The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-02-03
descriptive Artitles,


The San Francisco Post, in a recent is
sue, prints this :-Quan III Poo Sot,
party who, some odd thousand years ago
favored the Flowery Kingdom by living
within its borders, and who now, accord
ing to Chinese orthodox belief, is idliug
away his time in Paradise, enjoying all
the blessings that fall to the lot of deity,
is creating quite n stir in this city in the
vicinity Of the Chinese Temple, on Pine
street, above Kearney. For three days
tsien-yoks have emitted those notes which
once heard are never forgotten; the thun-
ders Of the tom-tom have awakened all the
echoes of the neighborhood; puuks have
smoked; lanterns Of every conceivable va
riety have dangled in front of wax gods of
every name and nature; Chinese tenors
have reached notes that Wachtel never
dreamed of, and steam whistle only could
rival; red-robed priests have chaunted dol
orous anthems, the gods have looked be-
niguantly down, aud all Chinadom has
worshipped, eaten, and drunk in perfect
happiness and freedom of expense. A
Post man, detailed to visit the festival,
upon entering the Pine street gate, was at
once brought to a realizing sense Of his
whereabouts aud surroundings by the awe
inspiring spectacle Of little party of del
ties Immediately behind the screen in the
doorway supposedly enjoying their ma
tutinal meal. They were all made of wax,
and did not possess very ravenous appe-
tites, but their breakfast of sweetmeats
and culinary delicacies was nevertheless
laid out before them, with chopsticks and
all the appurtenances complete. The chief
dignitary Of the party wore a skull capand
a benignaut smile, while the two gentle
men courtiers wore plug hats and sober
expressions beftting their position, their
two lady companions being likewise curl
ously dressed and sober-laced. The larger
inner and outer court-yards were rooted
over with cloth on framework of stats,
converted for the time into extra temples,
and from the roofs hung shelves of deities
of every size, appearance and shape, in-
spring the profane mind with the idea
that, unless the Celestial Heaven is very
spacious territory, the gods and their fam
lilies alone would hardly find room to get
along comfortably. Some of the religious
wax-works had evidently done good ser
vice, broken noses being in no wise un-
common, and the peculiar expressions of
mouth cracked from ear to ear, and a
countenance devoid of half the flesh color,
meeting the eye at every turn.
On either side Of the opening into the
inner court stood giant about fifteen feet
in height, with Indignantly idiotic cast
Of countenance, tremendous mustachc
and imperial, magniicently appareed iu
silk paper tinsel and ornamental knick-
nacks, representing the two st. Peters
which take the tickets at the gate of the
Chinese heaven. The right hand one
holds a batte-axe, and the one on the left
a couple of swords. Each has an animal
between his feet, the pet of the frst-men-
toned being very dissipated variety Of
the cat, having red nose, green and black
eyes, and green and yellow skin. The
other animal is evidently of purely heaven
oHlNAA llbAI ilht u IIDaS Dt-
tween horned toad and flying machine
than any other animal known to the Aca-
deny of Sciences, Standing near the off
giant are two steeds Of war, riyaling in
picturesqueness the famous Baalbec of
Mark Twain. The first one is of color
which proves beyond doubt that the
manufacturer never saw an animal of the
equine breed. He is posed very striking
ly, however, and, were it not for an eye
on the verge of falling out, three bamboo
ribs at variance with the paper epidermis,
and feather tail, the appearance would
be rather grand. AS it is, the effect is
unique, Dhe other equine is of COM
monplace white color, with a three foot
body aud four foot neck He is busily
engaged nibblng some Chinese grass, and
is held, as is the other, by Chinese pos.
tillion in the prettiest of Chinese clothes
and the cleanest of wax faces. Atthe end
of the inner court is stage, where the
musicians 81: and do homage to the divine
rulers, who are fortunately SO far out of
hearing that the performers escape that
excruciating death by torture which would
otherwise be their just recompense.
The devotional exercises take place both
within the josshouss and the court outside.
In the latter place, five priests, with red
robes, bearing tea advertisement placard,
or something closely resembling it, "chin-
chin through long series of chants
printed upon sheets of thin red paper.
Behind these kneel six worshippers before
six paper images, representing fire, water,
the perils Of the sea, AMI the other depart
ments into which the Chinese religion is
aggregated. These devotions are entirely
unheeded by the orchestral performers,
who originated erratic bursts Of melody,
through which, and the silence following,
the five priests keep up their nodding of
heads and their monotonous "cbin-chin,
chin-chin. " Every available portion of
the roof has lantern of curious shape, a
miniature temple, or paper structure of
some sort, hanging from it, and at night,
when all are lighted, when the musicians
and worshippers arc vieing with one anoth-
~ Ah 'OSuA duu anu
the entire place is packed with Chinese in
way that makes sardine sigh, the sight
is most curious and interesting one
The festival is one which is held every
three years in honor of the god mentioned,
Quan III Poo Sot. 1t is carried on by
subscription, and is entirely religious in
character. The names of the subscribers
and the amount donated are written on
card, and these cards are posted all over
the walls. The entire expense is about
$4,000, and the contributions are volunta-
ry, ranging from $500 among the richer
merchants to 10 cents among the poorer
coolies. The festival lasts six days, and
closes with grand procession to the grave
yard, on which occasion the giants, horses,
and innumerablemages of NEUROLOGICAL i'm
port, are burned on the graves of the
dead.
Shoshone Falls.
We left the Park by another trail that