The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-14
TEE CHINESE sKoEMAKERs.
Description OF John Mt work-rhc
coadI, Lon of Things in Massnch usetts.

A correspondent Of the Boston Post writes
from North Adams, Massachusetts, under date
OF the 10th instant:
The last OF Mr.. Simpsons Jeyenty-fye Chi
nese shoemakers having been set to work to-
day, and the whole number being now indus
triously employed, some Idea OF their capablli-
ties and efficiency can be folmed, all this
having been mere conjecture In the past To-
day completes three weeks from the first en-
try of the Mongollans into the shops, and to-
day there are several "teams" who no longer
require the supervisors Of an instructor, but
work on their own:hook, and turn out equally
By the Crispins. In fact, Mr.. Sampson declares
thathis work never averaged as good In quail
ty, under the old dispensation, as now. AS to ra-
pidlty, of course the Orlentals are Inferior as
yet to their predecessors. 1t hos been thought
best to allow them to take their own time,
merely requiring that the work shall be well
and thoroughly done, and allow them to gain
speed hereafter. But II the Cinnamon be not
as rapid as the Crlsplns, they make up in per-
sistent, unremtting industry, which in the
long run will enable them to make fair show
ing at least as to quantity of work turned out.
To-day the last detachment Of ffteen, who
have hitherto been In bllssful ignorance Of the
art, were brought Into the shops, and, under
the tutelage Of their brethren who have al
ready acquired it, are plunging into Its myste-
ries. f4. ...r'
OBSERVATION AND IMITATION.
These Chinese are most observant and
Initiative people,, Their little, obllque, almond
eyes, lake in q great deal Of what is going on
around them, and on occasion they prove that
their memories are alike quick and retentive,
and their facility of execution good. With
their utter ignorance both Of the craft and of
our language, It Is a matter OF surprise how
th0rnnoh1y Onaa.
tered the techn!calitles of the business. and
what they are shown once they rarely forget,
or need to be shown a second time. Hence
their progress In acquiring the trade has been
as rapid as that OF average Engllsll-speaking
apprentices, and has far exceeded the expeeta-
tions of Mr. Sampson, or his superintendent,
Mr.. Chase.
VIEW OF THE WORK ROOM
1t is novel and pleasing sight that the bot
toming room in Mr.. Sampson's factory pre-
sents. All around the spacious apartment,
which Is on the second floor, and lighted on
three sides, are ''teams" Of the yellow-skinned
at his own particular branch and passing the
work along to Its next stage. Each "team"
consists OF three men, each of whom performs
a certain part of the bottOming, and together
completing the shoes ready for the fnishers.
In the centre stand two peggng machines,
which are already managed with much skill
by couple of the Celestials.
aoNGoLIAN "Boss-MAN.n
The foreman and interpreter, All Sing, or as
he now calls himself, Charley Sing, is tall,
good.looklng young fellow, who speaks, reads
and writes English with considerable facility.
He Is very quiet and unassuming In his man.
ners, but has excellent government over his
Oriental brethren, and Is the principal medium
OF communication between them and the white
instructors and foremen. He was unfortunate
enough to have his right thumb crushed In the
cam Of O pegging- machine, two weeks ago, by
the sudden starting OF the power by green
hand whom he was Ninstructlng. He carried
his hand in sling. and says 1t is "welly sore,
but getting better" He wears better clothes
than the majority Of the Cinnamon, and enjoys
some privileges and comforts extra TO theirs.
IN WORKING HOURS.
Notwithstanding the influx Of visitors with
which the factory has been daily overrun, the
Mongolans lose very little time In noticing
them. Ordinarily they keep steadily at work,
looking at nothing else. and seemingly uncon-
scious that outside barbarlans are In The room,
or that anything on earth, save slloe-maklnG,
is worth living for. When the visitors ap-
proach a team" and manifest peculiar Inter
est in them, they simply look up with plea
SAINT smile and nod, and perhaps cheerful
show do" and go on as before. They converse
sparingly aud always pleasantly; in fact, Mr..
Chase AYERS that he has never heard an un.
kind word exchanged, or seen any trace of
discordant feeling since he took charge OF the
Asatics at San Francisco. Their language
sounds no more unpleasant than Spanish or
German, and is certainly as musical as either.
PERSONNEL OF THE JOHNS.
All the men are young, none over %, save
the two cooks, who are over 30, and are the
only married men in the party, and few are
boys of from IA to lS. The cooks, being elders,
and much respected therefor,
act as judges, In measure, of any trifling
that may arise; but as yet there
has been no occasion for their services. The
dress of the "Johns" consists of loose blouse
of flannel denims, loose trousers of something
between ZouaYe and sailor cut-that Is,
they are baggy all over, and wide at the bot
tom-fannel shirts, white socks, and CHI
nese shoes, with felt soles three-quarters
of an inch thick, and block cloth uppers,