The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-12-15


conduct here demonstrates il true"
CruSEsE FUNERAL liz OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES CEREMONY
We fad the following in late number OF tho San Fran
cisco Herald;
yesterday great day in Chnadom. A rich man
had died He had during life, been prominent mer-
chant and occupied position ofnuence among his coun
ymen Ills death was therefore, considered to be event
II he had been poor he might have been carried out
rolled up Ia wndingsheet on the back OF his
some faithful friend, aud tumbled into hastily-eo
sructed grave and with the last sod laid him would
have persisted all ecolecons of his virtues bis faults
With the rich il 10 different His good qualities are
enhanced in the public estimation by knowledge Of his
wealth Virtue, when associated with large possessions
shines out with pare reulgence while poverty obseures
the brightest rays II Is so in civilized communities, and
the Chinese have not been bad imitators. The Chinese
merchant at whose grave most curious ceremony
performed yesterday died about three weeks ago lie
inferred in the Lone Mountain Cemetery without any
pomp Yesterday, however large number Of his rela-
tons and friends proceeded to his grave for the pur-
pose Of making offerings 10 his for
the dead is of the striking characteristics Of the
Chinese II is in fact the OF their
gious belief On arriving al the grave the whole COM
pany aghed from the carriages in which they had been
conveyed and commenced the ceremony by spreading
mats all around it. roast pig placed at the foot
something else at the bead, while all it sewed
appledumplngg, fruits and flowers To outside bar
baran looked very like wegoennp picnic, and TO
all appearance all that the Chinese present required In
der to make very good meal which would certainly be
very practicable and sensible way Of tesfying their
spect for the meuory Of their deceased friend the
chopsticks. Tho decaees were, however all intended
for the Of the hungry sonl Of the deceased merchant
which had not tasted food for three weeks Ga privaton
that would doubt have been seriously felt if it had been
in the hesh) aud which il was supposed lowering
around, smackng its lips the dainty food they had
provided for it, As all tho eatables laid
the grave the widow OF the deceased hobbled and took
her stand at the foot Around her head several yards Of
white cloth rolled priest with very curly pig
tail, very long blue gown reaching to his feet and
very long face, stood at the head The friends and rela
tiyes stood around As the commenced TO
wall all the clothes Of the deceased taken out Of
trunk and set on fire. Among the clothes several
pieces of fine silk, which had apparently been
The whole probably worth over $500. Four canary
birds let loose in order to help the soul of the de-
ceased in its fight TO another world and when the clothes
all consumed and the canary birds had taken shelter
in the neighborng shrubs the priest with the long face
rang bell which be had in his hand at the same time
mutterng prayer ncantaton general howl fol-
lowed The ceremony concluded by the whole company
marching around the grave headed by the priest who
rang his bell every STEP and looked very solemn indeed
The pig and the appedumpinRs, and the fruits and the
flowers and the mating all carefully packed up and
placed in the carriages, and the whole party then
turned town. where, informed, the eatables
posed the grave viii be sold in small pieces eIorb
tant prices to those who are relgiousy inclined