Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-05-02
USE or BICYCLES IN CHINA.
much Used by Foreigners in the cit"
 les on the Coast.

Consul General Goodnow at Shang- hai reports that the trade in bicycles in China increased very rapidly during the past season and gives promise or even more rapid expansion during the season now opening. Prior to 1881 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 IoF' eigners.
 Society here" says the consul gen. sral, lis 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 CT shine, to outdoor exercise and sportik 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 na- tionality has generally bought wheels made in their owt home country, and at first the English wheel, with brake, mud guard and heavy tubing, predom- lnated. believe that now the more graceful and lighter American wheels have the larger sale.
 "No wheels are made in China, nor tio believe they c3n be made here. No wheels are brought in on less rate of duty than thoBe 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 iE wet, and rough all the time, they are practically impossi- ble 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 eooHe class, in middle and northern China, appears in public otherwise than in long elothes-i. e.. an outer pettieoat reaching to his a0Eles. The few young Cbinamen who rice here either leave off this outer gafIaent temporarily or turn 1t up and fasten it at the waist. They also bring tha long queue of hair over the shoulder and fasten it at the Waistband. Their trousers are as long and full and baggy as the average Woman's divided skirt in America, and have not Eet=seen 2 Chinamaa ride without chain guard to keep the trousers from catching and tearing. No Chinese women ride I have seen it stated in American and English pa- pers that it is now eoumon in Shang- hat for Chinese ladies to ride ia the streets. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The Chinese women of the better class are kept in absolute seelu- ston 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- ters 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, freigbts are less according fy and the feeling of the Chinese pee 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. l do not believe that any other method will give better or more per. manent results than an exposition of United States products at Shanghai"