat it is not altogether on the less responsiblo¦ aspect of Europeaŭ life in China that the writer dwels. He speaks with no uncertain foice on the subject of English empire in the East The first item in the book is in stirring verse, "For England," au exhortation written in 1898, against the "graceful concessions" which those who have lived among Easteru peoples will agree could bear no other lesson to the Celestial mind tlan "that England is no longer as England was of old."
The Peiho trackers tell it
When South winds fill the sail, 'Tis borne by Kalgan's camel-men
Who take the Kiachta trail;
The Yangtze gorges hour it
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In the jests of a lurcha's crew, And Shameen's painted flower girls Have sworn that it is true." With Mr. Bland we all trust that the days of "graceful concessious are gone, that England will awake and auswer and prove the tale untrue." A like piece of verse is the "Retre- cessional" (dedicated to Rudyard Kipling at the time of the Port Arthur incid-nt). The doings of the Article Club in its relationship with "Sir Chih Ches are made the subject, too, of a clever skit. Mr. bland as a to, ical ver- sifier has the happy knack of "getting the e every time. In his love-verse, he is no less successful. Of such pieces as · Celia and "To Sylvia" we would fain have more from the same pen; these have a gentle merit all their own.
When it comes to a perusal of Mr. Bland's; prose pieces one is struck with the versatili y both in subject and treatment they evince. All sorts of readers will find something to divert them. Each separate plece say be said to be the depiction of a different aspect of coast-port life An Extinct Science,' Chin: se Blide," "Nuit d'Eté," On the Gentle Art of Giving Dinners," and "A Shanghai Bnk Holiday are all excellent studies. There is not indeed a dull page in the whole book The author's style is light and playful, yet underneath all the laughter and the cracking of jokes are Lid home truths and more inward knowledge of the things that matter than many a book of greater pretensions can boast. Verse und Worse is profusely and well illustrated: The priuting and paper are good.
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The book may be had from Messrs. Kelly and Walsh.
Alfredo de Lucchi, who mysteriously dis appeared from Singapore on August 14th last, and was apprehended at Marseilles by the French Police on a charge of forgery, was brought back to Singapore by the Ballaraat. The allegation against the defendant is that be committed forgery by affixing the name of Herman Stachelin to a cheque for $9,350 on the 13th of August last.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
SPORTING NOTES.
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(Paily Press, 20th December.) The past week has been a disappointing one for sport, rain making most outdoor ursui s almost out of the question. In fact it is almost a pity that the wat-bobs who organised so excellent a regatta on the 10th and 11th instant did not prolong their equa'ic carnival so as to show us how to rise superior to the damp weather. To-day, if we do not get a con tinnation of the raio, some interesting sporting events are due to come off. Dealing first with that which is nearest at hand, on the Cricket Ground at 11 sharp-will it be at 11 sharp there should commence a match between the Married and Single men of this Colony. The Married seem to have the stronger team, but much depends upon the wicket.
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¡December 29, 1902.
item, of con se, is the cricket match between the H.K.C C. and the United Services-the annual erent. Last year, it may be remembered, an exciting game ended in a win for the Civilians on the first innings. Thanks to 90 from France- Haybarst, 66. from Lient. Wood, and 51 from Digby the Services put together 261. Ward played a gr et me for the Civilians, compile ing 132, while looper backed him up nobly with 6! Nevertheless, when Ward left at 254| eight wickets were down and eight runs were wanted to win. Another wicket fell without any addition to the score, but Howard kept in and P. A. Cx emphasised the win for the Club witha sixer over the pavilion. This year's match looks a good thing for United Services, but I must not forget that he who prophesies is lost' nor the unkind way in which the married men belied my expectation last week by early suffering an innings defeat.
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At football, Association holds tho fiold, and a fairly strong Club team, including two promi- Footballers have been in a h li ́ay mood, for uent Rugby meu, mee's II.M.S. Ocean, one of
the Association players of the Club were the ships which has entered for the Shield. resting preparatory to their great game with the Another of the naval tams, that from H.M S. Glory in the Shield ties to-day, while the Rugby Glory, goes to C useway Bay to meet the men were engaged in a 1atuer fare cal match V.R.C. The serious work of Association foot- against the Goliath on Christmas Day. The ball is near at hand now. The Shield ties Club wou the latter game with ridiculens involve 14 teams-8 military, 4 Dayal, and 2 ease, bat it was regrettable that there were so civilian. Two of the naval tennis, those from
many accidents in its course. The Hongkong the Ocean and Pique, do not play until round 2, Rugby footballer is a vigorous player, which when they oppose one another. The Sherwood within limits it is a good thing to be. But Foreste s have 4 teams in, of which two meet in vigour and roughness are not to be coufa ed if the first round, while the Royal Artillery send we are to get real football. A moro exciling in two teams. The II.K.E.C. meet H.M.S
match was played earlier in the day in the Glory (whom they defeated in a friendly match Happy Valley, the Midshipmen taking on the on Tuesday) and the match is to be played on Officers of the Fleet at Rugby. The “middies ̈ the 27th inst.. at 3 45 p m., as the Glory is going won a deserved victory. To-day's game at the away for a time. The first round has to be other code introduces us to the first Shield tic completed by the 31st prox.
