Shanghai Goes Roller Skating

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 175, 27 July 1938, Page 9

Shanghai Goes Roller Skating

SHANGHAI —This city has suddenly 1 forgotten its war problems and gone skating. The skates are roller and the 1 sport precisely suits the present temper I of a city now far from being the 4 4 Paris 1 of the Far East" as it is often describ--1 ed. i Approximately half a dozen large 1 roller-skating establishments are now 1 open. It is hard to give an exact figure because, with summer weather upon the * city, new amusement places start every 1 day or two. Eighteen years ago Shanghai tried ! roller skating for the first time but the i amusement never caught any firm hold, i Now it has made its appeal not only to the foreign residents, but particularly to ■ the Chinese who took little interest i previously. As a fad it promises to run • far head of the Shanghai version of 4 4 wee golf.’' It is amusing to watch a typical roller-skating establishment for the variety of costume is astonishing. A large proportion of the patrons will be i long-gowned Chinese youths of the clerk class. Some of the more strenuous lift ■ their gowns and tie them around their waists but the majority sail about with their garments flapping and occasionally , providing occasion for spills, always with much laughter on the part of everybody. Chinese femininity is much in evidence, although there is not much in clination for youths and maidens to join hands and skate together unless (as is often the case) the girl is so inexpert that she demands male support. In that lease she is likely to be towed about with ■ a boy on each side. There is a great deal of shrieking and general merrymaking. Some children appear and on a recent occasion a little Hindu girl appeared all alone but beaming appealingly upon everyone as she trudged about the rink with little idea of how rollers can be made to roll, but a keen desire to take part in the fun.- Many , of the Chinese paused to give her a helping hand. “I thought I would surprise my husband, so I took cooking lessons when he was abroad," said Mrs Hopson to her friend. “What did he say when he came back?" “Nothing. He just went abroad again." “I can't think why they make so much fuss about Miss Smith's voice. Miss Jones has a much richer one." ■*. “Yes, but Miss Smith has a much I richer father."