As we enter another year, we naturally stop upon the threshold and look back over the past twelve months in order to take stock of the progress we have made. The China Journal of Science & Arts has now completed its third year, and those of us who are connected with it feel that we have considerable cause for congratulation in the fact that in spite of the troublous times through which we have passed it continues to flourish. The year 1925 has been a particularly trying one for business concerns and individuals in Shanghai. The preceeding year closed in the gloom of a post-war depression, and, as was only to be expected, the Journal suffered, along with other periodicals in China, through the withdrawal of a certain amount of advertising support that would otherwise have come its way.
No sooner were things beginning to pick up in the early summer of 1925 than the general unrest caused by the May 30th affair gave us a severe setback. Owing to the printers' strike, or walk-out, as it should more properly be termed, not a line of the Journal was printed for two months. It was not till the December issue that we were able to catch up the time lost, but, with the loyal help of our printers, The North- China Daily News and Herald, Limited, we eventually succeeded in doing so without dropping out a single issue It was particularly unfortunate that the June number was actually on the presses when the printing was stopped by the walk-out, which meant that this issue did not appear till August.
Hardly had it appeared and conditions in the printing world in Shanghai reached something approaching normal again than the war clouds began to gather once more, and as the year closes war is raging in the north and trade and commerce in this country are almost at a standstill. The prosperity of the whole community is thus adversely affected. In spite of all this, and not knowing what is before them in the New Year, our supporters have stood by us, thus enabling us to face the future with calm assurance.
The only way that we can adequately show our appreciation for this wholehearted support on the part of our subscribers, advertisers and contributors is to continue the service that is our r6le, and to redouble our efforts to make The China Journal of Science & Arts the foremost publication of its kind in the world, a medium of expression for those who have the advancement of culture in this great country at heart, and a bond of interest and sympathy between the peoples of the East and the West.
To all our supporters we offer our heartiest thanks, at the same time wishing them and all our readers a prosperous New Year. We trust that the clouds that lie brooding over this strife-ridden land will soon be dispersed; that those who have the real welfare of the country at heart will gain the upper hand in the affairs of the land; that international jealousies and antagonism will give way to good will; and that China and all her people and those that dwell within her borders will enter upon a long period of peace and prosperity.
unless otherwise indicated