Rock Island Argus., 1906-02-08
WAKING UP EAST
Y. M. c. A. Athletes Are Ameri-
canizing OrientaIs at
Rapid Rate.
COLLEGE YELLS IN CHINA
Long Finger Nails Discarded and
Muscles Developed by Young
Koreans.

introduced into China and Korea has
been fostering athletics which were
previously unknown to orientals. In
Seoul, Korea, the dumbbell. and set.
ting up drills have been taken kindly
to by the higher class young men. Ii
has been their custom to wear their
finger naifs an inch long and TO take
pride in Il soft, white hand like ladyS,
while to work and to perspire was
hideouS to them. The American Y. NJ.
L. y. secretaries trained on the football
field and cinder path have brought in
gospel Of masculine vigor which Is
changing the delicate eastern members
into strong and vigorous men. They
are now as proud of blisterSd hands,
bruised shins and aching joints the day
after an athletic meet as the American
schoolboy after a football game.
The Christian American athlete is
gaining the same kind of leadership in
the orient as he has in America, and
as leader in Bible classes he Is as
popular and successful as in athletics.
At Tientsin, the primitive old capital of
China, a crowd of 5000 was attracted
to the recent annual athletic field meet
of the association.
Japan is taking To American athlet
les Every college has its baseball
team. and last summer Tokyo univer
sity sent its team, which was trained
by Y. NJ. c. y. secretary, for Il tour
among American colleges. The Tokyo
association has six prominent Christian
physicians on its athletic promotion
committee.
The students of India have adopted
football and other American and Eng
lish games.
This description of n recent field day
held by the Y VI. G. A. at Shanghai
was given by the editor of the South
China Daily Journal. This is a new
thing among Confucianists. American
athletics will go along with the new
education policy lately approved by the
Chinese emperor.
The new life that is stirring China
was strikinGly seen at the sports meet
ing held by the Chinese y. NJ. G. \. q
few days ago. When before In the long
history of Cathay have we seen taotis
holding the tape at the finishing lire as
their younger fellow nationals strug-
gled for mastery on the hundred yard
track or I'm the one mile run?
The day was full of prophecy. At
the pole vault the secretary of Il Chi
neSe duke and the assistant mixed
court magistrate put aside the usual re-
serve and We're. seen enthusiastically
standing upon the tops of benches in
order to hold the cross pole. In the
hammer throw we observed the mana
ger of the imperial Chinese telegraphs
doing yeoman's duty throwing the six
teen pound weight back to the youths
who were waiting their turn. A leading
bank compradore served actively as q
voluntary marshal and helped to keep
the track clear for the 40 yards run
when the excitement was highest.
Give College Wells.
college students in uniform from
different colleges were present. some Of
whom marched to the Y. NJ. c. y.
grounds accompanied by bugles. The
college yells INDUCED in. after the
American style, We're scarcely known
in old China.
Another striking feature was the
presence of Chinese ladies from promi-
nent families. Il special tent being re-
served for them. Chinese ladies acted
as hostesses and also provided the re
freShmentS.
"Taotai Wong Koh Shan, chairman
OF the association, presented the prize
winners at the conclusion of the sports
to Nine. WI Ting Fang. and, as far as
we are Informed, for the first time in
history Chinese lady brought sports
meeting to conclusion by presenta
ton of the medals.
1.-The enthusiasm of the spectators
was intense. and, as one of our Eng
Iish contemporaries remarked, the pres
ence of Admiral Sah's marine band
playing Yankee Doodle and 'Hiawa
thai was certainly In keeping with the
spirit of the day"