Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-11-02
TR REASURES IN HE'LL.
Celestial Feast Of the Dead - How the
Chinese Prepare for the Future
t,a4 rraaci.co Bulic.ia. c,.abor,

t'a4 Fraucisco Buliclin, oeiihors
Though the Chinese are addicted to per-
forming their acts Of worship in 70 incchnn-
icnl mani er, and with 20 m0noionups rope
tiuon. and seldom cOutt public opinion,
they nevertheless excite an interest among
Cucusiuus, and the recurrence Of each
icasi or holiday affords food for fresh com-
mcrt. luq iry into their customs, for
m-tance, brings out pertinent facts, and
we learn that some of their baiharisms
have actually been inauguratcd among
the people who pride themselves on their
ciyiliza ion and ailrc' to loJk with dis
dain upon the hcathcn. It is a common
thing for Chinese to hire muurners to fol-
low the hcar-c or express wagon 10 the
cemetery. 20 d tie charges for such sc--
/ vices are 50 light that n comparatively OBJ
-curc individual, if not utttry bankrupt,
can feel certain that the numerical
strength of the turnout at his funeral
/ will be- source Of satisfaction 10 his rela-
/ iiycs at home. A gentleman who has
served many years in the missionary field
| of Chimn, SAYS of the Chinese, that
/ instead of cndc lyoring to lay up treasures
/ in heaven, they imagine they can lay up
| tn asurcs in he'll. The manner of layil 2
up treasures Of money and clothing in hell
/ for the use of deceased relatives, or for
ones own future use, j, expeditions, and
very cheap. II consists simply of burn
/ Ing paper prepared in different ways, ac-
cordug to the object which it is supposed
+ 10 f., present, ana which il is believed to
b me.
VI .ttral for making clothing is repre-
scented by pieces Of paper vf various
co orr, each piece being some fifteen inch
cs lorg and eight or ten inches wids.
These are done up in parcels, and are he
| ncytd to become cloth, silk, etc, by or
after tho action of the fire, owing to the
potency of thc ch trm winch Is attachnd
generally to each parcel. Sometimes the
shapes of different kiDds of clothing arc
stamp uTou the pieces Of paper aud af-
forwards burned. Th,sc are believed to
hcsomc ready made clothing. The spirits
of tire dad are expected to manufacture
III, ir own clothing out of the material
furnished them ready made. MONEY Is
represented by SOU rc pieces of paper. II
this popular notion among the CHINESE
had any foundation in truth, the number
Of wealthy Crlc-tiils iu their spirit world
would be Immense. Three times during
th' wear the dead are treated to grand
hast-tlat il, the good things are spread
around their resting places and then dis
posed Of hy di,cOusolntc friends and rela-
lives. One of these lcasts transpircd nj
Lo.c Mountain sunday and was a mark
ci success. Forty express wagons were
fused for TIE transportation Of hogs CHE
Cclcsthl-, TO l-c m cyprt ,-iyc vuigarisn
gl the whole hog ON these occasions
chickens. rice, and liquor the cemetery
and more Than ono hundred carriage
were In the proc, -sion. The firm of liol
Kce ~ Co., alurc employed thirty car
riagos add several wagons. At the Gene
terry they piopitlated various evil spirits
scattered their hogs and things around
, iahhcrld a few hours among thcmselyc
and then returned to town.