of the 1902.5 zeason. As the Navy has other representatives, most of us must hope that the H`K.F.C. will win.
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There is also a Rugby match to-day, on the Naval ground, the H.K.F.C.'s team's A team meeting the A team of H.M.S, Glory, Some good players figure on both sides.
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The Hockey Shield competition did not, after all, commence this week, the heavy down pour of rain on Thursday making play in what should have been the Club's opening match out of the question. The Club had got together a strong team, though having at least three reser- res on the list. The game will be played some- fim after Christmas. The uaval teams enght to do well in this competition, and I should not be surprised if either the Ocean or the Blenheim supplied the winners. All the same, the Club 1st team should have a good chance, if the members will make an effort to play regularly. The Club's energetic secretary, who has been away shooting geese, is expected back before Christmas.
The Yacht Club announce a Ladies Race to-day at 30 p.m., not 2 o'clock as previously announced (for which it is to be hoped the weather will be propitious), and to-morrow there is the 5th Club Race of the season. The Dione is getting rather a long lead in the first class over The other new boat, but the Alannah is well up.
Though the affairs of the Hongkong Club are of course private, it is no breach of confidence to announce that the proposal to retain the pre- seut bowling-al'ays when the extension of the Club buildings has been thrown (pen Ias been defeated by more than a 3 to 1 majority. It is still possible that a requisition for a general meeting may be sent in, but I fear that the towling alleys are docmed. This is rather a pity, seeing that the matches between the Hongkong and German Clubs in each other's alleys have been followed in the past with no little interest.
There being a strong contingent of H.M. Fleet at Singapore just now, a match was arranged on the 9th inst. between the Singapore Rugby footba lers and a Nary XV. The Nasy, who had Royds and Pringle at three- quarters, won by three tries to a goal from a mark (9 points to 5). The Singapore men showed up best forward.
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(Daily Press, 27th December.) Hongkong, un'ike some of our neighbours mentioned below, has an entirely domestic pro- gramm for the Christmas holidays. The main
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The Hockey Shield competition has begun, the Blenheim's team beating the Ocean's this week. These two are among the best sides competing for the trophy. The Club will probably decide its first engagement about a week hence, With its improved team the enthusiastic officials have good hopes of the Shield. I trust that they will be encouraged by the regular attendance of their best men.
Sportsmen in the neighbouring ports have taken the opportunity of the Christmas holidays to arrange interesting programme. Kobe and Yokohama Rugbyists were to meet at Yoko- hama on Christmas Jay. The Singapore Cricket Club was se ding a team tɔ play Perak on the 23rd and 4th iust. There W8 also to be a football match at Taiping; and then the Singapore team was to go on to Penang where there would be cricket and football on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Whilst this team was touring, the members of the 8.C.C. were to entertain new visitors in the shape of a This is the Negri Sembilin cricket eleven. first time that Negri Sembilan has sent a team play Cricket on Christmas and Boxing day. down to Singapore. The arrangement was to The Negri Sembilan ers hoped also to play football matches with the R.E. and R.A. at Singapore, if fixtures could be arranged.
Singapore is rejoicing in the arrival of a classy racehorse among the 69 horses justį brought up from Australia. This is Cadenas, who is a bay gelding by Padlock from Tortile (dam of Portland Light) by Trenton from Tourbillon, by Robinson Crusoe from Crucker by Fireworks from Beatrice (dam of His Lordship, His Grace, Olga, &c.), by Stockowner from Lady Heron from Omen (imparted). He is winner of W.A:T.C. Grand Stand Handicap (11.6), Helenavale Cup (W.A.) and all aged Stakes, Boulder Farewell Handicap, W.A.T.C. < Federal Handicap, V.R.C. Flemington Stakes and Colt Stakes. His record shows him to be a thorough stayer, and bis speed is demonstrated by the fact that he las twice done the fire furlongs in 1.24.
Singapore papers record that Lieut-Colonel Lawson has beaten all previous records for the golf links at that post by holing out in 77,
of 39 and 38,
OMPAX.
made
up
A