沈從文不敵圍威喂？

我近來會要變了，我的性情越不行了，在上海做文章李大約我再支持兩年，也不能再支持下去了。原因是我文章寫下去，越來越無主顧，因為大多數在做文章的人，一定是在文章以外，他們平時也得有一種友誼，也可以說全是友誼，文章才有出路的。我卻差不多同每一個書店中人皆或為仇人，我同每一個書店做一筆生意，即有一子不好印象保留下來，因此他不願再買我也無從再賣，日子越久我的主顧越少，熟人轉成主人，到後就是文章雖有無數年青朋友誦讀（這是從一些不斷的不相熟的人來信可以明白的），也沒有一家書店照顧，這事情結果，是我非改業不行。（emphasis mine）

1931年2月6日，〈致王際真──住到上海不動了〉，《沈從文全集》，第18卷，《書信》，頁126-127。

王際真（1899-2001），「第一位受聘於哥倫比亞大學教授中國語文與文學的中國人，大名鼎鼎的夏志清就是接替王際真任教於哥大的，再後來則是來自台灣王德威。」

味精有乜好？

味精有乜好？看看上海天厨味精廠在1924年的廣告，「誠人生日用所必需，每飯不忘之珍品」：

 味精有八宜：
1. 宜菜館
2. 宜家庭
3. 宜寺觀
4. 宜旅行
5. 宜內地
6. 宜病人
7. 宜老者
8. 宜夏令

李鴻章與屈臣氏

我一直對屈臣氏的歷史很有興趣。相信每個研究近代中國史和香港史的學者，對屈臣氏和香港大藥房都不會陌生。兩者的名字，都經常出現在中英文報紙的廣告上。

翻閱李鴻章的書信時，看到兩封發給香港屈臣氏的信函，其一：

光绪三年（1877年）九月十六日，覆香港大藥房屈臣：

徑復者：頃接中秋日來函，兼承惠寄戒煙藥百份，花露香皂等件，紉謝昌任。足下以英倫佳士，究心醫術，自到香港開設藥房，將及四十年，藥品精良，價值公道，久為商民所信。複以鴉片為害人之物，用心數十年，製造戒煙精粉，查閱另單，月盧陳功效，想必真能扶元補弱，不至如市肆尋常所賣者，足征存心濟世，本大臣蜀勝嘉慰之至。貴國紳營現設禁煙公會，與議院廷臣力爭，務期於有濟而後己，尤見人心樂善，中外皆同。查鴉片流毒中國已深，志士仁人無不痛心疾首，近複迭奉諭旨，禁種翠粟。所以尚難禁絕者，只緣洋藥進口納稅載在條約，洋商販運船隻源源而來，中國官長若必嚴禁，小民輒反唇相譏，謂不能禁外國之不種不販，而徒禁華民之不種不買不吸，情理既不通順，條教難以信從。是則中外國家必須合力，一齊示禁，確有把握，乃足以取信於民。倘此後英國果能傳知印度等處及英商不再販運來華，則內地人民之栽種吸食，必可立即一律嚴禁，且無難設法勸諭，不貽奸民以口實。想貴公司誠心要好，定能將此意轉達英國公會、議院爵紳，乘此機會，必要實見施行，以保貴國之體面聲名。本大臣亦必諭商各省官紳繼之而起，以除去中國士民永遠之大害，而中英和好之誼且愈昭親睦也。再，寄來報單多張，已派人分路張貼，為貴公司傳名。所制精粉藥包，遇有便船，望再檢寄三千份，俾得遇便施捨，以廣救濟。該價實紋銀若干，並希匯總開明，本大臣即令津海關稅務司寄交不誤。附去匾字一包，即請查收摹刻懸掛可也。專此布復，順頌日祉。名另具。

