Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-27

Of furnace. 1t is a regular sirocco. During 1t.
prevalence have seen oranges, lemons and ap-
PIES roasted on the trees Vegetation suffers i'm
mensely and the face Of nature looks Is IL FIRE
had run over it. In doors its scorchng and ruin
Gus power is such that the veneering of furniture
splits and warps like the leaves it shrivels doors
shrink; chairs become loose and rickety 10 the
joints; the paper the walls cracks and peals off
window castings display seams while wooden
framed houses snap and cresk as if they were go.
ing to topple the next moment. The norther
blows all over the State from half dozen to q
dozen times year; but its terrible heat and de-
structive effects principally confined to the in
terror valleys. Damaging as it is however, it is
believed that it Is the means of preventing pesti-
lential diseases by its absorption of malaria.
TIE ExTRAvAGANcE OF CALIFoRNIANs
is proverbial. Their dwellings, living. Dress all
show it. The spirit of the flush times of the past
still pervades the hour San Franciscans must
have the best in the market The word economy
is not known in their vocabulary. If they build a
hotel it must be a magnificent one; if they build
a house it must be palace. Their proneness to
speculation and the boldness of ventures s,imu-
lates their extrsvagant habits. The poorest man
to-day will tell you that he is TO be rich and
living in this hope he spends what money he has
with prodgality. The frequency of changes from
poverty to wealth and from wealth to poverty is
so common that it is no wonder extravaganza is a
ruling passion. The thousands holding shares
in the various mines of the Comstook lode all
think they will sooner later become rich BY q
successful turn. When Cafornians meet with q
pecunisry loss they are never dismaysd or cast
down. have an acquaintance who lost $50, 900
the other day in stocks. at don't worry me one
bit" he said to me- "But you are broke" said 1.
81 know it," said he, "but I'll be rich shortly. just
IS likely to be worth half q million as nothing
And of be went and enjoyed $40 dinner at the
poodle Dog" ons Of the high-toned restaurants
here.
The CHINESE QUARTERS. q
The Chinese population of San Francisco is es-
timated at $4,000, of which number only 1000 are
females. Three quarters of these Asiatics live in
what is known as Chinatown; the remainder have
their abodes in nearly every street and avenue out
side. Chinatown is located in the very heart Of
the metropolis. 1t embraces an area I should
judge of from 20 to 80 acres, which, at one time
constituted the most respectable portion Of the
city. There are to be found the most of their
stores, as we'll as their Joss houses, theatres and
restaurants. The buildings they occupy are Of
all descriptions. from one story rookeries to four
story brick structures. Property rented to them
brings from Is to 30 per cent. than it does if
rented by whites, and whenever they enter q
neighborhood where Caucasian property is located
its value is deprecated on account of their pres
ence.
Chinatown swarms with Asiatcs like bees in q
hive. In making tour Of its precincts, especially
after nightfsll, the discreet visitor will always be
accompanied by a policeman, as the Highbinders,
which embrace the most desperate and daring Of
the Pagan criminal classes, are constantly on the
alert to rob and murder. visi, in the day time
will enable one to all the sights he wishes with
less risks to encounter than in the nighttime
And such sights, just the same as one would see
we're he in Marking. Almost every kind of .
trade is carried on from carving and blscksmthing
to dealing In teas and silks. Bright signs and
numberess tri-colored lanterns attract the eye.
You are confronted by fortune tellers, the most
loathsone Of beggars, vegetable and fruit-sellers
and fsh-mongers. Cobblers carry on their occu-
patton on the sidewalk walled in by piles Of old
shoes. Segsr makers are numerous. Down in
underground dens you will behold BARRIERS shaving
the heads Of their customers and cleaning out their
ears. The buzz Of a sewing machine blends with
the feline music Of tom.toms and gongs. Dens Of
prostitution reeking with pestilential odors, meet
your visual organs look where you may, as you
pass through dark and noisome alleys. The nu-
merous Joss houses, several of which are costly
.-,;n L.. IL
deities wearing their best clothes ornamented in
the brightest of yellow and red. The opium dens
are crowded with those who are INDUCING in the
seductive influences of the drug. In the theatres
the orchestra sits in the rear of the stage
the female part. are played by men,
while the play generally runs about three
weeks, night after night, before finished.
In the provision shops you can be served
with the intestines of . chicken or frogs heads.
Ifyou step into restaurant and see . bevy of
Mongolian epicures disposing of their hash YOU
will be apt to marvel as much at the capacity of
their stomachs Is .at their voraci,y. Shark.
fms and birds nest soup are favorte dishes, al.
though pork and chickens constitute their princi.
pal diet. Their tea is steamed, and John drinks
it out Of the tiniest of cups. Dominoes are a ia.
vorite game, but as John is an Unborn gambler be
takes naturally to tan-tan.
In making the rounds of Chinatown YOU will
find that every inch Of ground has been utilized.
There is not closet in any house these Ceestials
occupy but that 10 used Is q sleeping apartment.
They never undress when they 60 to bed, and
never sleep under bed-clothes. One building of
three floors contains not less than 800 Cinnamon
1t is characteristic Of them to herd together in ill.,
ventilated and dog kennel rooms. When I tell
you that there are only some 900 buildings in
Chinatown occupied by some $4,000 Cele.tial,.
you can form pretty good idea Of how these
moon-eyed humans are huddled together. Their
lodging houses are not at for animals. Nuisapccs
of the most iutolerabe character exist, and il Ia
wonder that the city is saved from verpetual
plague. The locality of Chinatown Is one lazsret,e
house. There is not habitation but that il
hot bed of disease. As the result the death rate
of the Chinese is greater than among the whites.
Leprosy is not uncommon, while the most horri.
BILE cases of elephantiasis are numerous. Fire.
are infrequept, because, as it is said, every Cbin.
man sleeps with one eye open and one of bis hands
| on bucket Of conAagration water.
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