Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-11-25
THE CHINESE.

to this city than any other in tho country.
They number from &c. 600 to "a, 600, but
they aro 20 remarkable for their strange
appearance that one ID 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 NJ they live
exceedingly crowded, tho 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.
saw, however. three or four who were over
six ieet, especially ono Of them, y factory
hand, of really gigantic frame.
They have already somewhat American
ICED their native costume. They wear the
ordinary breaches, and 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 brimnlsd straw or woollen hats, while
the richer class wear caps made Of silk. 10
one national fashion, however, every China
man will 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 iuterlaced with
silk or woollen ribbons, descends to the
calves. When they are qt work they fas:en
the queues around their heads.
Almost all the Chinese in California be-
long to the class of w0SkjngMeu, and are
employed in almost every kind of labor
At San Francisco people speak Of them in
the most contradictory manner. Some call
the M thieves and liars, and describe them
| as di.ty; others praise them for their relia-
bility and cieanlilcss. In regard to some
points, however, all Seem - ag:ee, namely,
! that they are q peaceable, quiet race, OF
temperate and frugal habits, and that they
prove to be dociis, .ah4erious, and enduring
! workmen. visited various factories where
in many hundred Chinese were employed
at almost every branch Of labor, md the
owners and superintsndepts saFiahly testi-
fed to their good character and ahility.--
The Chinese, enable; by their fewer wants
to work at cheaper rates than tho white
laborers (their wages in the woollen and
tobacco manufactures is only 81 at an
ayeyea } are preferred in all these branch
es to white {skosefs. This circumstance
very naturally exasperstes 8 pgItsSn Of the
white inhabitants against the Chinese. but
it is probable that many industries could
, net stand foreign competition, and would
boz. ia =
Tho ipfsrence. therefore, naturally fol-
lows that the industrial development Of the
States on the Pacific depends in great
measure on tho employment Of Chinese Ia
Dor. Hence, inasmpch as Chinese labor il
| these regions, il evidently benefits the
whole rorulat;op, including even those
white laborers who vow 6re frightened by
the competition Of the Chinese Valuable,
however, as they are q producers, they are
need incredibly little 10. live on. They are
satiseed with little rice, few eggs, and
little meat for 9 change. Most Of their
victuals are imported from China, eysn TIE
eggs, which for preservation, are Covered
With reiinous crust Yeti am told that
by this process, they acquire taste which
does rot much suit the palate of our people.
| These ilNpG1tgtions are exclusively made
by ChiAssse, }nIssroisnts, I'D the Chinese
laborer who lives within their Teach pur.
| chsses of them everything he needs The
t5!s 5Sa1ff &c to cSina
so that In reality they do ltt bring Wpeh
], money into circulation. The poorer classes
among them are uncultivated and ignorant,
!! bnt was told that they generally read and
write thsir gym language. They adopt very
closely as possible to TIER Own nati7e
habits, although that is not always FREE
from inconS epiepee TO: them. -.
Twas invited TO-. thes kaRss; Of fischer.
Tung. nm opulent Chinese merehsut, whore
was to be introduced to various Of bis
friends and countrymen. In his store.
rooms, which contained rich variety Of
imported Chinese gSods, found Sing. Man,
Tschang- Eshu, Fang Tang, aud others, the
cream Of the Chinese business community
| Of San Francisco. We were offered cham
| payne, preserved Chinese fruit, and tea,
which We drank without MILK or sugar, but
hadsa wonderful aroma; alsQ cigars were
not wanting. Ths wealthier Chinese soon
become accustomed to some of orr occid-
entail enjoyments. They spoke English
pretty Auently; 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.
0Ou lao 0uuEe6S0U 1UO Will p WS1l.bN4UUyu&
"Wie gents inpen?" The conversation
turned about Chinese and American affairs,
and1my new acauaintances proved to be
acute observers aud we'll informed, cu,ti:
waited and. intelligent men,; Fhe 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.P inn, tho mana.
ger Of the opera house, promised % / parti-
cularly nice piece. One evening we went
there, accompanied BY Flung Tung. part
ner of the firm of Tuck Leoheng l. Co.,
which means in English, Virtue forever. -
An ~ Chinese firms an designed by such
smart ssnAancSs. The Sntranoe TO the
theatre resembled That .iof the temple,
though it WAS perhaps Mile lesS disagree-
able. We had to push ourselves through
thick crowd of Cinnamon of every age
The audience room, divided into galleries,
balconies and the pit, like our own tn eatres,
but badly lit and poorly ornamented, was
:deeselN packed With people. We had our
ssedt1 fes9svSd4nS III dress circle near the
stage. Everybody smoked, and the house