The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-01-29
John Clainanaan.
SOME OF HIS CHARAcTER1sT1cs.

SOME OF HIS CHARAcrER1sT1cs.
What manner OF man is he? Very
black of hair, very low 6 stature, and
not a thing of beauty. In laughter he
shows his gums horribly. But he is sell
dom the Man Who Laughs, except among
his own mates. With Americans, when
he is not addressed, he is immovably
serene, silent and serious.
He is born gambler. Whatever his
age or position, games of chance-with
lu aicrously trihing stakes-posses avid
fascination for him. Every California
town has its Chinese quarter; every
Chinese quarter abounds in gambling
houses. On the subject of opium, too,
the variance between his theory and his
practice reveals the human nature strong
upon him. Opium smoking, he irvaria-
bly, AYERS, is bad, very bad; and yet
six out Of every seven idlers whom one
meets on an evening walk through the
Chinese quarter bear indelible evidence
of the habit written on their .jaded,
ghastly features. He is grsgarious.
He must have not one but several
friends, to whom to whisper "Solitude
is sweet" No practicable pecuniary
temptation will induce him to come to
the Eastern States, unless half a dozen
or a dozen of his comrades are to ac-
company him and live with him. He
loves to dwell 10 towns. Even as a
house servant be does not s'eep under
his masters roof, if be can possibly
avoid it, but goes to the Chinese quar-
ter to spend every night with his COM
rades. He. will work as late as he is
wanted, however, without complaint,
and he will be on hand at any required
hour in the morning. He is a great
night-bird, and his turn is convivial.
He and his mates join in frequent little
suppers, which they keep up until near
ly daylight. The materials for these
banqusts are believed to be contributed,
unwittingly by Johns employer, and
brought away surreptitiousiy in Johns
basket. His mistress often keeps her
most valuable stores locked up and is
sues only week supply to him at a
time, but be is frugality embodied, and
can make gleanings enough for the mid
night supper. and sometimes, perhaps,
for supplying himself with pocket mon
ey besides. ... s..4~.. .... .. !
Ask him why he will not lodge in
his employers house, and he replies
that he and his friends like to meet at
night, and tell each other what they have
learned during the day. 1t is doubt
less their custom to instruct, newly az
rived servants in household matters.
Just as he is going away at night, John
will often question his mistress as to
now she compounds particular kind
Of cake, or accomplishes some othe r
triumph Of cookery; and in answer to
her iuquiring look, will explain tn at
he wishes to tell friend who has lot
been here long. = .. .a -
John prizes the pennies. An offer of
half dollar more per month may
AXE him away from household to
which he seemed warmly attached.
But his people are SO numerous ia Gal
foi MIA that it is easy to fill his place.
Agents of the Chinese Company, ON
servant, warrant him for a
year, and if he runs away, or. proves
dishonest, send substitute instead.
Still, ladies who wish to avoid changes
,ften keep Johns half dollar or a dollar
n arrears to make sure that he will not
cave without fair notice. Girls in CAL
fornia, for general house work, receive
n gold, $40 per month and upward.
Jhinamen obtain about the same prices,
hongh some skilled cooks obtain from
s25 to $40, and boys are hired as low as
Sl0. Governor Blaisdel, Of Nevada,
ellis me that he leaves his house for
weeks and sometimes months under the
ole charge Of his Chinese steward, with
'ut the least apprehension. Such trust
S not uncommon. though Of course it is
ometimes abused. A firm in San
francisco lately found that Chinaman,
vho had been with them for years and
vas trusted as fully as the partners /
had stolen several thousand
lollars' worth Of goods little by little.
IT'LL on the whole the Chinese compare
avorably il honesty with house SER
ants of any other nationality obtainable
a America. In general morality they
eem to be superior to every other class
f masculine servants. Some ladies
ear to trust them with their little
|aughters ; yet, with their. almost uni
'ersal employments, I have only heard
t a single instance in which any impro-
'riesy' was attempted by them. In
nietness, tractableness, teaehableness,
nd imitativeness, they are certainly
Atlantic Monthly for De-
ember. 80. ..7n... |,
observation-disclosures
How GOngs are Made.
None but Chinamen could heretofore
make gongs to perfection. 1t used to be
opposed that they possessed the secret
t mixing the alloy ofwhicht the clan,o.
.ssEs. -. H. 4