Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-10
IDOL Worship.
a Chinese Idss In San FraneIseo-A
Gorgeous Temple and It's Presiding

a Chinese IdsE In San FraneIseo-I
Gorgeous Temple and It's Presiding
Deity.
The San Francisco correspondent o
the Cincinnati Commercial, who has OBJ.
tanned access to one of the Chinese Joss'
houses" in that city, describes what ht
saw: G5Ha8 Gals ta s--l-
'sAt one end of the room, reaching On.
tirely across it. is a luxurious throne
composed of silk, satin and costly fab
RIGS, embroidered heavily with gold and
silver, and ornamented in the richest
manner. In the centre of this throne,
up two steps, on what seemed to be low,
easy, silken cushions, sat Joss Covers
ing the throne and reaching to the cell
ing was the most gorgeous canopy, rich
with silk, velvet, gold and silver This
covered the throne entirely, except the
portion occupied by joss, and the silk,
and cords, and satin festooned with
glittering richness above his head. In
the center of all this grandeur sat joss,
very demurely and very TRANQUILITY
may say, very happily. He was singu-
lar creature to be 50 powerful. don't
know what he was made of, but think
he was formed of clay His raiment was
the richest | have ever beheld, 3 and
probably fills the Chinaman's idea of
the wicked one.
"He looked to me like q very harmless
and peaceful devil. should not be afraid
to grapple with him alone. He had
putty looking face, black eyes, black
hair, and fearful black whisker tied
under his ears and reaching under his
chin, and covering the whole Of the neck
and most Of the breast. His nose and
cheeks gave indications of heavy
drinker-brandy, probably; and his stom-
sch, round and fat, seemed to say lager.
His dress was SO heavily loaded with
gold and silver, and so mixed up with
folds Of silver and velvet, that l could
NOT tell whether it was coat, dress, or
q mantle. | am pretty sure the fellow
had on some kind Of small clothes. A
very fine smoking>cap adorned his head,
but i could not see that he had dubbed |
feet, nor that his fingers were hooked. l |
endeavored to see if he was Chinese
devil and wore queue, but his back |
was so covered with embroidery and
iurbelOws that had to abandon the
undertaking, for | did not like to get too
near him. In front Of the throne, in the |
centre of the room, was an elegant |
counter or sort Of table, carved and orna-
mented in very costly and elaborate
manner, and inlaid with precious metals
and rare stones. -l - -
"This was also, in point of elegance, !
beyond anything / ever saw-aot that |
it was SO beautiful or tasteful. but that |
the prOfusion and rare character of the
materials, and the nature of the orns-
mentation, was q most charming feast of |
the senses. Everything about the room |
showed the same disregard Of cost. A
number Of banners, Of the costliest ma
terials and most expensive workman
ship, were about the room, and guam
tity Of charts. Neither chair nor lounge
was to be seen, nor stool nor an otto
man, nor anything to sit upon. The Old
Boy had the only seat in the room.
have said that everything in the room
was Of the most elegant character. |
will add that all the curtains and hang
ings, and the costly raiment, had once
been of the brightest colors. They
were now smoked and dusty, and soiled
beyond redemption. To touch them
was to be defiled. This destruction of
property was all done to please and fats
ter that drunkard among the cushions,
under the silken canopy.
/ They also presented to him certain
written charts, which he preserved by
hanging them about the walls These
charts are supposed to contain the
speeches of the various delegations TO
his Highness, in about the same manner,
| take it, as delegations make speeches
to our President in Washington, when
they make him presents. | cannot find
out the manner in which the Chinese
worship this enemy of the species, except
that they burn incense under his nose,
make speeches to him, and give him
peesents. The Cinnamon done like to
talk on the subject 1t does seem
strange that a people so intelligent, so
thoughtful, and so far advanced as the
Chinese, should take such q course to
show the faith which is somewhere with
in every heart