Evening journal., 1899-06-20
CHINAMEN ON A PICNIC.
Had a "Vellee Glood Thine"
at Brandywine Springs.
sHELLPOTs SUCCESSFUL OPENING

PERFORMANCES OF THE MIN
sTRELs LAST NIGHT p GREAT
RUSH TO THE SPRINGS TO SEE
THE cELEsTIAIls ON A PICNIC.
Had all trolley lines led to Brandywlne
Springs yesterday It is more than prob-
able that every cur would have been MI
ed to overnowing there was such rush
Of people to that popular resort. 1t not
only seemed the Mecca Of all Of Phnadel-
phia's Cinnamon, but OF wilmlngton's. |
as well. And the rest Of the population
turned out to see the quaint almond
eyed celestials at their fun.
Nearly 1000 Cinnamon enjoyed the fun.
They included $50 members of the Young
Mems Christian Association and the
Dewey Naval Reserves IN their white
uniforms. and uncommoniy wen some OF
them looked, too They appeared like
children at play.
They played all kinds Of games with
the school teachers They learned 10
jump the rope while the girls turned,
having the same difficulty as beginners
TO jump clear Of the rope. They tossed
the bean bag and played ball.
IL was a spectacle for a large crowd
when a Chnaman approached three Of
the bestlooking white teachers In their
Sunday school party and invited them toI
take a boat ride. The simplicity Of his
manner. the eagerness OF his expecta-
tions. the way he held his fingers 20 his
grinnlng mouth like fellow extending
an invitation TO a girl for the FIRST time in
his life. was very interesting. To add to
Johns embarrassment one Of the girls
said: "I don't know what you mean.
There was. perhaps, a little backward
ness on the girls part. as there was a
large crowd OF white spectators present
but they went to the boats giggling and
saying: Come on. girls"
The lake was filed with dozens Of
boats with Cinnamon and the Sunday
school teachers rowing about, setting on
punches OF crackers, splashing each
other, forming the boats m chains and
singing hymns. One Of them made fan
tastlc efforts to play American tunes on
/ the Chinese clarlonet or something like
| It. They fiocked to the acrobatlc per-
formance and ran the gauntlet OF all
the amusement machinery in the place.
One OF their games Is what Is known
10 many people as ''The Fig Mill' or
Three 1fen Morris" They were to be
seen IN groups under the trees with a
piece Of paper marked out. and bits Of
stone and wood and pennies for the
men" There is a little more strategy
IN the same than IN titltat-bo and less
than in checkers. which the Chinese
Il claim IS original with them
The climax OF delight came about
O'Clock in the evening,when the $50 string
Of hrecrackers was set of. 1t was as big
around as an arm, about thirty feet long,
and was strung up on the highest tree by
a boy who risked his life 10 climb q.
Such string OF hrecrackers Is the great
feature Of every Chinese picnic. 1t IS the
contamination Of Chinese fun. The
crackers go OF so rapidly that at a dis
tance the roar can he iikened to the
sound of a cataract.
The Dewey Guards fired numerous sa-
iutes during the day They have been the
means OF raising the Cinnamon seven
teen degrees higher In self-esteem. Lasl
year Missionary Poole said they had
about seventy-five in their Chinese Y. NJ
c. A.. and now they have $50. This
measures the civnizing efrect which the
praise Of Dewey had upon them. The
affair OF yesterday WIS managed by Rev
Mr.. Poole and his assistant, Chang, and
was voted the greatest success that they
? have ever had.
= Most Of the picnickers had straw hats
and under the hat was a carefully curlet
queue. John Chinaman will wear Ameri
can clothes and adopt American customs
to certain extent. but he stFl sticks z
the doctrines Of Confucius In the matte
Of pigtails.
When the Chinamen were ready Il
leave Brandywine Springs Park the.
formed In line and marched to the train
; First came Hyde's Philadelphia Marin
k Band, the Chinese Naval Reserves, mem
y bers OF the Chinese Y. M. c. A.and Sun
day school, and last OF ALL the Chimes
band The last named furnished consid
eralble amusement for the Americans.
THOUSANDS AT sHELLPoT.
There was an immense crowd at Shell
u pot Park last night, every car from earl
e in the evening until after o'clock bein
It packed with jolly humanity. There wer
h no long waits. the railway company hav
ing anticipated the rush and placed -four
teen extra cars In service
The opening attraction was Simmons !
Slocums minstrels in a lively and pleas
ing program. g-ow Simmons and Clar
II Gibbs, In their laughable sketch. ''rf
A. Ghost Show" made a great hit. IN
= singing of the brilliant Quartet was
feature and IT was encored four time
70 The quartet also gave number Of plea
Is ing limitations. Dan Riggin and his mn
slcal elephant. which was recent
brought from Europe, was novelty tn
was introduced during the evening. Clai
n, Gibbs, Jr. appeared In singing al
VA dancing act and Vic Richards gave h
eI morous mOnologue.
IN Each afternoon and evening for q
a, rest OF the week the minstrels Will 81
~ a performance with a change each da
on Friday evening Winona Council
o. U. A. NJ. assisted by Grace Orche
ira, viii give concert, which Will
followed by the regular performance.
o. Saturday the Sunday school OF I
e. Church OF the Savior. Of Phiadeiph
ro will bring between 700 and 1000 excl
81. 40, ha RI