The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-06-25
Chinese Festivities,

Chinese CeSlSuleSs
The Hong Kong correspondent of tho
London Times, thus writes Of the Chinese
national festivities: "During the entreocte,
all China has been exploding crackers,
and Hongkong has been celebrating its
Isthmian games" Towards the close
Of the three days of festiyity the Chi
neso holiday became almost exciting
If they had kept up half as sharp fire at
Canton, on the 18th Of December, as they
did on the 14th of February, we should
never have got over the walls with less
loss than 500 men. The streets, both of
Canton, and Hong Kong, were piled with
myraids Of exploded cracker carcasses. -
In Hong Kong, where | passed the last
days of these festivities, grave men and
sedate children were from morning till
midnight hanging strings of these noisy
things from their balconies, and perpetu-
ally renewing them as they exploded
The sing-song woman in their rich hand
some dresses were schreechlng their shrill
songs, and twangng their two-stringed
lutes on every ycrandah in the Chinese
quarter, while the lords Of creation assem-
bled at round table were cramming tho
day-long repast. The women-hired sing
ing women of not doubtful reputation.
in the intervals of their music, they take
their seats at the table opposite the m,n.
They DO not cat, but tfieir business being
to promote the conviyiality of the feast,
they challenge the men to the samshu cud
and drink with them. 1t is astonishing
to see what quantity of diluted samshu
these painted and brocaded shc-celestials
can drink without any apparant effect
Ever and anon one of the company retired
to couch and takes an opium pipe, and
then returns and rccommences his meal
was invited to one of these feasts the
dishes were excellent, but it lasted till l
loathed the sight of food. / believe the
Chinese spend fabulous sums in these en-
tertainmcnts; the sing-song women are
often brought from distances, and are GER
tainly chosen with some discrimination
They are an imitation Of the Chinese
lady; and as the Chinese lady has no cdu-
cation and no duties, the difference be-
tween the poor sing-song girl and the
poor abje,t wife is probably not obserba-
bic in appearance or manner. The dress
is particularly modest and becoming,
They all have great quantities Of black
hair If they would let it fall dishevclled
down their backs, as the Manila women
do, (those glorious ox-eyed Bacchantes, III
whose veins the blood of the Eastern and
Western South meets and riots they
would be more picturesque, but not for
NAL and decent, as China is even in its
wontonncss. The China woman's hair is
gummed and built up into a structure
rather resembling a large fat-iron, and
the ediiice is adorned with combs and
jewels and flowers, arranged with GER
tain taste An embroidered blue silk
tunc reaches from her chin nearly to her
ankles. Below the tunic appear the gay
trousers, wrought with gold CT silver
thread. Then, if she be large-footed
woman, as they are in Hong Kong, we
see the instcp glaclng through the thin
white silk stocking, and very small foot
(when left to nature the chinese have
beautiful feet and hands, in rich slip
per with a tremendous white sole in the
form of an inverted pyramid. In these
sing-song girls you sec the originals Of
the Chinese pictures--the painted faces,
the high-arched, penciled eyebrows, the
small round mouth, the rather full and
slightly sensual lip, naturally or artificial
ly of a deep vermillion, the long, slit
shaped, half closed eyes, suggestive of In
dolence and slyness. 1t is, however, a
Jete, and not an orgie. What the valua-
bic and jocose conversation addressed to
them by the men may mean, j cannot tell;
but their manners are quite decent, their
replies are short and reserved, and every
gesture, or song, or cup of samshu, seems
to be regulated by known ceremonial
For the first time since / have been in
China, have seen Cinnamon under the
influence of samshu. They are not boist-
crous, or even jolly when in this state,
but only sheopish and good-humored. /
saw no quarrels.
I-r~ 4 facetious old IadN, Joeor;l;no.