Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03
A PAI-TZE PICNIC.

man merchants in buckboards admirably
adapted for cross-country driving over the
graves that SO thickly pimple the Tien Tsin
plainS the aid to the viceroy in smart
drag, which carried some of the brightest,
prettiest women of the consulates; the tao
tai of the district and other wealthy Chi
nese officials in well-appointed broughams,
and, as a fringe to this cosmopolitan crowd,
the jinrikishas of the unofficial class Of
Cinnamon.
Winter Sports.
Paper hunts are afavorite pastime, and
except that a strong wind sometimes dis
turbs the paper the climate and country
are most favorable for this sport some
pretty hard-cut jumps, ice. walls and grave
in-and-outs furnishing satisfactory excite
ment. Ice boating takes prominent place
among the many diversions that occupy the
community during the river-closed season.
Sometimes the flooded plains bring ice boat
ing to the very doors of the settlement
But few miles away is a marsh which is
fine stretch of never-failing ice, with a
depth that would make an accident merely
uncomfortable, not dangerous. Wrapped in
furs. with a good man at the helm. who
keeps his eyes open for cracks, holes and
open water. the boaters skim over the ice
at speed of from thirty to forty miles
an hour under a fair wind, and they drink
in the keen, fresh air, acquiring an appetite
that would be alarming on an ill-provided
boat But there is generally plentiful
supply of stores on board which an amiable
steward freely dispenses. Tien Tsin Ice
boaters consider a day on the marsh as the
'sublimation of existence Sometimes
there is a regatta, with handsome prizes,
and a tiffin on one of the boats, where the
owners of all the competing craft are en-
tertained
Skating is one of the popular amuse-
ments. The fashionable rink is an artificial
pond on the edge of the settlement. 1t is
incosed in mating and has a mating
hnrn too md "a a
ladies of the Rink Club. who act as host
esses in turn. On the three reception after
nCcns of the week numerous jnrikishas
dash merrily up to the inclosure with their
freight of pretty women, enveloped in the
beautiful furs that a prominent COM
merce of north China. An excellent band
is in attendance the delicious perfume of
jasmine tea is waited with laughter and
chatter from the refreshment stall; quad
rifles are skated, and SO goes vigorously on
this jolly phase of Ten Tsin winter life.
Each gunbOat too, has a rink of Its own
beside the ship. These are inclOsed from
the river traffic by low walls of ice blocks
and are kept in good order by daily sweep
ing and flooding. When the officers give
rinklng receptions, marquee is rugged at
one end of the course, where hot bouillon
and even more inspiring enticing things are
served throughout the afternoon. The flags
of different nations wave gayly from the
tent poles, and each arrival. as he comes
over the ships ladder into the rink, is
Sreeleu ny Ills HdllOndl air, prayed by the
municipal band.
Pai-tze PIcnfcs.
But the rarest sport of a Tien Tsin win
ter is the pai-tze picnic; it belongs on the
Peiho, it has never been exported. Pal
ties unadorned resemble a very WIDE long
&C asting sled, but when on duty for l.icnic
they have elaborate arrangements for COM
fort. Rattan arm chairs are firmly fas-
tened on and luxuriously hidden under fur
robes, Scotch plaids and steamer rugs
Each pai-tze has a guide; he stands on the
stem, with his back toward the passenger
and prods the ice with long rod having a
sharp point In one end, which glides the
sledge forward with a speed that makes an
American sleigh ride slow and tame in
comparison.
At a pat-tze picnic given to the officers of
the American gunboat about fifty sledges
started away from the ship at II O'Clock
one January day; at first in line-of- battle
formation; afterward stringing out into In
dian file. The pai-tZe coolies put on the
pace from the start, and with marvellous
deXterity sent their light-running craft
Swimming down the river at a most ex-
spirits, increased by several rather comical
On one or two occasions a
pai-tZe got turned broadside on the one fol-
lowing shot into it, both spun round like
teetOtums. while the next two or three
tumbled and charged over their disabled
remains and added to the chaos of sprawl
ing coolies and spinning sledges.
Delights of Tfmn
thoroughly carried out, yet nothing was