New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-06
4 CHINESE SUMMER COMFORT.
THE "TtNG-GCHE' MAT TO SLEEP ON-MAT'
COVERED FURNITURE IN
CREASIsG IN USE.

Many enterprising NEWCOMERS have begun to
find lately that gunpowder is not the only prof.
table invention in which the natives of the Celes-
tal Empire have anticipated their more enlight-
ened brethren The Acknowledged race long
ago discovered means Of getting a comfortable
sleep in the nest uncomfortable of summer
weather. The furniture dealers of the city have
adopted the Chin materials. putting them to
a slightly different use. to suit American tastes.
The Orientals plan is IA simple one. He gathers
a quantity of the wild water grasses that grow
plcntfuy in his native land. and plaits them into
mat about six feet long and three and half feet
wide. This is used bed-coverng for the hot
DAYS. being laid the couch and needs no extra
cover. as it is smooth and soft to the touch John
also lays this mating his pillow and finds that
it makes comfortable resting place for his
black coiffure "a he need ask for The mattings
are being imported for the use of New-Yorks
Chinese colony, OF course and no Pe-st. dealer In
Chinese goods consider his stock at all COM
plete without assortment of bed mattngs OF
various patterns and sizes. The mats are made or
rattan and split bamboo well as grass. but their
texture is largely the same, whatever the material
used.
Jay Charm, who is connected with Chinese
house on Broadway, said the other day that In
China all classes Of people OF every age. and in all
districts OF the country, use the mats continually
in summer time both on pillows and couches.
The members OF the Chinese houses where these
suspicious of The Tribune reporter who asked for
an interview on the mat subject, and more willing
to sell than discuss, but after prolonged con-
sultation they consented explain the uses of The
mats which were kept standing in racks, rolled up
like sample strips of carpet. The dealers affirmed
that the sale in mattngs is excellent during the
summer months, as every man, woman and child
in Chinatown needs one.
A large proportion of these edcoverings are
made from a peculiar water grass, known as sui
tah and the mating itself has name which the
sounds expressed by tung-gche come as near to as
an American tongue can get The mats vary In
value from 81 30 to g. according to quality and size.
choice of mats as well-to-do Caucassians are In
their choice of furniture.
1t is in furniture. by-theway and furniture alone
that NEWCOMERS have taken up the Chinese idea
of a summer couch. 1t is being imported. from
Japan principally, to use as chair and sofa cover
for hot weather. simply because people have dis
covered how cool and easy and durable seat a
vegetable mat will make. The imported mating Is
of the Ningpoo variety. that Is to say, is made OF a
fine long japanese grass of peculiar texture. cut
while 1t * still young and pable. Mat-covered FUR
nitlre is certainly coming and more into fash
ion any of the big furniture dealers in the CITY
tell. II is favored especially by those VINO own
seaside cottages because no amount or sea air can
injure 1t. well for it, attractive appearance
and the comfort II gives. 1t may not he long De-
fore a large number of the people who use II In
this way may come to take the Chinese hint more
literally and learn to Danish hot weather insomnia
by the of bed OF grass. II not bed OF rushes