National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1874-02-27
Tho Chinese New Year.

a
Tho Chinese New Year.
| Idolatry In BAXTER street-Feasting and
smoking Opium.
The natives Of tho Celestial Empire
residing in New York, says city paper,
celebrated one Of their great festivals
on the eve OF their new year. The
Chinese temple is situated within five
minutes walk Of the City Hall, in q
tumble.down building in Baxter street,
a short distance from the Bowery, and
serves all the purposes Of club-room,
place OF worship, and banquet hall
on festive OCCASIONS. A glance at this
establishment suggests the trials OF the
Chinese in the United States. The
wretched life, the poverty and misery
to which the unhappy Chinaman is
doomed in this country could find 40
moro fitting abode. In the midst of the
squalid hsunts of misery bordering the
Five Points stands the temple, so. call
ed, in which the Chinese residents OF
New York worship the great idol Fo,
and tho four lesser deities, whose names
reduced to plain English would read,
Light Heaven King, Grasp Empire
Heaven King" "Clear. Eyed Heaven
King" and @Kind Heaven King"
The New Years festival is celebrated
with much religious pomp by the
Chinese, and wherever the Chinaman
goes he clings with singular tenacity to
the traditions and customs of his race.
In this country California has been
chiefly the field OF his labors, the num-
Der OF Chinese there at the last census
being nearly $4,000 out of total OF
Sc, 900 in the United States. The num-
Der at present in this city has been
estimated at about 400. OF this number
over 100 took part in the celebration.
Tho celestial temple is situated on the
second floor of No. IL Baxter street,
ana consists of two principal rooms with
two or three smaller apartments adjoin-
ing.
A reporter visited this establishment,
and, after passing through dilapidated
hallway, was conducted through the
rooms by two intelligent young China
men. They we're neatly dressed, and
had their hair cut like other people,
and could speak English SO as to be un-
derstood. Entering the first apartment
from the stairway, some half dozen
Cinnamon were found engaged in
game with pieces of wood somewhat re.
sembling dominos. Passing through
this room, another of equal dimensions,
or about 10 feet square was reached, in
which the worship of the idol Fo is con-
Quoted. The interior of this apartment
in every way corresponded with the ex.
ternal appearance of the building and
the general aspect of the adjoining how.
els. There was no attempt at adorn-
ment of any kind. The walls had evil
IDENTIFY not been brought recently in
contact with the whitewash brush.
They were consequently of that murky
brown color so characteristic of the
apartments of the lower class of tene-
ment houses.
On one side of the room was table
about ten feet long covered with a
white cloth, at the upper end of which
group of elderly Cinnamon were
deeply engaged in conversation, and did
not seem to take any notice of the visi-
tors. Close beside the entrance a
cheap print was hung on the wall,
painted in gaudy colors, as represen-
tation of the dol Fo, and underneath
was placed temporary table aboutfour
feet in height, to serve as an altar. On
this altar two candles we're burning
Three or four saucers were ranged
around the lighted tapers, on which
mcro apples, nuts, ana Two or Jnree va-
rieties of vegetables; couple of small
bouquets were placed on the centre of
the table under the idol. These were
the offerings to the gods. Underneath
the table on the ground floor two more
lighted candles were placed in cone
shaped pieces of wood, raised some ten
inches from the floor. A few pieces Of
colored paper were pasted to the walls,
on which were written, in Chinese char
acters, phrases which one is informed
are translated into English as Males
tic Kings of Darkness" Shades of
Ancestors and Evil Spirits do us no
harm," "Heaven King Grasp all the
Empire" "Pure Running Brook" and
others of similar nature. Another of
these papers bore tho name of the club,
and specified the terms upon which
members were admitted to be ten cents
a week.
The observance of the festival lasted
two days. The worshipers PROSTATE
themselves before the idol on the floor
and touch the ground with their fore
heads three times. Afterwards they
partake of tie banquet. About 100
took supper in this room, and the entire
expense of the banquet reached $75.
For two or three days previously prepa-
rations we're making for this supper,
and the busiest member of the club was
an old man who was charged with the
cooking of the fowls and meats for the
banquet. The reporter inquired what
kind of viands were preparing, and his
guide, smiling, said: "Oh, oh you
think we Cinnamon eat nothing but
rice. We have chicken! Put that down
in the paper" Aprocession forms part
of the religious observances, but the
apartment is too small to carry out this
feature in the religious ceremonies with
effect. A few of the worshipers march
ed round the room several times, then
Frustrated themselves before the idol. |
The festival closed with grand opium.
smoke. 1t must not, however, be un-
derstood that the Chinese are so attach |
ed to their idols as not to be Influenced
by the truths of Christianity. The
Chinese Mission School at the Five |
Points House of Industry, close beside,
furnishes ample evidence of their viii.
lingness to apply themselves to learn
the Scriptures. The school was estab.
lished about three years ago, and is
under the care of Mr.. A. H. Kembell
and Miss Goodrich. During the past
year $50 Chinese, chiefly young men,
were taught in this school, which is
open every Sunday evening, and every
week day except Saturday. The |
superintendent and teachers are