Connecticut western news., 1874-03-06
The Chinese New Year.
IdOlatry in Baxter Street-Feasting and -s. Smoking Opium.

i. Smoking Opium.
 The natives of the 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 8 tumble-dow building in Baxter street, a short distance from the Bowery, and serves all the purposes of club-room, a 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 To moro fitting abode. In the midst of the squalid haunts of misery bordering the Five Points stands the temple, so-call- ed, in which the Chinese residents of New York worship the great idol Flo, and the four lesser deities, whose names reduced to plain English would read, "Light Heaven King, " Grasp Empire Heaven King" Clear-Eyed Heaven King" and 'sKind 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 50,000 out of a total of 56, 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. The celestial temple is situated on the second floor of No. 12 Baxter street, and 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 were 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 Chinamen were found engaged in game with pieces of wood somewhat re- sembling dominos. Passing through this room, another of equal dimensions, or about 12 feet square was reached, in which the worship of the idol Flo is con- ducted. The interior of this apartment in every way corresponded with the ex- ternal appearance of the building and the general aspect of the adjoining hov- els. There was no attempt at adorn- ment of any kind. The walls had evil dently 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 a table about ten feet long covered with white cloth, at the upper end of which a group of elderly Chinamen 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 a represen- tation of the Idol Flo, and underneath was placed 8 temporary table aboutfour feet in height, to serve as an altar. On this altar two candles were burning. Three or four saucers were ranged around the lighted tapers, on which were apples, nuts, and two or three 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 [" Majes- 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 the 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 prostrate 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 were 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 Chinamen 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 prostrated themselves before the idol. The festival closed with grand opium smoke. It 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 will lingness to apply themselves to learn the Scriptures. The school was estab- lished about three years ago, and is under the care of MT. A. H. Kembel and Miss Goodrich. During tine past year 15O Chinese, chiefly young men, were taught in this school, which is open every Sunday evening, and every week day except Saturday. The superintendents and teachers are from the Fourth Avenue Pres byterian Church, and they speak in the most favorable manner of those who attend the school. The influence of the teachers has been very effective, and their pupils quickly learn to con form themselves to the usages there in- stilled. There are no Chinese women in New York.
 A PLUoKY SoHooLMIsTREss. - Miss Frank Pottle, school teacher in Frye