The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-22

I
on, Il iIhard % quit them all and die
We are renewed with freshness and the pail
Ofyesterday is cast like worn shawl
We wear to-day, like maiden her new bonnet
Or youngstcr pect his first printed sonnet;
And yet tomorrow viii but DOR repeat
The cloyd scenes that to-day 10 seem 50 sweet.
CHINESE TEMPLE IN BAN FutNCIsUO.
The San Francisco Bulletin has an interesting
account Of a wonderful temple just completed in
that city by the Chinese residents
at may not be known 20 all our readers that
there are in California six influential and wealthy
Chinese companies, which are partly commercial
associations and partly benevolent orders, and
with which all the Chinese Who come hithcr are
in some sort connected. These companies are
known as the Same Yep, YeUug WO, See Yen.
Ming Yeong Hop WO, and YCu Wo. They rli
have their headquarters in this city. Every Non
gOlian who comes TO this coast l. either CONSIGNED
to the care or indentured to the service of ono of
these companies. They have a complete registry
ofthc names and whereabouts If their country
| men, are bound 10 look after them in health ana
sickness SO long rs their connection with the com
pany is preserved, and If they die here to return
their bodies TO China.
-. "Ihese Chinese companies also mix the re-
! lRiouS element with their business, not seeking
| 70 proselyto Us 'outside bArbnrians' but 10
| furnish temples wherein the members of their
own guilds may worship the wooden gods of the
| Celestial Empire, and burn Josh sticks and holy
| paper. The See Yep Company have long had a
| temple. The Ming EeOng Company have recently
| buut large establishment which has been
| popularity reported 70 be "A PAGAN temple wherein
an manner OF idols are wOrshipped and mystic
| and partly wrong
" The main building is Of brick, about twenty
rect 'front.' forty feet deep, and h"Cg stories high
The front is q recessed arch under square cor
nice, the window opening upon ron-railed bal
comics built within the arch and outer square line
OF the building. This ediice ,upgroachod through
a square one-story brick opening into an inner
court. The first floor Of the main building is
divided into several small reception and smoting.
rooms, at the entrance TO which stands a police
officer who admits whoever has one of the invita-
ton cards issued by the company. In these rooms
visitors are sometimes handed a cup of tea some
ined cakes, or paper cigar, and Cinnamon may
be seen reclining on lounges and smoking mines Of
wood ana metal, which emit very yilauous
smell.
"Back Of the reception.rooms is a sort of altar.
covered with gilt and red hhngings, the front
being open and showing what resembles a sue
cession Of small steps or Shelves which are
covered with paper and inscribed with Chinese
characters. This is the register OF the dead
Here are inscribed the names Of all the members
or wards of the Ming Yeong Company who have
died in California. In front of this ghosty record
lamps are kept burning night and day.
"Ihe furniture of al the apartments on the
first floor is Of the painest description. On the
second floor is the cOmpany'S business room or
exchange, where the president or Sing Song,
whose name is Wing Ga, and his head manager, |
An wee, sit and smoke and talk, receive visitors
]
It's ordinary concerns, relieving the telium of |
these occupations with an occasional tune on |
some of those thrilling two-stringed instruments !
for which Chinadom ia so famous.
but the wonder Of the whole building is the |
temple in the third story. The first glance at it |
reveals only confused heap OF gilt, crimson aud |
blue cabinets, brass ornaments, crimson hang. |
ings and gaudy signs, while the air is ladened |
with warm and sickening odors. A more careful |
survey extracts something wonderful and sys- |
lemEuc from this mc'G1ge Of barOGrc tinSel and |
furniture. The walls and ceilings are nearly hid
with the huge crimson, blue and gilt signs each
bearing four large etters-supposed to be a motto
OF some sort-and some an inscription in smaller
characters on one end. These are said to be
presents from other companies, and from friends
here and in China Across the centre of the
room are placed three cabinets, each about ten
feet long by two feet wide and four feet high,
made OF exceedingly dark and heavy wood, and
the fronts carved in high relief in the most gro
teSque and elaborate manner Some of the
carvings represent the interior of houses, with
| figures OF men, beasts, birds, and insects in
| strange juNtaposition; while others consist of
! trees, vines, and scroll.wOrk-au gided, the
| background being the original dark color of the
| wood.
"On the top Of these massive cabinets are large
! bra2iers filled with incense or containing live
coals, N whch sticks OF sandal-woOd are slowly
! burning; fantastic wax mpers; sticks Of punk
three feet high and four inches thick; loflv YES
scs Of metal Ike tin, whose use is not aDparcut:
| small images; peaked yellow flags; pyramids, or
! tallS and insccte, mixed with tinscl ornaments;
/ blazing ampsi carved and gilt sticks of sandal
wood, &c Along the sides Of the room, at the
end OF these cabinets of embroidered silk round
and square, and frngod drums; brass emblems
/ military and civic; and weapons of war. In the
rear of ell this splendor stands the altar OF Josh
the wooden god Of the almond-eyed idoators.
Ihis is square alcOye OF carved and gilded wood,
in which sits the awful Josh himself-a big
paunChcd Chinaman with byiCb-red face, long
strips OF red cloth flowing from each side Of his
n iIg of hI,aly hove I,,s,
ing out Of his chin and the corners of his month
and bis person bedi2ened with blue green, Grim
SON. and gilt carvings, studded with bits of glass,
torspresent his small clothes, and high above
his head brass sun, nS If this celestial superst-
ton ned mixed with il a bit of Parseesm.
awe were asked to believe while in this awful
presence that Josh, when alive on eartn stood
fifteen feet in his bare feet welded a battle.axe
that weighed ton, and one day killed thirty
thousand Of his foes. In proof Of this story, we
are shown by All Wee, in manner that admitted
Of no controversy, wooden battle-aXe highly
carved and gildGG, which is an exact representa-
tlOn Of the one that Josh swung with such fatal
fury. Under JOsh's august nose blazed several
: Oil lamps; and sticks Of burning sandal-wOod
and punk, and braziers Of incense powder sent
up wreaths Of smoke, llling the room with an
5 Odor that was rather pleasant after a while
Before this altar the heads OF the companies clad
, in long blue robes and black skul-caps appear
daily during the festival, bowing, kissing the
% floor, and chanting, while the Som Yen and
Good Kim are twanged and drums are beat in
, horrd dssOnanCc. Hither are brought offerings
of baked and raw mcats-Wh0le sheep and hogs
record Of these is kept but with the exception
) of the left headquarters Of the baked animals,
they are taken away again by those who bring
, theJn. Ills Is an economical form Of sicrfce,
. and probably docs Josh as much good as though
J his yoares did not save their bacon carefully.
The religious ceremonies are soon over (and that
IS another wise CcOnOmy) tbOngh during the
current festival they are frequently repeated.
, at is n curious fact that the Chinese do no.
resent or apparently object TO the presence of
Americans during these rites. Perhaps they are
, willing 20 give ms every opportunity to be con.
Ycrted, and desire 20 get us an example Of libs-
rality and courtesy which we will be loag in
! following"
Learning aud Longevity.
An examination Of the neurology Of Brown