Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-04-24
AmuseIaents of she Chinese.

Among the amusements of the Chi
nese, perhaps theatrical exhibitions are
the most popular, and, at the same time,
the most ridiculous Mr.. Barrow informs
us that he learned in his time, that there
were in Pekin about one hundred COM
panies of players, each containing about
fifty persons, and that they were convey
ed from place to place in passage boats.
They do not, as in Europe exhibit their
performances public and crowded audi
ences, but they act at the private houses
of the rich, where they are engaged for
the purpose. The Dutch ENJOYS have
asserted that the spectacles of this
kind which have been gotten up for the
entertainment of the Court of China
would not have attracted an audience of
a country fair in Europe, and Mr..
Stanton has remarked the grotesque ma
ture of such exhibitions, and the pre-
sentation of scenes which, coed sense
and delicacy would have in other coun-
tries, withdrawn from the public gaze.
More recent information regarding the
Chinese, has made us acquainted with
tile fact that they possess dramas hav-
ing regular plot, and not destitute of
character and interest, although they ex-
hibit mere show and bufoonery to those
who are ignorant of their language
From their childhood the Chinese are
accustomed to gambling, and they seem
TO prefer games of chance to many other
kinds of amusement. Near the places
of public resort is to be seen a table,
with large circle on it, divided into
eight arcs or compartments these divis-
ions are an imitation of the eight kiua,
or philosophical emblems of permuta-
tions. This circle is furnished at its
centre with snaft turning on a pivot,
like the needle of compass and the
gambler, after placing his stake upon
one of the compartments, whirls the
shaft round with great velocity, in the
ardent hope that it will point, when it
stops, to the spot on the division which
he has selected. When this is the case
his stake is doubled, but it is evident
that the probability of his winning is
very small compared with his chance of
losing. -
At the time of their public festivals,
the Chinese amuse themselves with lift
ing up machine called the wheel and
axle. The axle isa heavy piece Of fwood,
furnished at each end with wheel cut
from block of granite. Their activity
in the use of this apparatus is displayed
first by their lifting it up to their knees,
then raising it upon their arms, and last
ly, heaving it aloft in the air. The mus
cular strength and dexterity which they
acquire in this exercise is remarkable.
Another favorite amusement among
the middle classes of the Chinese is
the projection of ball or small balloon
into the air, by a smart and sudden
stroke given with the hollow part of the
foot. The ball is full of air, and is made
of some elastic material. The practiced
player performs this game in such
manner as to drive the ball upward in
vertical direction, and at the same time,
to give the smallest possible jerk to the
body and to avoid the discontinue of
both. of, his limbs and his long robe.--
The palm of merit is given to him who,
when the ball descends, can project it
upward again by slight and apparently
careless action of the foot.
J. D US, lilo -lilOcb .uOfcI dLIuSoIl0uG III
which this singular people indulge, is the
manufacturing of kites; with US. this is
the amusement of boys-with them, of
men. But, after all, it seems more ra-
tional than. many of our pastimes; for
instance, it is less injurious than cards
and dice, billiards and skittles, and
many others, because it is performed in
the open air, and affords healthy exer-
ciseq Of the lungs and limbs. In this
amusement they leave us far behind as to
the devices which are exemplifed in the
manufacture of theirkites. They do not
confne themselves to the ancienttype so
well known among us.to the rhombus. the
diamond and the sector; but they ex-
tend their choice of shape to that tsof
butterflies, birds and fish. The, imita-
tion Of these shapes is very exact, and
kite is 50 acontriyed as to mimic the.
thea action of the living crea-i
tufewhiclr has constituted its motto