Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-02-19
Chinese i'll California.

G. NJ. Stone of the Coledonian how in
California, thus discourses of the Pagan
Oriental
The one striking popularity of Cali
fornia of which [ have as yet SAID nothing.
is the numerous and ever-present China
man. You see him plowing IN the field,
working on the railroad, carrying burdens
like pack mule, cooking beet-steak in the
kitchen, washing down the front stairs be
fore breakfast mending shoes on the side
walk, sewing cross-legged like a Turk,
selling sausages in the market, washing and
ironing fine linen, keeping accounts in the
Bank of California, and in fact doing al
most every kind Of service usually done
by both sexes in a civilized and Christian
community,
Cinnamon all look and dress alike, and
unlike other nationalitles. One may see
some other nationality in the street or
horse-car, and not be ce, tain whether he
be American, English, French, German,
Spanish or Mexican but he is never in
doubt about the Chinaman. They all
wear the " que which is made by braid
ing the hair in one long strand, which
frequently hangs nearly to their heels.
Considering the present custom among
American ladies | have thought it imper-
tinent to ask if it is all their olCn hair. J
Nine out Of ten wear low-crowned black
hat !; the tenth one wears close-ftting
black silk cap, like smoking-cap. They
lOOSo of Hart 10th lOoCa
trousers, also dark coIored, white stockings
and wooden peaked toed shoes with white
soes. No matter how muddy the streets,
fyou see Chinaman you will see his white
stockings and the white edge of his shoe
soles. [ have seen thousands of them as
they throng Sacramento, Jackson and Du-
pont streets, and | have not yet seen a
half dozen dressed like other nationalities.
A few scavengers, aud those working in
fields outside the city, are dressed like
other laborers.
They are dishonest and treacherous, u
says one. They are neat, industrious
and willing" says another. They are
filthy and lazy" says Mrs. Shoddy, '' and
wish they were in the bottom of the sea. .
They are superior to the other kind oi
help [ have had on this coast" said an
Eastern lady to me- And so [ might
quote opinions at great variance. All Of
these expressions are true in measure
There are lazy Cinnamon; there are thiev
ing ones-in fact | suspect this is theil
besetting sin-yet there are many China
men who are given great trusts and who
have never betrayed them. There art
worthless Chinese but as whole they
are patient, Industrious, frugal, neat. They
are patient and untiring workers. Pass
ing the market gardens on the outskirts
of the town in the evening, when the res
of the city is recreating, John is seen toll
ing among his cabbages and onions. Pass
ing the wash houses at ten o'clock at night
one will see him busy at his ironing board
John strikes for no eight-hour law, and il
evidently not yet enough civilized to shirk
"He is a heather, real pagan,
shrieks one of the city press. He doe
not recognize our Sabbath, but keep
right on ironing his shirts and wedding hi
onions like as on other days" presum
!, this is true, g and pity it's It's true Blu
this same paper told us on Monday morn