This is the stereotyped answer that will come from any
Chinaman to almost any question he may be asked about
things Chinese.
"For instance?" we further inquired.

"Forcing the city gates," he answered.

"Play it for me."

The boys at once appointed captains who chose sides
and they formed themselves into two lines facing each
other, those of each line taking fast hold of each other's
hands. The boys on one side then sang:

He stuck a feather in his hat,
And hurried to the town
And children met him with a horse
For the gates were broken down.

Then one from the other side ran with all his force,
throwing himself upon the hands of the boys who had
sung, the object being to "break through," in which case
he took the two whose hands had been parted to "his
side," while if he failed to break through he had to remain
on their side. The others then sang. One from this group
tried to break through their line, and thus they alternated
until one side or the other was broken up.

The boys were panting and red in the face when the