他日寫屈臣氏的歷史時，定必以李鴻章的書信作楔子。屈臣氏以李鴻章所贈匾額賣藥，則是後話。

一百年前在火車上讓坐

《申報》，第18316期，1924年02月27日，第18版

火車中之讓坐

王振

　　去臘某日余伯父自滬回里爲余述滬杭甬車中一事頗堪爲世人風錄以實常識余（伯父自稱）昨自甬乘滬杭甬早車回家以身體衰弱購票遲遲旣至軍中座已無虛乃依門而立車旣行□□震動力衰不能支喘咳彌甚忽一少年出座揖余曰老人家年高氣衰不堪久立不若我年力方强者敢以座讓余一再推辭不得遂稱謝入座車抵慈谿來一四十餘瘦弱婦人手抱四五齡幼孩亦以無座依椅而坐顫顫動搖不勝其苦余憫之急出座指少年謂婦人曰此座此先生以余年老讓余者然余年雖老隻身稍立尙可支可入座勿却婦亦謙讓再三而坐之伯父言竟不覺有感於中竊思世道不古由來已欠不圖揖讓之風復見於今日可以風世人矣

　　余於此事連帶又有所感焉常見滬上乘電車之西裝少年於無虛座之時來外國婦孺輒讓以座茍來我國婦孺而能循例讓之者頗不多觀豈中西禮節之有異耶蓋讀幾句外國書懼外人之譏諷非眞知禮而有禮讓之實也

Adverts in Directory and Chronicle for China, Japan, Corea etc (1904)

to marry or not to marry: for men and women

"Oh, if you ever marry, don't make the mistake of treating the woman as an ideal. Treat her in every way as a human being exactly like yourself! With the same weakness, the same struggles, the same temptations! And as you have some mercy on yourself despite your faults, have some mercy on her despite hers."

- James Allen Lane's (1849-1925) The Choir Invisible (New York: Macmillan, 1897). 

May married men take this to heart, as well as bachelors.

何謂好色？何謂好淫？

何謂好色？何謂好淫？且看馮夢龍（1574-1646）的《醒世恒言》，卷15，〈赫大卿遺恨鴛鴦絛〉：

論來好色與好淫不同，假如古詩云：「一笑傾人城，再笑傾人國。豈不顧傾城與傾國，佳人難再得！」此謂之好色。
若是不擇美惡，以多為勝，如俗語所云：「石灰布袋，到處留跡。」其色何在？但可謂之好淫而已。
然雖如此，在色中又有多般：假如張敞畫眉，相如病渴，雖為儒者所譏，然夫婦之情，人倫之本，此謂之正色；
又如嬌妾美婢，倚翠偎紅，金釵十二行，錦障五十裡，櫻桃楊柳，歌舞擅場，碧月紫雲，風流姱艷，雖非一馬一鞍，畢竟有花有葉，此謂之傍色；
又如錦營獻笑，花陣圖歡，露水分司，身到偶然留影，風雲隨例，顏開那惜纏頭，旅館長途，堪消寂寞，花前月下，亦助襟懷，雖市門之游，豪客不廢，然女閭之遺，正人恥言，不得不謂之邪色；
至如上蒸下報，同人道於獸禽，鑽穴逾牆，役心機於鬼蜮，偷暫時之歡樂，為萬世之罪人，明有人誅，幽蒙鬼責，這謂之亂色。
又有一種不是正色，不是傍色，雖然比不得亂色，卻又比不得邪色。填塞了虛空圈套，污穢卻清淨門風，慘同神面刮金，惡勝佛頭澆糞，遠則地府填單，近則陽間業報。 奉勸世人，切須謹慎！正是：不看僧面看佛面，休把淫心雜道心。

How big was the Commercial Press and Chung Hua?

Just some notes while reading North-China Daily News without cross-checking Chinese newspapers.

North-China Daily News, 12th August 1926, p. 10.

'Some 810 employees of the printing works of the Chung Hua Book Co. at 277 Bubbling Well Road, who struck on Monday, are still out. … About 150 employees in the printing works of the American Presbyterian Mission Press Works at 135 North Szechuen Road are still on strike.' (emphasis mine)

North-China Daily News, 14th August 1926, p. 8. 

