CHINA’S YOUTH.

Shannon News, 7 September 1923, Page 3

CHINA’S YOUTH.

FOOTBALLERS VISIT SYDNEY

A STURDY TEAM. | SYDNEY, August 9. Quite a long stretch of the railing on the main deck of the steamer Yoshina iViarui when she saiJed up Sydney Harbour recently was lined wifi j a ribbon of blue and white blazers j surmounted -by a row of Chinese laces with the eager expression of those who drink in -a world of new things opening up beforq, them. Sturdy ana bright looking, the young Chinese University footballers were about to set loot lor the first time in the streets of Sydney,, all fit and ready to meet the soccer teams which have tnrown down the gage to them. Full of life and animation, thej? present rather a striking contrast to the immobile countenance and • deliberate motions that Occidental has, from his -association with the older men of the nation, come' to regard as typically Australian. Som.e are- still students at different universities, arid others have completed their studies, which in several cases includeu courses at Oxford and Cambridge, and are now in big ways of business in the Chinese cities. But all were young ( eiiough to come as near blushing as their fresh tan cheeks -allowed when they were beseiged on the deck when the steamer reached the' wha-ri by a laughing hand of Chinese maidens, the daughters of merchants here, who decorated them with ribbons in the colours of the Chinese Republic and pinned tiny kewpies in their hut-, tonholos. It was a ntelry crowd that soon afterwards swarmed down the gangways, with their chatter and rippling laughter, and passed with wondering and intelligent eyes into the mother city of Australia. Smart in their blazeiu clean, eager, and polite, they are the cynosure of all eyes when they stroll from their quarters at the HoteL Sydney into the crowded streets to see the sights. The visi: was arranged by the Australian Tours, Ltd., mid llie promoter, Mr H. A. Millard, formerly of New Zealand, says that lie -has got a ningTii-ficout team together, 'all 'true sports, who can take a. beating with a. laugh and a victory with modesty. That they will not prove unworthy of their opponents either in muscle or in strategy and science in the Australian -matches has been conclusively demonstrated in their games in Sydney.