Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-07-18
The Chinese es san Francisco.
BY JAY wHIPPLR.
sax FRRxcIsco, June 90, 1863.

FRIEND LUTE:-It has been several
weeks since have written you, but in
nv last letter, promised in the mex; to
speak Ct he Celestial Race as they MAJ
be found here. possessing all he Peculiar-
tiles OF distinct people.
In this city there are about 5000 of
them. and in The entire State, nearly
double that number. Many of those
here ere wealthy, and have large business
establishments, but their business IS con-
fined almost exclusively 10 one commOd
ity-Tea.
Dupont ard Sacramento streets are
peopled principally by John Cinnamon,
and the property on these streets, to a
considerable extent, is Owned by them.
The State laws prohibit them from yo-
ting, neither are they allowed to give
testimony in courts against ''white men,
except in criminal cases. They appear
10 have 10 inclination to adapt themsel
YES TO tie laws, habits and customs of the
American people, and when an oath is
administered To them in a Court of JUS
tice, they do not seem to understand its
meaning or obligations. But, mind you,
thew are not iliiterate: nearly all are well
educated in their own language, and
large portion of them are shrewd and
sagacious in their business. They do not
assimiiate with the Anglo Saxon, but are
truly distinctive people.
The women are suborJinates and many
of them slaves to ;he men, and The light
in which thew are viewed wou!d not very
well accord witk the feelings, taste and
refinement of ~ American lady. they
believe their women to he things, TO 90
and come at their billing, TO obey their
mandates AID conform TO their wishes.
Ali the males who die here, or in any
foreign land, are sent home to China for
burial. but the dead of the females are
unostentatiously buried wherever they
NAV happen to shuttle of the mortal
coil.
Thev believe that in order that the
soul OF man may reach heaven in safety,
that the body must be convcyed TO the
land from whence if sprung; but as the
women lave no soIls, il would bs on
f.uitIess expenditure of money for use
Iss, transportation, as afterwards no mi
grafton would take place.
Many Of the men, in the matter OF
dress, have adopted The American cos
tune, and wear it with taste and Gle
gance surprising that of those "nat;ve
AMI 10 the manner born" To lock at a
Chinese slipper, one might imagine il i'm
possible to shape the foot 70 anything
less cumbrous and rcomy, and neater
fitting boot than that belonging to an
Amercaaizcd Caiaaman, is rarely seen.
Pantaloons fall easily aud naturally over
legs that have kncwn unlimited freedom
and bagginess, and even garrote collars
meet correctly around sun-tanned throats.
There is one article of American wear
that he avoids. have not, as yet, been
panied by the spectacle Of = tall bat on
the lead of a Chinaman, neither have |
ever seen hoops on Chinese lady.
The expres.io Of the Chinese face in
the aggregate, IS neither cheerful nor
happy. There appears to be an abiding
consciousness of degradation-a secret
pain or self humiliation visible in the lines
of the mouth and eye. They but seldom
smile, and their laughter is Of an extra
ordinary and sardonic nature, purely
mechanical spasm, quito devoid of any
mirthful attribute.
The witnessing of a theatrical exhibit
ton by natives, You nigh; think would
change my mind on this point, but it did
not. But a serious difficulty presented
itself-the impossibility of determining
whether the performance was tragedy
or farce.
/ thought l detected the low comedian
in an active youth, who turned two SOM
ersaults and knocked everybody down
on entering the stage; but unfortunately
nobody laughed who seemed to under
stand the singular performance, and |
concluded that it could not be classic
resemblance to the legitimate farce Of
American civilization.
TWAS noticeable however, that my un-