So much depended upon the individual. For instance, there was a half-caste, a British subject born in Shanghai, merely a book-keeper in a trading firm, but he kept his race ponies, got into the best social set, and was invited by the Viceroy to ordinary receptions and functions at the Government House. His principals were not; they never could understand why he should be preferred over them. It was merely because he knew better than they did how to ingratiate himself with Russian officials, and Russians are as dead as are the British to racial distinctions. A full-blooded negro, a Chinaman, or any other non-Caucasian would be welcomed as an equal in social intercourse so long as he possessed the instincts of a gentleman and behaved as became a guest in the company with which he mixed. The wonderfully select Naval Club, the rendezvous of the élite, had a Jew book-keeper amongst its members. So the foreigners were making themselves felt, and were esteemed, not only for their personal worth, but because of the luxuries, the notions, and the manner of life they introduced. The government of Port Arthur was such as told in their favour, for it was a too much governed place, with a somewhat lax executive. First, stood H. E. the Viceroy, personal representative of the Tsar, a privileged person, possessing almost autocratic power, but never accused of being a despot. An admiral, he thought first of the port, and was anxious to foster its interests, and zealous for its aggrandisement. He wanted a larger harbour, more docks, a better equipped naval station. These views naturally commended themselves to the commercial residents, each of whom benefited by the increased expenditure of government money in and about the town. Then there was the Port Admiral, an energetic and capable seconder of the Viceroy’s views. The Admiral of the Fleet was in a position of power and authority, so was the Commandant, and the Mayor, and the Chief of Police. A Russian subject, a direct employé of the government, might or might not be punished for an infraction of any rule or bye-law--it would depend largely upon his personal value in the position he filled. The commercial employé was in a better position. If a foreigner, although he had no consul to look to for protection, his employer would stand good for him in just so far as he was valuable to him, and the difficulty there would be experienced in obtaining some one else to do his work. The commercial man, whether contractor, caterer, or purveyor, might be, and generally was, of particular use to some one in one or other of the government departments. If the Police, or the Commandant, thought the town would be better for his absence, some port authority, perhaps, found him indispensable; and just as he was indispensable to the authorities, so were his employés indispensable to him. The entertainers and others trying to amuse the public had usually some influential friend who was ready to exert himself to protect them