The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-01-09


he insertt till forbid and charged for accordingly
-
whiff,. when the pipes permitted to go out.
After rhllosophizing, or talAlng awhile, ii esh
one is lit. and so they go on, often passing
whole evenings without moving from their
divans.
At midnight the shops must be all closed and
Il e lights put out; the police strictly enforce
this law. Woe be unto that poor Celestial
WI ose store Is fJunO open after this hour ne
may esteem himself fortunate if he gets OF with
fine and reprlmand when brought before the
mandarin OF his municipality the following day ;
The most unusual Punishment being imprison-
nent in sort of immense iron birdcage, hung
up ON the public squares for that purpose. Here
they ale exposed to the gibes and Jeers OF the
popuace. who seem to enjoy the sufsrings OF
The shopkeeper fully as much rs the ltallan
does his poiichineiie.
The city is lighted by lamps, suspended from
heavy wooden posts. placed ON either eide Of the
street at intervals of about one hundred feet
Each post supports two lanterns made of a sor:
of oil silk paper-the one being yellow, the 9th
er g,een. The illumination is so completes that
une can see to read anywhere in the street IN
the middle of the night with the most perfect
ease.
The theaters are numerous; they commence
at ten O'Clock at night. Long before this hour
crowds may be seen in front Of The different es.
adjustments, patiently awaiting the opening OF
,he doors. The wealthy have an entrance oil
their own, and are generally attended by SER
wants carrying refreshments such as nuts,
peaches candy, etc which they consume in
the theater, while the play is going on. The
performances consist principally OF historical
nieces in the nature of melodrama. The En-
oerors of by-goue days, their generals, and
mandarins, strut up and down the stage, array
ed in the most costly silk dresses
We learn from the Chief actor, that whole
armies have just been destroyed behind tbs
scenes by the brave Tartar general now knee-
ing before the emperor. His majesty, after Gig
nieing his entire satisfaction with the conduct
of tins great warrior, DEGREES that he and all
his made descendants hereafter and forever more
be permitted, in token of the splendid victories
he has SO CALAMITY won, to wear the symooI
of dragon overcoming lion embroidered on
their dresses behind.
This pageant 10 sometimes varied by the In
PRODUCTION of young girls, who perform fors
of dance to the sound OF queer-looking wooden
and bamboo instruments. The smaller tneaters
are devoted principally to legerdemain, jump
ing tumbling feats Of strength, ard what is
meant for comic singing. Some OF the comic
songs initiate in u very droll maner the cries OF
the small wandering street pedlars. Ehe tim
Grant barber takes the place OF our clown he
ia made TO say all the clever things aud receives
In the most aniable manner, blows, Kicks and
cuffs, to the great delight ct the audience me
strictest order is maintained at all these diner"
enL places of amusement; the police are STATION,
ed at The doors to facilitate the egress and
once the performances are terminated, which
generally happens shortly after twelve, the PEG
Die separate as quietly AS does congregation
ON leaving a Christian church There are no
between acts at Chinese theatre ; the stage Id
continually occupied by somebody.
A curious feature in the streets OF Peking at
night are The offices Of the physicians. The sign
is always the same-a skeleton on one sidej "n
The other n etOul-iooking. imam in apparently ms
most robust health, with bI Dad smile on his
face Between these figures are suspended min
ute paper lanterns, each one of which represents
tn e death IF patient Such is the law. This
legal enactment is strictly enforced and should
any doctor, on the death of a patient, omit to
add another lantern TO his collection, he would
immediately be deprived Of his license, besides
subjected to a heavy fine. There IS more phi-
losnphy in this than appears 81 hfst sIghL ohe
can Judge of The confidence the PUBLIC bestows
ON any particular Hippocrates, by th5 number
of hs vlctIns Il saves all tedious inquiries.
A long string of lanterns naturally presupposes
mu Gu experience and great akiIl i'll the healing
art. A slight illumination bids one beware Of
the new beginner
The business par. of the city is one mass OF
commoton, people going in ali directions with
days drawn by hand, loaded with goods des-
tined for different parts OF the city. The streets
are genera ly wide and clean officials OF var
ious ranks--mandarins generals. and officers OF
the custums--are constantly III nouon When
,hey pass a coolie or laborer, the latter must
stop and bow his head nearly to the ground un'
I'll the powerful man goes by.
The low houses of Pekin seem scarcely Iuft
Gent for the vast population il contains. Bus
very little room is occupied by Chinese FAM.
", ut least in the nddling and lower classes of
lie. In their houses there are no superhuous
apartments. A Chinese dwelling Is generally
surrounded by wall six or seven feet high -
within this Enclosure u whole family OF :hree
generations, width all their respective wives and
children, will frequently be found. Ooe small
Dom Is made to serve for the individuals ofeach
branch Of the family, sleeping in different beds
divided by mats hanging from the ceiling.
The immense retail trade is all done IN one
particular portion of the city, winch Is denseiy
packed together with small two.story buildings,
The lower portion being used for shops or stores
the upper part for dwellings. Some OF these,
especially the silk stores, are filled with the
y Sry richest description OF Chinese goods. The
sic vs. are painted representations OF the artic-
les void, executed with great skill on a soRrt
If oil 1aper pasted on boards, which are tasten,
ed on = Wher side OF the entrance to the shop
this pane resists perfectly we'll the action OF the
rain. ,A.,,
lofty walls With spacious towets AZ lnterVAs,6
bow-shot dis, ant from one another The city
has nine gates, which are lofty and well-Arched;
over them are /, Vge psyllion-rooied towers, di-
vided into nine Stories, each having several
portboles The lower story forms large nail
for the use of the SOLDIERS and officers who quit
guard. and those WHO relieve them. Before
each gate IL an open piece OF ground or square;
his is a sort of place dGTms. Enclosed by sem;s
circular wall. equal in height and thick ness to
hat surrounding the city Tue great roads which
end her. are commanded by paVlliiOn-roofed
lower, like the first, in such manner that, AZ the
cannon on the former can batter tho houses OF
The city, those of the latter can sweep The ada
rent country.
Picking (Ihe northern capitRO is built on a
barren, sandy plain, midway between the Peiho
aid tributary stream, winch united at TIen,
sin, flows into the sea little below Taku. The
distance Iii straight iue from Picking to the
mouth Of the Pei-hO NJ this point, may be- round
ly estimated at one bundled miles.
The province Of Pe-rhe-le; in which PeIkinQ
stand :, and through which the Pei.ho flows, il
a vast plain Ut which those portions only are
cultivated that bO'deT the various streams flow
ing through 1t. L. Is 80 little elevated above
he level Of the sea- that the effects of tide are
leit consi ierably above Peking, and in tie
wet season extensive districts are laid under wa.
lei.
The grand canal flows into the Pei-ho at TEN
.ain, aud formed, until the last few " &rs, The
principal medium Of communication whh the
southern provinces, and the great highway
~ which the immense quantities OF g ain collect
d as portion vi the revenue, was transmitted
% he capual, for the supply Of the northern and
less iavolei portion Of the empire. Lately, how
sver. from she rebels having made themselves
masters of positions the Yang -tsek Iang,
which gave them Tho entrance 10 the grand ca
ua. the ttan iunks have Ueen diverted from
IA Ir usual course and compelled To coast round
ne PROVINCES OF Ding nam aud Shang 1uug, and
o gam Hem srn by navigating the lower por-
ION of the Poi no.