October 10, 1917 Consul General Sammons (Thomas Sammons - USA Consul in Shanghai) entertained a party of Americans on a house boat today and I joined in at his invitation. Bumstead and wife went with me. (Dale Bumstead of Oak Park, Illinois) - (President of Chicago Camp Fire Club). On the boat which lay at garden bridge in Soo Chow Creek, we met the other members: Mr. and Mrs. Bryant of the Far Eastern Review (P.L. Bryant - Editor); the U.S. Postmaster with his wife and daughter, Mr. E.H. Everett; Mr. and Mrs. Whiffles of the Bureau of Commerce and Labor; Messrs Jones; Miss Smith; and Mr. Sammons whose wife is at present in America. The day was greatly overcast and much of the reflection was thus avoided. After winding our way slowly up Soo Chow Creek amid the Chinese boats loaded with cotton, flour, vegetables, eggs, silk worm cocoons etc., we returned to head up the river following the Bund past much shipping as far as the outskirts of the town to the arsenal where we turned about and followed down the other shore and crossed over to the Bund again. We reached our starting place at Soo Chow Creek at 4 pm.