Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-11-13

HOW uE uIAIHEN CHINEE SUPPORTS His lE-
lNc-A GLANCE AT The NARKETS AND
RESTAURANTS IN THE CHINESE QUARTER oG
FRISCO
1t is an oft-quoted axiom, SAYS the san
Francisco Gail, that one half of the world
does not know how the other half lives
Taking the proposition 10 refer especially to
the mode and quality of diet, and as appli-
cable to this particular locality, the negative
half of the world Is unqueS:ilnably c0mpre-
hendcd in the Chinese population. There Is
world Of mystery involved in the question
%, TO how the Chinaman lives almost equal
ing the abStrusc speculati1ns put forth by a
few advanced thinkers who seek to erect the
issue why he lives Nevertheless. the
Chiuanan seems to exist and haze his tcinr
iu the most louriShiuE manner possible. and
in answer to the latter inquiry suggested
he pulls the Blrlingame treaty out Of his
pocket, smiles blandiy across the area of his
countenance, simply euioininE the ~earcher
after knowledge, You savee that2' To
return 10 the original question. In mere
scientific view, the Chinaman may be said
20 tomaintain himself by the universally adopt
ei process of masticati1n, deglutition and
digestion. But descending to an ANALYTICAL
Investigation On the subject, his diet is com
picatei and most fearlGlly and wonderfully
made. The staple article OF Chinese food
may be inspected in the crude state 10y any
ardent yotary OF science who has the harli-
hood and endurance to venture within the
Chinese market stalls which abound most
uamcr1usly nall parts of the Chinese quar-
ter. The principle shops Of this description
are located on Sacramento, jackson and Du-
pont streets, and may be readily discovered
by following the ancient tish-smell that en-
gares the o.iactory sense Of the inquirer aiar
Off Corresponding with their b0asted civil
inti0n, everything Of this particular people
hes o ~lvor Of antiquity, and the chaGcteris-
tici- particularly noticeable with reference to
articles of food The chief commodity OBJ
served in their markets Is pork, Of which the
heather consumes enormous quantities.
Next in the order Is iowls-ducks being
the yariety-and fish Is also one Of their
principle requirements. For beef, there Is
little or no demand in the Chinese quarter.
They never slaughter beef or purchase fall
tlrcas,cs, as only the poorer classes will par
take Of this variety of meat. and then it Is
usually the heart, liver and lights, which
they are able to procure cheaply, economy
being the only excuse for indulglng in such
lusly0ry diet at ALL Mutton Is totally Ia
h1oed in any form, and is for this reason
tllr the Chinese are greatly esteemed for
their trustworthincSs in strengthening dis
ricts. In dressing pork they cut out the
tgnlerloin- and hams, the fieshy portion Of
the carcass being little in favor with the
hesthcn epicure. and these are sold to the
white dealers Many meat shops about the
gitv procure their supplies OF pork exclusive
.y from the Chinese butchers. The ohJec-
tiYnahlc rortions-anl which, it fortunately
iarueus are the best esteemed by the white
lc.fle-brinr thus disposed of, there Is
nothing wasted. The pluck, brains,
cntrails. etc. are dressed and prepared
iu a yariey Of different forms and dis
tribatei to the private table, and restau-
mutS
Poultry is the chief luxury in the Chinese
market, and great quantities OF the com
modify are constantly required for the re
-taurants and the tables Of the wealthy
The preference i equally marked with the
INDECENT heathen. and l. the occasion OF
great deal Of investigation in the police
court Indeed, the proximity OF Chinese
settlement Is always considered fatal OBJ
stacle to the success Of the poultry raising
business. There is also a large consumption
of eggs throughout the year. These, in
great part. are imported from China. They
are covered with some description of cement,
mixed with sand. which seems to preserve
them perfectly. and they can be procured
the year round from the Chinese shops in
fresh and excellent condition. There Is
evidently something to learn from the heath
en- brother in the art Of preserving egg-, and
those who subject the Christian public to
much risk and uncertainty in tho purchase
Of this commodity at about this period OF
the wear, should hasten to improve the op-
portunity.
The Chinese are particularly iiSh-eating
people. and their intellectual status may be
taken as an illustration Of the new and
popularity credited theory that q fish diet Is
the most effcacious nOuriShment OF BRAIN
power. They deyour all FISH that come to
their net. but have especial relish for the
Young. Hundreds Of Cinnamon are engaged
constantly in catching fish in the bay and
es.uarieS to supply the local consumption
but their chief source Of profit in this busl-
ness Is the shipment Of minnows and young
fish of all species to China. Tons are taken
from the waters daily; they are put through
a pickling process. dried in the sun without
anv attempt at dressing, and packed for
shipment. This enterprise may be recOg-
nized in one of the distinctive and most
powerful of the multitarious smells of the
Chinese quarter. 1t Is prosecuted on an
extensive scale, and the white fisherman pro-
tests that its continuance for few years
longer will efIectually exterminate every
variety of fish in San Francisco bay The
yearly decreasing supply of fish in these waters
is attributed entirely to the destruction oi the
young for shipment to China. Inc shriin p
are another important article OF traihe'
They are put through a steaming process,
picked out Of the shell and dried. and a
great number are engaged exclusively in this
business. Large quantities OF tins eommo1i-
ty are also shipped to China, including the
shells, which are utilized IN some manner IN
the heathen arts. In vegetables the Chinese
demand requires most varieties grown IN tr.i'
country; but the onion is particp .arly
prized, and enter. largely into theI't cook
ing. Several of their most iayored yege
tables and water-nuts are imr orted iron
China
A large proportion of the Chinese boar'
at the restaurants, of which there are some
thing over twenty establishments OF this klnt
of a pretentious order in this quarter, locat
ed principally on Jackson and DuPon
streets. Probably the most aristocratc II
the .. Car Ioot Hin - adiaininr theatre OF