New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-21
THE AMERICAN CHINAMAN.
THE CHINESE ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.

frpox A srArF CORY sPoSDgS- or THE TRrBUSE.l
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 7.-Col. Anderson's
position gives unusual advantages In the way OF ODD
tanning and mpartng information regarding tho Chinese
and although his experiences related In previous
letter, have little to do with my subject, cannot
SEC how could well introduce him without telling some
thing-the smaller part, believe me-of his history IL
was with him that made the circuit OF CHINATOWN
few nights ago, and to him am indebted Tor nuch 'n-
formation within the reach of the ordinary observer
The irst place went to was the Chinese ihea.er
The prominent Of my recollection OF TINS nights
nj the ,hea,er IL that Heather Chinee"
at the box office gave In change for twentydoiar
gold piece two fvsdolar pieces, twoceh' copper
piece and number OF silver coins. received the TWO
cent piece for five dollar gold piece. did not notice
the trick until got back to the hotel Anderson says"
is a common thing for Cinnamon to "play Laserh PEG
nile in that way aud that ought to have discovered the
imposition at the time afact am ready 10 anmt
need not describe the theater or the play IL mas oeon
done again and again There was the same moho'oho'
pounding of kettles ond blocks OF wood the same nde-
scrbabe gabblDg by the actors, which NOBODY uhue'
stands; the tumbug and acrobac fcats tho same
foul odors and the weird performances which nave
been described many times.
CHINESE IDOLS.
From the theater went to the principal church OF
iosshouse, very largo building devoted mol aoho u
worship but to almost every pursuit. cookhouse'a
hospital o money changing counter and provision
sbon occuped various portions Of II. should not at-
tempt to describe what in this oss-house hut 1or
the fact that there has not been thus far any adequate
idea given in tho newspapers or the Occts anu puises
o the several figures the temple and the beliefs OF the
Chinese and their religious practices In the tru story
OF dngy building 10 this house OF worship UP three
flights OF stairs rickcy, worn and uneven, ana through
dark full OF sckening odors. reached dismal
dreary mysterious, and silent worshphouse OF this
mysterious and supcrsttlous people. Here ana bere IN
the temple dim taper burned, but there were no shts
In the halls, stairs. and passages, ana the hchcrs
flames only added the oppressive and II may 80 cal
IT, ehostly feeling that overlook me. Everything ABOUT
the p CO was decidedly spooky The night Itself was
dark The busy city. full OF flaming jets OF gas sur
FOIL ded u.s. and all around everywhere. except in this
no ,se OF idols there were light and life.
The first figure to be Is mt the head OF the last
fight of stairs and is called the Guardian OF the Temple
or the Goodman. lie has laughing countenance ana ~
atred in a light robe and head covering Every wof-
sinner entering the temple places the ends OF his fingers
together and with his hands before his breast poptiaes
this idol by bowling three times and n,mphga u prayer
at the same time. Each figure, or group OF hgnres Is
covered by rich canopy OF silk in frame or poh OF
carved wood in some richly oranened win god
and silver Passing from the Guardian OF the lenpe 10
ouotlcr mart of tho temple, reached the Trinity
Fire Air and Water The stnamed has very red race
long black whiskers and very determined look lho
figures in no case resemble the Mongolana Inc faces
and other parts of the body visible are mado OF wool
orr
pexons OF the Chinese. Most Of tho figures
have long wLisker. An emperor OF China be-
fore the Christian era decreed that there should DO no
wbiskers III the empire, and this decree Is followed
TO the present day a religious duty. Occasionally an
old Cinnamon is with whskers hut he Is renegade
not In good favor Princes. governors ana kngs were
allowed to wear WHISPERS and the idols, being superior
boipgs ike the princes etc. furnished with boun
fl spply The actors the stage also generally wear
whiskers because they represent the higher Classes Inc
mandarin language Is wholly used on the Chinese stage
and fcuriths of the native audience understand as III
lie Of II as the Engsspeaking visitor. Inc Air ana
Water OF the Trinity greatly resemble pictures OF the
Savior The worshper, male or female propitiates each
M these figures the object being to ward OF destluc
tiou or injury by tho three elements The worsipers
then II Sick lame halt blind, 10 to the igire OF Escu
Ia pius the medicine lie sits under canopy
like the Others, sort Of rome with counter before
him Ho has rather pleasing count nance, and Is richly
attIred In his hand he holds pill Dig enough FOR an OK
to swallow The same propI,iatiug ceremony IS gone
through before this idol which IA the lasi one Visited
They have 40 for anything while they are SICK Inc
next Azure visited was the Goddess OF Commerce
This worshpod 10y those who have goods on the seas
or friends among sailors VINO have cargoes
either ON the seas or about to shipped those who
have any connection with trade commerce. Under the
same canopy and the throne, is the Goddess OF
the Prostitute Almost every hour OF the dsy degraded
women may be before this figure.
HISTORY CARVED IN WOOD.
We next pas ,ed a larger apartment than any we had
visited This contained the history OF China IN case
very and expensive There were great many
figures carved out of wood and glded These repre-
sened-the figures being about SIX nches hieh-a 'ho
exalted characters Of history kings esperors princes
and prncesses. down TO late period This WORK is
greatly priced by the Chinese aud is said to nave cost
large sum OF money. each figure Is attempted 10 %
portrayed something pca OF the act or deed ior when
the original ia commemoraed We next visited the God
OF Wars pOrentous little fellow. with req lace "d
majestic manner. This ia intended 10 represent me Boil
knap OF tho Chinese religion. True the figure Is not
more than Two feet high, but It's attitude gives the i'm
,ression that II thinks itself big as anybody Itis
dressed in armor, and all around is the gio
rious panoply OF war. In one hand the god
carries a baton or sword, typical OF his power
one OF the superstons or the people peihg
that when he draws his sword thousand people fall
In ease of any trouble tho people proptae Mars
and beg TO be protected The next idol Vi tied was the
Ground Devil" who Is very important parsonage
His OCCUPATION according to the Chinese, is TO harass
and disturb the dead. In order to prevent this the
friends OF deceased have to prop'ate him. The CHER
mourning fabric OF the Chinese is white When mem
Der Of a f. nly particular friend dies mourners and
priests are hired according to the standing OF the do
ceased. On the anniversary Of the death OF
friend the survivors burn punk on the curb
stones near his residence and theirs, and they
also burn the holy wafer instead OF eating II.
When a death occurs, and on the anniversary
of every DEATH the Ground Devil is supposed
to 10 very much pleased, and he is only
prevented making the sleep OF the dead uncomfor
able by acts Of generosity by surviving friends 80 at
suc periods large quantities OF RICE bread liquor etc.,
are placed this IDOLS throne and strewn about tho
streets II they accepted. tho dead will sleep until
the next anniversary This god has peDiteht air. as
though he had done something no was sorry for He is
dressed In flowing robe with band Of white about his
head stan in his hand and baudages OF white about his
wrists and waist canopy that Of the figure just