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Show PASS SUMMER IN TEMPLES Peking Custom of Which the Only Merit Is Assurance of Absolut Peace and Quiet. "Temple parties" const! tuto a papular papu-lar form of diversion for tho summer-months summer-months In Peking. Tho hills to the-westward the-westward aro dotted with so-called! temples rambling compounds of one-story' one-story' buildings, built centuries ago by emperors In memory of depnrted an- , cestors. The buildings Invariably. sur ':' round a paved court or often n series of such courts, shaded ns a ruleby century-old trees. In tho temple proper-Is proper-Is still to bo found a gigantic "Buddha" or Idol bcforo whom Joss-sticks are-llghtcd are-llghtcd at intervals by priests and acolytes, of whom there nro generally-' a half dozen all told, occupying a portion por-tion of tho compound. It is qulto cany and Inexpensive to-accuro to-accuro Uio uso of one of Uicse temples-one temples-one or moro of tho unoccupied subsidiary sub-sidiary bulldlngsrfor n week-end, a week or the whole summer. TJjey nre-cntlrcly nre-cntlrcly without furniture except Insofar Inso-far ns-n raised platform whereon the-Chlncso the-Chlncso used to sleep might bo called: furniture. Onco Installed the occupant enjoys nbsoluto pence nnd quiet by day. As a ru!.o he sleeps In tho company or ono of tho lesser "Buddhas," who It-hidden It-hidden behind a curtain. The only-intrusion only-intrusion upon hi" nrlvncy occurs when, tho priest or ncolyto brings food and. places It beforo tho idol and returns later to rcmovo what tho rats have-left have-left of it A number of tho oldtlmcrs In Fekingr hnvo their temple leased year after-year after-year and pass tho summer there. For- ' tho novice, owing to tho general lack: of everything that makes for comfort,, onco is enough. It Is a thing, however,, that everybody must do once. , |