'The strike in the Chung Hua printing works at 277 Bubbling Well Road, where about 810 persons have been out for more than a week, still continues. Agitators are now attempting to extend the dissatisfaction to the sales department at the corner of Foochow and Honan Roads. No settlement has yet been arrived at in the strike of 150 printers in the American Presbyterian Mission Press works at 135 North Szechuen Road.' (emphasis mine)

North-China Daily News, 19th August 1926, p. 10.

'Although no settlement has been reached in the strike of 810 printers in the Chung Hua printing works at 277 Bubbling Well Road, the employees of the sales department at the corner of Foochow and Honan Roads are working practically normally, only four employees failing to show up for work yesterday. The police are still giving their protection to the office and have succeeded in breaking up the gang of pickets which has been harassing the employees for several days.' (emphasis mine)

North-China Daily News, 19th August 1926, p. 10.

'It is reported that the 150 employees of the American Presbyterian Mission printing works at 135 North Szechuen Road, who went on strike on August 6, have expressed a desire to return to work and that the management is contemplating re-opening the works shortly.' (emphasis mine)

North-China Daily News, 4th October 1926, p. 14.

'About 1,600 of the 2,000 employees in the printing department of the Commercial Press, who struck on Friday to try and enforce a demand for the dismissal of a foreman, when they claimed had made a false report to the management to the effect that they were idling their time in gambling, resumed work unconditionally on Saturday afternoon. Of the remaining 400 on strike 50 representatives were chosen and held a meeting at the Commercial Press Employees Union in Paoshan Road when it was decided that they should proceed with the strike until the foreman was dismissed.' (emphasis mine)

North-China Daily News, 5th October 1926, p. 8.

'The backbone of the strike in the printing department of the Commercial Press was broken, when the remaining 400 of 2,000 originally on strike returned to work yesterday morning, unconditionally. It is understood that the management will not deduct the strikers’ wages for the three days’ duration of the strike.' (emphasis mine)

Tones of the Mandarin Dialect are Given in English and Chinese (1865)

莎彝尊授男夢巖輯：《英語官話合講》（廣州：同治四年六月刊，1865）。Sau Mang Yian, Tones of the Mandarin Dialect are Given in English and Chinese (Canton, 1865). 誰是莎彝尊？誰是夢巖？誰是Sau Mang Yian？暫時不詳。

序：「此書名曰英語官話合講，所以通兩國之音，將官話譯出英話，而以英字切合正音，不獨外國人學官話不難，即漢人學英語亦易。茲畧綴數條取其常用而易習學者，果能熟習而隅舉之，則於應酬之道，未嘗無小補云耳。」

Book donations to the Mission at Malacca (London Missionary Society) in 1818

The members of the Mission at Malacca, take this opportunity of returning their thanks to the gentlemen and friends, whose names are mentioned below, for donations of books to the Mission Library.

Major Wm. Farquhar, Malacca:

Marsden’s Dictionary of the Malay Language, 1 vol. 4to.

Rev. Mr. Supper, Batavia:

Walker’s (of Edinburgh) Sermons, 4 vols. 8vo.

Walker’s (of Truro) Sermons, 2 vols. 8vo.

Newton’s Sermons on the Messiah, 2 vols. 8vo.

Capt. Peter Gordon,

Chamber’s Harmony of the Gospel, 1 vol. 8vo.

Reports of the Society for promoting Chrisitan Knowledge, vol. 8vo.

Transactions of the Missionary Society, 3 vols. 8vo. (p. 69)

              Campbell on the 4 Gospels, 2 vols.

              Bachauan’s Researches in India, 1 vol. 8vo.

J. Hancox, 411, Oxford-Street, London,

              Life of the Rev. T. Robinson, Leicester, 1 vol. 8vo.

              Elliat’s Sermons.

