That the athletic spirit of China is being revived throughout China} at the present time was never more fittingly. demonstrated than at the meeting of the Shanghai Chinese Athletic Association at the West Gate recreation grounds. The events of which there were 14 on the Programme ranged all the way from Chinese boxing to combats with sword, pike, lance and battle axes between pairs of Chinese, who were without armour or protection of any kind. They relied chiefly on their great skill and activity to preserve them from dangerous injuries. This style of play as indulged in by Chinese athletes is truly a game for men. It is only by agility and quickness that you prevent losing a foot or ahead. the boxing, side-stepping, dodging and the use of the hands in blocking blows was nothing short of marvellous. It is safe to say that were these same men schooled in boxing as we know it, they would be a fair match for any foreign expert.
With the proper encouragement and the development of the athletic int along the lines laid down by the Shanghai Chinese Athletic Association, it will not be long before this influence will be felt throughout the whole of China and will tend to do more than anything to regenerate China and put her in her proper place among the nations of the world.
Among the athletes who were prominent with their feats of strength and agility were: Lin Kwan-pao and Dzung Sing-sang, former officers in the Qhinese Arniy, and Gyiao Wu-shang all athletes but also prominent among the members of the guild as merchants in the Chinese city.
The Shanghai Chinese Association which has a membership Athletic D: of over 600 of the prominent Chinese of Shanghai selected the committee given below, to take charge of yesterday's proceedings. The events were run off in a smooth workmanlike manner which was a credit to the committee. There were addresses by several of the prominent niembers after which the programme was run off. The Arsenal band, kindly loaned for the occasion, contributed music which helped to add to the spirit of the occasion.
The following members compose? the committee in charge:—Messrs. Hsia Foh-zsu, Chairman; Yang Sua-chu, Chinese Comniissioner of Foreign Affairs; Wong T-dang: Zee Vee-wai. Secretary of The Chinese Tract Society; Wong Dien-who, Wu Zee-ching.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.