New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-22
oUR cEAESTTAL POPULATION


Few Of our citizens can have failed to observe the
fuoden Increase If Chinese emielt;on to oCr shores
durfng tho Last three four years. Up to that time
Johs Chinsmsn wss quito q curiosity even in our At
lantic cities and We can remember when half dozen
&c setiaIs wore esteemed great ACCESSION TO the curl
osty department OF Banums Mus am. The arrival
Of tie Chinese Junk of Castle Garden memoir was
the even, Of a season, and probably caused ns much
comnoiion in the Metropolis cid The visit OF the
great Magyar himself subsequently numerous COM
panies Of Chiness Juggiers Dancers nnd Actors APP
peared among us, and though generally 1t was Spia-
rent thai American cupiity had imported these 6
estial ysgabonds yet the late increase of genera
emigration proves sOncInsiyey that there Is some mo
tive beyond this which guides and actuatc stheexodus
of this singular People.
The number of Chinese a. present in this City is
about 00o. or perhaps 500. The greatest part of
those live in Coolest. and Cherry, near Poarisst The
house in Chssry-st is kept by specializing Hoander
who lived for some time sailor in the chinese
Seas and thus acquired smatering OF the language
and some knowledge of their customs He conducts
bis Hotel de Chinois partly on the European, and
partly on the American plan. A portion OF his Gus
toners prefer boarding together, doubtless eTfsec-
ating the Intellectual enjoyment OF daily reur on at
providing their own food, and attending TO their
own cookery. We could find but two CELESTIAL
females in the City, and these regarded with
the most Jealous care by their ccuntrymen. There
was certainly nothing very preposscssing in
their appearance their faces wearing the same
expressionless stpidiiy which chsracterizes their
peope generally and cleanliness with them appearing
TO be A foreign element. Unlike amy other class OF
our inhabitants tic Chinese herd together in what
may be called their social life like many cattle. 1t
Is no unusual thing to find twelve or fifteen occupy
ing one small ROOM and using the same for all culinary
and other purposes Brutazed b. condition in their
own country they become douby so by vice and dis
paton in their contact with the low and vile of
population. II is not to be wondered at that their
countsnanoes evncc stupidity and their very gnit the
lassude of despair. The manner Of their lives Is IN
deed the most unenyiabe that it is possible to con-
coivo.
Tie occupations Of tho Chinese settlers are not re-
raarkaby various are they, as general rule, ex-
tremey particular to the responsibility of the bust
ness in which they engage. few have had the
good fortune TO find occupation in tea warehouses
and in the service Of respectable citizens These
have improved both in a moral and physical sense,
and constitute the better dass of Chinese residents
But the majority have had to fall back on the lowest
expedents of finding subsistence IN order to prevent
their Incarceration in the Ams-IIouses, of which
they stand in extreme dread. By far the greatest
number podde cgors through the streets and occupy
our nublc places with little stalls on which they dis
play variety of cheap cigars and candies. Others
depend entirely on public charity and VIC observed
on one occasion very pretentious john attired in
superatve pair of shoes and embroidered jacket, who
sat comfortably smoking his eigarito on the pave
ment. while printed placard fixed in his cap at
tracted public attention TO him object ofchanty
II Is probable that many Of readers have smiled at
the same absurdity.
II apreers somewhat singular 10 US that public at
tenton has never been directed to the ameliorauon
and improvement Of this class Of persons. Constitu-
tonay united to rough through the severity OF our
northern Winter, the Chnsman might at the South
find climate suited to his physical characteristics,
and labor which is adapted to his power and eompfe-
Lonsion On the plantations of rice, sugar and cot
ton in our Southern States the labor Of these people
would be made productive than that OF slaves
at least such is the opinion given to re by gentleman
formerly living in the Soath, and who might estimate
bv Lie own experience. At ell events something might
be done to elevate the social condition Of this wietched
class and the Societies employed in the CHRISTIAN
duty II spreading enlightenment with the uospci
through the distant regions g. Asia, might surely Gun
poy similar means nearer home TO effect the regenera
ion Of grea; number OF that people whom they 90 50
lar to serve Although true i appears almost ineFed
ibe that here in the midst Of all that Is civilized
humane and progressive there eIst' a numerous and
uniort mate class ignorant Of everything appeItanng
TO Christian society, and perpetuasgn Ignorance and
brutality the pagan ri.es and characteristics OF their
native country.
" from ~ Rakeefrllc