The sun., 1894-05-06
rnEY COULD HANDLE 4. PADDLE
Two Chiunr-en mt Central Park Late Carry
Their "Pu-h.pu-h" Boat 10 Victory.

Two Chiunr-en mt Central Park Late Carry
Their "Pu-h.pu-h" Boat 10 Victory.
Among the Sunday crowds that seek recrea-
tion in Central Park during this sunny
season there are always q number OF Chinese
in full gala costume. They have Just one OBJ
jcct in going there. and that is to get a boat
and spend all the time they can on the water.
Those that can't row hire man to pull them
about the picturesque little lake. and sit bolt
upright on their seats. looking neither to the
right nor the left. They take their outing as IL
It were profound aud serious ceremony Few
OF them row themselves. and those that do are
as n rule. Indifferent oarsmen.
There were two Cinnamon at the lake last
Sunday who were an exception to this rule,
who attracted much attention from the
crowds They couldn't fnd boat to suit them
atflrst. To all the boatkeepers proffered craft
they returned refusal with vigorous shakes
Of their heads.
mo likee same boat" said the smaller OF the
two. Want push push boat"
Then they both made peculiar motions with
their arms Suddenly 1t dawned upon the
boat keeper that what the Celestisls wanted
was canoe and that the motions were intend
cd to represent padding which they desig-
mated as push push" He produced q very
pretty little canoe. to the great satisfaction Of
the Cinnamon. who seized the paddles. took
their places. and. after gravely rolling their
sleeves up from arms like pipe stems. pushed
of. Their debut was the signal for q chorus
OF jeers from the urchins who lined the banks.
"Oh, git onto do Chinksr' Push on yer
paddle there. washee- washeei" Look at tn
arms on 'em" Say. Chink, hitch yer pigtail
to oar. n II ye fall In It'll hold yer upl"
The Orentals paid no attention to tho ieers
but padded slowly out with an easy. sweeping
motion OF tho paddles. Presently two burly
young men, who had been perspringly speed
Ing a light rowboat up and down the lake.
rowed up to the Cinnamon and derisivsly chal-
You want row racee boat. hey2" Inquired
the, smaller Chinamsn. Go other end lake.
That's the idea Chink.' returned the young
men In a breath. Then they turned to their
"Just watch us do the heathens dirtI'
Boat and canoe lined up together. with the
pigmies beside their stalwsrt young competi-
tors. At the start the youths pulled quickly
and dtS hs sano s Ser be-
that the crowd was howling taunts at them for
graceful swing which brought them to the
turning point two rods behind the leaders. As
an apparently easy victory. dropped his oars
and snouted:
Come UP here and we'll give you a tow"
No sooner had he spoken than the Chinaman
nalr rose. dipped tnelr paddles deep. anu with
an amazingly powerful and deft stroke sent
their light craft cutting through the water.
backward and forward like clockwork they
went, the water foaming up at the PROV OF
the canoe and eddying away behind as 1t eat
up the distance between 1t and the rowboat.
The festive youths were now working hard.
Their faces and even the backs OF their necks
were red with straining and they were splash
ing ahead at great rate. But the rhythmi-
cal stroke OF the small heather behind was
driving the canoe up upon them. On the
bank derlsiop had changed to admiration
nj w
their bow forged ahead Of the boat
race seemed practically ended but there was
one more incident. As they neared the finish
the paddlers suddenly threw themselves to
one side. and swept over the line in long.
graceful curve that crossed the bows OF the
vanquished Then they bent their heads
courteously to their opponents
But there was no courtesy in the defeated
party. The stroke. as the boat tioated up near
the Chinamen. splashsd ltt Q shower OF
water over them with his oar. In an instant
the canoe swerved around. there was a swift
moveme ent OF the paddles. and two solid col.
umns of water few straight into the faces Of
the disgruntled oarsmen; Soaked through;
they put for the shore, while the crowd cheered
its aIprecation OF the cleverest bit Of boat
manshin that has been seen for long time In
Central Park,