Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-07-28
uSEvoF BICYCLES IN CHINA.



Consul General Goodnow at Shang-
hal reports that the trade in bicycles
in China increased very rapidly during
the past season and gives promise OF
even more rapid expansion during the
season now opening. Prior to 1897
very few bicycles were in use on the
Chinese coast, while now. in all ports
where cycling is possible, the habit is
becoming almost universal among for
eigners.
Society here" says the consul gen.
eral, sis dominated by the English who
claim that no man or woman can hope
to endure this climate unless they de-
vote considerable part of each and
every day, rain or shine, to outdoor
exercise and sports. Horseback riding
has been universal among those who
can afford that luxury; others take
long walks daily. The bicycle appeals
to all--rich, middle class and poor
and all classes are using it. The city
of Shanghai is perfectly fiat, and some
of the roads in and Immediately around
the settlements are good. Each ma
tionality has generally bought wheels
made in their own home country, and
at first the English wheel, with brake,
mud guard and heavy tubing, predom-
mated. l believe that now the more
graceful and lighter American wheels
have the larger sale.
mo wheels are made in China, nor
do believe they can be made here. No
wheels are brought in on less rate
of duty than those from the United
States. There are no native roads, as
we understand that term. There are
narrow paths for the pedestrian or the
horseman, but generally not wide
enough for vehicles; dusty in dry
weather muddy in wet, and rough all
the time they are practically impossi-
BILE for wheeling.
Few Chinese have as yet taken to
the wheel. Their clothing is not adap-
ted to exercise, and especially not to
the wheel. No man above the coolie
class, in middle and northern China,
appears in public otherwise than in
long clothes-i. e., an outer petticoat
1
Cinnamon who ride here either leave
off this outer garment temporarily or
turn it up and fasten it at the waist.
They also bring the long queue of hair
over the shoulder and fasten it at the
waistband. Their trousers are as long
woman's divided skirt in America, and
/ have not yet seen a Chinaman ride
without chain guard to keep the
trousers from catching and tearing.
No Chinese women ride. | have seen
it stated in American and English pa
pers that it is now common in Shang-
hal for Chinese ladies to ride in the
streets. Nothing can be farther from
the truth. The Chinese women of the
better class are kept in absolute seclu-
sion from men other than those of their
family. This rule has not been broken
in the slightest degree Even in the
missionary schools, where the daugh-
tiers of the merchants and mandarins
are educated, no man is allowed to see
the girls.
THE customs report of 1897 shows
that In many important products the
imports from the United States have
Increased at the expense of imports
from other nations. We are nearer to
the market, freights are less according
ly, and the feeling of the Chinese peo-
pie is more friendly to Americans than
to the people of any other nation. Now
is the time to push our trade on this
coast. do not believe that any other
method will give better or more per-
manent results than an exposition OF
United States products at Shanghai"
An Accidental Success