The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-31
DEDICATION OF A JOSS HOUSE.
From the San Francisco Alta. Dec. AL

from the San Francisco Alta, Dec. AL
Tho new Chinese House, at No. 512 Pine street
was dedicated last evening. The building. which IL
scarcely finished is II feet wide 40 feet deep and 40
feet high, containing two stories, full Of Chinese
eccentricities. Above the entrance Is handsome
marble slab gided in heather characters, and boar
ing the English inscription. 'Kong Chow Asylum"
The building stands upon the first piece of real estate
purchased in San Francisco by Cinnamon. Its cost,
whom completed will be $500. It is built by
tributions from natives or the Kong Chow District.
China, and, in addition to being used place Of
worship will be utilized temporary graveyard
for Celestial bones bound for China and Pai adsc,
via Pacific Mail route. The festivities begun last
night will continue for eight or ten days. that time
being devoted once in three years. according to Mon
golian ethics, to thanksgiving for good crops OF
pigs and failures in tho yield OF Irshmen. large
number of curious whites attended the dedication
last night. and were industriously shown about by
their proud brother barbarans. Entering from Pine
street fckering light, sent forth by several dozens
OF taper Candles revealed the height OF Chinese
travagance in brightly colored paper ornamenta-
tons. gorgeous embossed paper picture, repre-
sentlnc the son of the moon taking the salary pledge
especially excited the admiration of the leather.
colored arstocrats. Several booths of oddly-shaped
and expressioned female dolls. arranged in various
tragic pantcmimes, also called for free appreciation.
The walls covered with flaming red posters,
the reporter being pressed for tme did not stop
to read them. Turning short corner. another
room was entered. At the entrance were two fierce
looking giants about twelve tcet each in height,
female book agents. but not 1.-THE so dangerous.
The same recklessness to hgh-colored papers wns
displayed in the entrance. and in addition to
the candle lights several handsome cut glass sop
tagonal lanterns swung pendant from the ceiling.
On elevated stage ut the rear was group OF
heather amateur musicians, whose Muse appeared
to have gone o spree. The thought occurred that
the greatest part of the Thanksgiving was in reality
because the band wasn't larger. The famous Seer
man Band" would have given up it's ghost and brass
horns without q murmur il the shame of com.
parison had been theirs. Sum Snuff, the leader OF
the orchestra, performed on the bottom OF brass
kettle with pair of chop sticks and evidently con-
sidered noise the elimination OF harmony. His
partner scrapcd an impromptu fiddle, made from .
mallet and o beer faucet, aud fastened with shoe
strings rendering strains that In civilized country
would condemn MIN to term in Congress-. The
third hend picked discord from a duicet guitar
fashioned from pick handle and the crown Of an
Irish-American stovepipe hat, while the fourth
thrumped Chinese banjo-in China generally used
dering gong made up the complement. Occasionally
tho saucepan artist charmed the company by singing
In high to elevated z. ard only prevented from
running his voice by the alphabet running out. In
o room to the left the more Impressive ceremonies
were conducted. The chief altar was ten feet high
and at the top the inscription Beware of Pick.
pockets" 1t laden with artificial fruits and
sundry substantial delicacies that would indicate .
cast-iron appetite for Joss. Before the altar the
Chief High Priest knelt and kept up dreary plant
deites that their blessings be showered upon
all good Cinnamon for the next three years. Behind
him squatted seven high priests. four OF whom
wore brown jackets, the others blue; oil wearing
red-topped caps, always the insignia OF high Office
among the Chinese. several Notwithstanding fell
the altar and kept the tiny lamps nllcd willing to
o stipend from Joss we'll as from the Presi-
dent OF q Ward Club. Between the boating of the
cymbals and war-whcops OF tho master or tho core
pany with selections from "Pinafore" in several
dialects.