              Father on Genesis, 2 vols. 8vo.

              Ball on Terms of COmmanion.

Miss Toomer, Southampton – Missionary Register, 4 vols. 8vo.

An unknown friend,

              Manton’s Works, 3vols. folio,

              Peak’s [?] Annotations, 2 vols. folio,

              Chambers’s Dictionary, 2 vols. folio

              Annrose’s [?] works, 1 vol. folio,

              Perlink’s [?] works, 1 vol. folio,

              Goodwin’s Works, 2 vols, folio.

              Ainsworth’s Annotations, 1 vol. folio.

Dr. Styles, Brighton,

              Styles’s Sermons, 1 vol. 8vo.

              Boston’s Covenial [?] of Grace, 1 vol. 8vo.

Rev. Mr. ___, England

              Indime micuities [?], by Maurice, 6 vols. 8vo.

              Watt’s works, 9 vols, 8vo.

Mrs. Brewer – Christian Chserver, 13 vols. 8vo.

Mr. Bunnell – Theological Magazine and Review, 3 vols. 8vo.

Mr. Webster,

              Theological Magazine, 2 vols. 8vo.

              Parable of the ten virgins, 1 vol. folio.

Mr. W. Smith- Brighton – Bailley’s History of Asia, 2 vols. 12mo.

Mr. J. Landies, London,

              Evengeical Magazine, 2 vols. 8vo.

              General anding to the Chief of Sinners [?], 1 vol. 12mo.

W. S. Davison, Esq. China

              Marcartney’s Embassy to China, 2 vols. 4to.

              Waidon the Hindoos, 1 vol. 4to.

Dr. Clark, H. C. S. Waterloo – Sermons, by Rev. Matthew Henry

J. Livingstone, Esq, Macao,

              Sampson’s Algebra, 1 vol. 8vo. (p. 70)

              Gregory’s Mechanics, 3 vols. 8vo.

              Smith’s Wealth of Nations, 3 vols. 8vo.

Sir Andrew Ljunsteds, Macao,

              A Grammar of the Spanish Language, 1 vol. 8vo.

              Wilson’s Elements of Hebrew Grammar, 1 vol. 8vo.

              Dowling’s Elements and Theory of the Hebrew Language, 1 vol. 8vo.

              Vocabulario de la Langua Tagala* Primera, 2 vols. 4to.

              Historia de la Provincia del Santisimo Rosario de Filipians, China, y Tunquin Orden de Predicadores, 1 vol. 4to.

              Catceismo de Doctrina Christiama, en Lengua BIsaya, 1 vol. 12mo.

              Parrochio de Indios Instruido, 1 vol. 8vo.

              Arte de la Leagua Tagala, para la Administracion de la Santos Sacramentos, 1 vol. 8vo.

              Compendia de la Arte de la Lengua Tagala, 1 vol. 12mo.

              Practico del Ministerio, en Philipinas, 1 vol. 8vo.

Missionary Society,

              Encyclopaedia Britannica, 22 vols. 4to.

              Rollin’s Ancient History, in French, 12 vols. 12mo.

              Stockii Clavis Linguae Sanctae, 2 vols. 8vo.

              Schlensueri Lexicon Graeco-Latinum, in Novum Testamentum, 2 vols. 8vo.

              Newcomb’s Minor Prophets, 1 vol. 8vo.

              Gray’s Key to the Old Testament and Apocrypha, 1 vol. 8vo.

              Butler’s Horae Biblicae, 2 vols. 8vo.

              Gerard’s Biblical Criticism, 1 vol. 8vo.

              Lowth’s Isaiah, 2 vols. 8vo.

              Missionary Transactions, 3 vols. 8vo.

              Stower’s Printer’s Grammar, 1 vol. 8vo.

We have also to acknowledge the favours of several young friends in England, for some smaller Publicatios, which are no less acceptable.

source: The Indo-Chinese gleaner, vol. 3, February, 1818.