The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-11-19
From the Editor.
.frr0ss fhe Continent,
SAN Francisco. Nov. I, -

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. i, 1907.
Promptly at 7 O'Clock Friday evening, our
Celestial friend, AR Wing, called upon US to ae-
company him to the Theatre, AR Theu Thung.
Ar Ying's partner. with four servants to hold
our hats and coats, and TO lug cold lunch, ci-
CARS and tea. joining our party at the entrance
hall. The hospitality OF these Chinese mer-
chants is cordial and to their full means. They
have horne much persecution, and although
they have lived il down, and now have powerful
friends who will sec them protected, they are
very kind 10 white friend, AMI feel cOmpli-
mentcd to he noticei by them. They are al
ways polite and respectful, but you must be in
troducel to them by some mutual friend, nyou
would have him talk with you in any words
not absolutely necessary to conduct business.
They have no homes to invite you to, since
there are not twenty married Cinnamon in the
whole Of California. 1t is estimated that there
may be 5000 ChinawOmen on the Pacific coast
who. with perhaps one or two extraordinary
exceptions, are all prostitutes. John does not
bring his wife to this country since he docs not
come to stay. and IL he is merchant he has
private room fitted up FOR his "hOusc" where he
receives his friends, and treats them TO the in
ev;table cigars, tea and champagne. The tea Is
made in the morning. never boiled, and the jar
is enclosed In silk bag to preserve its temper
a,ure, and Is drank about milk warm, passed
around in little tca-cups holding about as much
Us wine-glaS,, and they laugh at the idea Of
adding to it milk or sugar. II YOU are polite
YOU will take only one cup, which is. a, they
make IL, q specific for quenching thirst.
but let US hasten back to the theatre where
we have left our friends too long in the cold
We pass through narrow alley in and around
which were the celestials as thick as boys around
brass band, and enter the cii6ce which Is fin
ished about as deliberately asa barn. 1t eOu-
sists Of q pit and one circle. Our boxes were in
the dress circle and overlooked the stage, and ss
the actors looked up to sec four "Melicans" rs
auditors. we could but notice the pleasure dis
played upon their eountenances. Let US look
around. The pit viii scat comfortably about
800 and the dress circle about 200. Below. the
pit "a nearly full with Cinnamon Caring with
enrspturcd eyes and listening with enrspturcd
ears, for the play Is already commenced. They
all have their hats on. and by the way. II John
has one weakness more than another. II Is for
chickens and felt hats-,he one he eats AMI the
other he wears, the hat being what was in the
East called the Kossuih hat, and went out Of
style years ago-and the most Of them are
smoking cigars. One half Of the dress circle is
partitoned of at the entrance. or directly front
ing the stage. for the Chinese iadiss. and NO
men arc allowed to sit with them; at any rate
no Chinamaa win sit there, for they are all
prostitutes. AMI the disgust with which Theu
Thung spoke Of them must be seen to be spprc-
ciatel. There 10 no drop curtain to the stage,
the orchestra sit on the rear Of the stage, and
oil the changes corresponding to onr shifting Of
essaery. u performed In front Of the audience.
The actors como In at one eurtained door and
retire at ssothss. Tho musicians are, gong
striker. tin-pan-stsiker. cymbal-strikcr. fiddler.
blower. (what he blorei don't know, since IL
was . cross bet~sc, aageolette and tin horny
and bApjoist The background consisted Of q
wall scAntily covered with tapestry and sem