Evening star., 1907-07-28
COLLECTION OF KITES
Array of Fantastic Chinese
Fliers Brought to America.
ON EXHIBITION AT MUSEUM
Part Of Oriental Collection Obtained
by DR.. Berthold Laufer.
|0N EXHIBITION AT MUSEUM
QUAINT AND QUEER DESIGNS
Portray Great Ingenuity and Love
Of Art and Decoration-National
Pastime Of China.

One Of the largest and most fantastic
arrays Of kites ever to reach this country
is now at the American Museum of Natural
History, says the New York Times. 1t
forms one Of the leading features OF a new
and extensive Chinese collection, recently
obtained by the well-known oriental ex-
plorer and traveller, DR.. Berthold Laufer.
Through the generosity Of Jacob H. Schiff,
this collection has become part Of the tnsti-
tuition. It is designed to illustrate the
ancient arts, crafts and industries OF the
empire, as we'll as the present artistic cul-
ture everyday life, amusements and popu-
lar pastimes of the people.
These surprising and extraordinary kites
are not yet all displayed. but in the new
west wing now being built there Is to be
special Chinese hall, where they are to
be effectively exhibited. They were secured
In Peking from celebrated kitemaker, and
consist of about hundred different sizes,
designs and shapes. They cost from %
cents for the smallest up to $40 for the larg-
est and highly decorated ones. In kitemak-
ink China Is far ahead of the rest Of the
world, and In this particular sport she has
no rival among the most progressive ma
tions Of the occident. In vivid contrast
to the crude and unadorned productions of
America, with its tail of rags are the at
tractive. artistic and elaborately painted
playthings of the Chinese.
The kites are wonderful specimens in
their way and portray deal OF ingenuity
especially the love or art and decoration
which runs through the whole life of the
Chinese people from their highest crea-
tions to the most commonplace object of
amusement. The frame of the kite is of
light bamboo, covered with rice paper upon
which is painted in brilliant hues the many
human portrait figures and the various
animal creatures. The plain and simple
shaped kite Of the Yankee boy is put to
blush in comparison with the unique and
gorgeous colored creations of the Chinese.
A National Pastime.
In China kite flying Is a national pas
time, and Is one Of the leading outdoor di-
versions of the sons Of both mandarins and
mobiles, as we'll the lower and middle
classes. They are flown on certain holt
days, of the most popular being the
festival of ascending-on-high occurrin o
on the ninth day of the ninth month on
this occasion the hills and open country are
covered with great professions of kite 6v-
ers. both old and young, who devote the
whole day TO this sport. The kites are
manipulated by a coil of strong cord wound
over reel. In Fuchow some 30 600 peonle
assemble on the hills annually during the
KITE festivals to watch and join in this
highly popular amusement
The great variety of the fitting FORMS
thousands or more, cause a marvellous spec
tace in the air, producing a sort of pano-
rama OF the hobgoblins of the upper world
The universal use of the kite is not looked
upon as a form OF amusement alone but
has a sort of religious interest connected
with it. as each particular kite has its
meaning and conveys some emblematic
Idea story or legend is suggested, and
some famous god or warriors face may be