Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-11-24
Ofnfral 5ntellieentf.
THE CHINESE.


they are so remarkable for their strange
appearance that one is inclined to the be-
lief that they are much more numerous
There are streets exclusively inhabited by
Cinnamon. There they do every kind of
business; they are butchers, tailors, shoe
makers, and green grocers, and as they live
exceedingly crowded, the streets swarm
with the sons of the Celestial Empire, es-
pecially In the evenings, when the work
men return from the factories Almost all
are of small size, but pretty solidly built. I
saw, however, three or four who were over
six feet, especially one of them, a factory
hand, of q really gigantic frame.
They have already somewhat American
lied their native costume. They wear the
ordinary breeches, and a kind of dark
blue coat without collar. Their broad
shoes are made of silk or cotton, with heavy
felt soles. The laboring class has already
converted itself to the customary leather
boots, and many conform to the western
fashion of putting the pants in their boots
The working men cover their heads with
broad brimmed straw or Woollen hats, while
the richer class wear caps made of silk. To
one national fashion, however, every China
man viii forever stick; for all, without an
exception, keep their queues. Their heads
are shaved, except a small circles of from
three to four inches in diameter, from which
the dressed queue, usually interlaced with
silk or woollen ribbons, descends to the
calves. When they are at work they fasten
the queues around their heads. @ 8
Almost all the Chinese in California be-
long to the class of workingmen, and are
employed in almost every kind of labor
At San Francisco people speak of them in
the most contradictory manner. Some call
them thieves and liars, and describe them
as dirty; others praise them for their relia-
bi6ty and cleanliness. In regard to some
points, however, all seem to agree, namely,
that they are peaceable, quiet race, of
temperate and frugal habits, and that they
prove to be decile, laborious, and enduring
workmen. | visited various factories where
ia many hundred Chinese were employed
at almost every branch of labor, and the
owners and superintendents variably testi-
fed to their good character and ability
The Chinese, enable; by their fewer wants
to work at cheaper rates than the white
iaborers (their wages in the woollen and
tobacco manufactures is only 81 at an
average are preferred in all these branch
es to white laborers. This circumstance
very naturally exasperatas portion of the
white inhabitants against the Chinese. but
1t is probable that many industries could
not stand foreign competition, and would
have to be abandoned altogether if they
could not procure the cheaper Chinese Ia
Dor. -
The inference. therefore, naturally fol-
lows that the industrial development of the
States on the Pacific depends in great
measure on the employment of Chinese la
Dor. Hence, inasmuch as Chinese labor is
hn aIx Oe
these regions, it evidently benefits the
whole population, including even those
white laborers who now are frightened by
the competition of the Chinese. Valuable,
however, as they are as producers, they are
much less so as consumers. The Chinese
need Incredibly little to live on. They are
satisfied with little rice, few eggs, and
little meat for a change. Most of their
victuals are imported from China, even the
eggs, which for preservation, are covered
with resinous crust. Yeti am told that
by this process, they acquire taste which
does rot much suit the palate of our people,
These importations are exclusively made
by Chinese merchants, and the Chinese
laborer who lives within their reach pur-
chases of them everything he needs. The
savings of the Chinese are not invested in
this country, but are transmitted to 1hina,
SO that In reality they do not bring much
money into circulation. The poorer classes
among them are uncultivated andignorant,
but I was told that they generally read and
write their own language. They adopt very
little of American life, and they stick as
closely as possible to their own native
habits, although that is not always free
from inconvenience to them.
was invited to the house of fischer
4
was to be introduced to various of his
friends and countrymen. In his store
rooms, which contained a rich variety of
imported Chinese goods, I found Sing Man,
Tschang- -Tshu, Fung-Tung, and others, the
cream of the Chinese business community
of San Francisco. We were offered cham
pagne, preserved Chinese fruit, and tea.
which we drank without milk or sugar, but
had wonderful aroma; also cigars were
not wanting The wealthier Chinese soon
become accustomed to some of our occid-
entail enjoyments. They spoke English
pretty huently; yet, as they find it hard to
pronounce the letter r, they are sometimes
not easily understood Fung- Tung also
understands some German and French.
and he addressed me with well-sounding
'sWie gehts innen?" The conversation
turned ABOUT Chinese and American affair S,
and my new acquaintances proved to be
acute observers and well informed, cu,ti-
waited and intelligent men. The better
class of Chinese merchants are highly re-
spected at San Francisco; their tact, acute
ness, and spirit of enterprise are universal
ly recognized.
We were invited to performance at the
Chinese theatre, and Yen-Pinn, the mana
ger of the opera house, promised US parti-
cularly nice piece. One evening we went
there, accompanied by Fung- -Tung, part
ner of the firm of Tuck-Lechang & Co.,
which means in English, Virtue forever. y
All the Chinese firms are designed by such
smart sentences. The entrance to the
theatre resembled that of the temple,
though it was perhaps little less disagree
able. We had to push ourselves through
a thick crowd of Cinnamon of every age
The audience room, divided into galleries,
balconies and the pit, like our own theatres,
but badly lit and poorly ornamented, was
densely packed with people. We had our
seats reserved in the dress circle near the
stage. Everybody smoked, and the house
was filed with thick and overwhelming
atmosphere. The piece commenced. There
we're no sliding scenes. The background
consisted of wall scantily covered with
tapestry and sentences printed in the lar
gest type.
Immediately by the wall there was ia
BILE and a few wooden stools. They were
occupied by the orchestra, consisting OF
few young men in Chinese costume, WhT
constantly drank tea and smoked theI
pipes. (The audience is presumed, as
seems, to imagine the orchestra to be IN
visible to IT'D The actors entered by a mar
row door in the rear. The action of the
play, according to the explanation of Fung
Iung, was very simple. The story had
happened IN the ancient prebarbarous time
a wise and well-deserving man calls on 6
nigh othcer of the court He is elevated
10 a hlgher rank. After this he expects tc
return, the court entreat him to remain,
but at last he leaves, followed by genera
regret. The stage becomes filed with 8
vast number of persons in richly embroid
cred costumes. Soldiers, princes higl
officials, venerable old men with Ions
boards, ,marchswlmmingly across the stage
At once the orchestra broke out, ne9e