Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-16

comfortable. The library, reading, card,
billiard and refreshment rooms are per
feet In their appointments
The service is entirely Chinese with
the exception of the paid secretary who
Is Portuguese. Hong Kong eau boast
no better club Our club doors are al
ways open 90 visitors who have the
freedom of the club for three months be-
fore required 10 join,
Everyone feels il his duty to support
the various Athletic organizations as
we'll as the club, with result that all
thrive a mervellc.
IL Is q custom TINT the bachelors OF
the club give nt least three balls yearly.
the first one coming before the New
Year, the second New Years eve, and
the third about the end of February,
Music for these events Is brought from
Hong Kong,
Even though these balls come in the
winter months. il is not too cold to leave
open an the doors leading ON 10 the yerun-
dus. The verandns themselves are en-
closed by Chinese mats, and made into
n fairy scene with flowers, days, lanterns
and fairy lamps.
Many years ago it was customary to
give ball whenever eight ladies could be
gotten together. At present there Is new
er any such difficulty. There Is always n
number of ladies up from Hong Kong,
besides the regular contingent of dancing
ladies residents of Shamecn, who can be
counted on.
Besides the bachelor balls, there are
several others each winter given by the
various hongs, by the English French
and German cOnSuls, our consul Is too
| poorly paid TO entertain IN this way, SO
contents himself with a few modest din
ners I'M the fulfllment of his social de-
yoirs. and generally by the commissioner
| OF custom.
| incoming wear Is celebrated by the let
| ting of of thousands of irecTckers, made
| In long strings with bombs iuterspersed
at intervals of about foot distance
| These strings of crackers are hung In
festoous On the branches of trees sur.
rounding the house AZ exactly l. the
! din OF exploding crackers begins Bump.
/ ers of champagne accompany this truly
| oriental greeting of the dawn of a new
| year.
BESIDES balls. banquets lawn tennis
| and race week festivities ia Hong Kong,
| We find enjoyment by taking holiday and
| Sunday trips up the river. Steam
| laurches are numerous and reasonably
| hired for an afternoon in case one is
/ not fortunate enough TO own one, as most
| Of the houRs DO.
A launch of itself for such outings
| would not be considered particularly com.
| Portable, as one gets fasudious in the
| East, and objects TO smoke and small
cabins The Chinese, however, come TO
our assistance with their so-called flower,
| boats.
These boats are about twelve feet wide
by fifty feet long tan average sizel en-
| tirely open In front, and resemble long,
| narrow room OF the above dimensions.
| eight or nine feet in height. with one
| end entirely taken away, and with a
| pOrticO extending over the water for
| several feet These boats are richly ~.
ted up with. mirrors, hue, hand carving,
/ and elegantly polished black-wood fur
ntnre. A hOwerhoat Is not fat boz.
toned craft, so is easily towed A day
/ up the river or down river 90 WhampOa
! (where there is large Chinese naval
station is a delightful experience.
one leaves about II IN the morning.
| servants, cooks, etc, are in abundance.
| In China ones serYanN or hoy" accom-
| panies one wherever he goes.
This is regarded as such fixed Gus
tom that all ocean steamships take ones
| servants free.
Your coolies bring supplies aboard in
large hampers. The party of about TWEEN
~ would not be complete without Nam
| Cheong. the Chinese artist, AT ] o'clock
| lunch is announced, and we find our.
selves as perfectly served as though we
| had been called into our comfortable
dining rooms There Is nothing wanting
game. fruits, Ice, wines Nothing gives
| Nult AtnNNtA AAt ANhANNN pu CERTAIN
beverages may be great
The Chinese picuic mobilization system
Is perfect.
After luncheon. or "tiihn.' as Il Is call
ed "a the East Is over We 70 ashore Al
some conyenicat spot, or stroll about or
recine under me trees-ldly smoking OF
we are Of tho slerner seVl and chatting
Perhaps We visit some OF the famous tea
g rlens and drink Tea.
On the way home 1--WE time ourselves 10
Etf back IN seAstn 70 licss for dinner ~
: O'clock, The universal hour for dinner