The New York herald., 1871-02-19
A CELESTIAL JUBILEE.
New Jerseys "Heathen Chinee" and
Ills New Years Celebration.
How the Festival Was Observed Yesterday by
the Belleville Colony-The Dress, Religion,
Manners and Customs Of Captain Herveys
Children Of the Sun-Charley Ming's Chop
sticks and Sugar-smothered Pluns-
Interesting Holiday CcrresDondsnca

CniCren OF the nun-Cnarley ming Chop-
sticks and Sugar-Smothered PluIns-
Interesting Holiday CcrresDandsnea
Yesterday was a big day in China and among the
children OF the Sun without well az within the
great wall OF PcKin. It was the CeIestfais, New
Years Day-the 4,S19th annyersary-acc0rdfng 10
Chinese reckoning. IL s also known as the festival
OF Kwo-Nieu. The fourscore and one ceIesliaL
washermen at Captain Hervey's laundry at Belle
vile, or course. kept their national festival. ina
location OF the laundry, as well as the establishments
itself, has already been described In the
HERALD, and 1t is merely necessary to repeat That it
Is situated within rneshot OF tne} somniferuus
village on the opposite bank OF the picturesque
Passaic river and within stone's throw OF the Jersey
City Waterworka, which, pdssdns IL may be-
stated, are now runni0g splendidly, according to
the assertion OF the chief engineer. Passing up tha
court yard of the laundry the visitor broughs
to halt by the sentinel on guard aud his business
TffE TAILnIANIc "HERALDr
mad wondrous effect ON his bearing when uttered
by the reporter. and he forthwith, as requested,
started IN quest OF the gentleman In charge, Mr.
Van Worst The latter soon made his appearances
and remarked that it would afford him the utmosc
pleasure TO give an Information IN his power 20 the
HERALD reporter; "but,n added he, with emphasis,
81 that reporter comes along who wrote
TUAf BATCH or
ahout me III wiring his nose or ne'il wiring mine,
one or the other.D Tue individual whose nasal
organ was thus referred TO is scribe attached to
the two-cent twinlaer who visited tho laundry
some weeks ago, and strained every imaginative
nerve TO make sensauon out OF trinng nstic set
10 among a few oil the Cinnamon.
"You would Ike TO see Charey Ming and hts boya
Certainly, sir; come along,n said Mr.. Van Worst and
he led the way up stars 10 the Ironing room, where.
aiJer few minutes delay, came Charley Ming and
two or three OF his .boys.n Charley Is the chief
among his fellows, Is quite intellectual Cninaman
and acts as interpreter as well as foreman. He
acquired considerable knowledge OF English during
six seven years residence In san Francisco pr or
to his coming East Since his arrival at Beileville
ne has pun chased and ordinarily wears a SUIT OF
the great festival, he returned to first principles and
assumed
THE NATIONAL COSTUME
His dress was neither as snowy nor gr0tcSIue
that worn by some OF his countrymen. lie wore q
blue cloth blouse, cut very loose ana loose trousera
IN very handsomely gotten up pair Of
Chinese Shoes with pointed, upturned toes, inch
thick leather and woOlen soles and uppers 0f
velvet and satin embroidered In bright colOreu silks
All his companions wore shoes OF the same dcscrip-
cordial sautaton he led the way into his private
LIGHT. CHERRY CHAMBER
of the workroom. In one corner was q neatly ap-
pointed bed, enclosed Win mosquito netting; near
by large writing desk covered with Chinese books,
papers. manuscripts and calendars The walls were
adorned with views OF Chinese mountain and rural
scenery, as well as otner pictures. aud
on all sides neatness and scrupulous cleanliness
were strikngly apparent. At the further Of the
room In corner stood Charves visitors table,
which was loaded with all sorts OF Chinese condi-
ments and confectionery, The celestial host picked
up pair OF chopsticRs and insisted upon llis visi
tors partaking OF his good things He was especially
proud OF his suRar-sm thered plums and lines.
Over against the wall hung picture supposed 70
represent
GOODNESS AND PLENTY
There were TWO hgures--one, strangely enough,
red.moutheu aeyil; ana the other round. very
lharley's plums and a tiny cup OF tea, prepared
Chinese fashion his Heraldic guest proceeded to
urt aa.ihp al cni
tion. lie observance OF the FESTIVAL commenced
on Friday at noon. when Charley and Company laid
observance continues TIL Tuesday. Ad snfea1m the
gerry, put taeir. very best behavior. New
Year with them. as with us ''ciyi-
joIity and good feeling. Each visits the ,otner at
MS chamber or abiding place, and Is treated was
be meTy Is their motto Ike 9ood Children az Ihs Iha
sun they do not forget to carry out the religious
cordingy yesterday morning, after perfcrming their
aoiutIons a and getting on their choicest garments
THEIR JoSH'S ALTAR
assembled In groups, according to their age and
position and made their devotional bows IN much
the same style that the Sultan Is saluted by his sub
lects Their prayers are offered up silently, and,
indeed Their whole worship s eonducsed
briefly described above: Their food yesterday
day proper.
Out Of a pigeon hole in his desk Charlie drew
bundle OF PINK paper slips covered with chinese
caligraphy. These were letters congratuiatory OF
the "Happy New Year" which he had received from
his celestial comrades during the day. These notes
he termed, In Chinese "hapgee.n
CELESTIAL LETTER FROM NORTH ADAMS.
Some days ago Mr.. Nung sent letter TO his
friend Charlie Sing chief OF the Cinnamon at North
Adams, Mass, inviting them to come on and spend
the New Year with them at Bcllevile. The follow.
ing the reply OF Mr. Sing as read by Charlie Nung
to the HERALD reporter yesterday
Chr CHING CuA-Yag tsi hong choo foo funa chow yune
va ching cha loco foco flung ssng tsapg s by
Freely translated into English this extraordinary
eptstle reads as follows
Nonrn ADAMS, Feb. Is, ls1-
cant go myself am too busycant spare t,e time Hope
''' "' WIN ''"' % sec you 0' eaa GaSkSLE SING.
Before leaving the reporter escorted to the
main assembly room, at one end OF which was the
in Charlie's room, loaded with all sorts OF
Chinese preserves and confections. In the centre
was a vessel filled with tapers, few OF which
burned slowly. with faint lurid light. This was
represented to be
CHINESE INCENSE.
From TINS table the guest IS required, out OF cou-
tesy, to partake. Against the wan was painting
comprising group OF figures, the central one beng
"THE BIG JOSHo
as Charlie termed It, The figure is that OF crowned
king gorgeously rooed and surrounded with soldiers
and emblems OF war While the visitors were ex-
amnng the altar and It's features group OF four
Cinnamon smashed music (Heaven save the mark
out OF two immense brass kettle drums, huxe gong
and pair OF massive brass cymbals.
Mr. Van worst stated, as the reporter was about
TO leave, that the Cinnamon had become very prof.
clent at their calling ana gave entire .satisfaction
They and the females tof whom large number still
wondrous wen. Ts the original sixty eight four.
teen more had arrived since. One had died leaving
eighty -one now In the place.
pUoUr,a cprrru