Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-10-15

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AChinese Birthday Celebration.
During the past three days ths Chinese Con.
sui General of Caitornis, Chen Shu Taug. has
been celebrating one of the most important fss
tiVals 10 bis lite 1t is the third decade birth
day. Ofthe mandarin lass aud wearing the
red button, it is the immamorial custom Of his
cult, on each successive ten years aftsr their
twenty first year of age, to have grand birth.
day celebration. 1t lasts three days; on the
two first of which the celsbrant receives c,lls
of cOngratulatiou. and on the last day he gives
q graHd parry, concluding with dinuer to
those who have paid their respects to him.
| 1t is point 10 high Chinese eIquette not to
invite any one previously to the party. but as
friend after friend calls on the first day of the
anniversary, and. after the expression OF good
wishes, is about to leave. it is suggested to him
that the feast is going to be held and it is prop.
er for him to attend it. As learned Chinese
remarked, Should | invite any one to attend
my birthday celebration without their having
| previously offered me their respects it would
look as though was doing so OF the bshess of
eg,tism aud was bidding for friendly remem
brancas that were not felt for me-"
The culmiuatiop Of Chen Shu TAug's fste
ec,urred 10 the VIE Tie Ping Theatre, on
Jackson sraes. yestsId,y. It begsu at noon
| and lasted until midnight. The wall, of the
scrolls of red satn inscribed with golden letters
embroidered pictures on silk. aud many colored
| screens and hanging. From the ceiling hupg
various oolored Iauterls. baskets of real and
| artificial flowers, i2terspsraed With lighted gas
lets.
Near the inner entrance Of the theatre was
dais on which was large oentre.table covered
with red and gold cloth, oa which rested
| numerous fancy objects 10 bronzs aud porcelain
| and small fancy screens, all of which we're pres.
ents to the giver Of the entertainment. Over
| these, against the wall. was very args rcd
| satin scroll. on which was worked in silk ON,
brodery the picture of a Chinese celebrity whose
years had beea as long as Methussleh's. whose
children had been a. many as those of Augustus
| the Strong, and whose wealth bad been scarcely
| less than thet of Cse,us. A paragon OF
Queen of Beauty was doing bin homags. This
gilt to Chen Sbu Tang had beea presented by
forty of his Intimate friends, and was symooli,si
of their wishes for his future.
On this dais he sat duriug the whole of hi,
|
! tanning the guests es they arrived, Upon the
| floor of the theatre, which had been formed by
| building over the orchestra aad parquette,
we're arranged 6fy elegantly carved black
| tables, to each of which were eight chairs.
| covered with red housings Immediately 10
| front OF the stage were row of chairs, coVsred
with red satio. trimmed with gold, 10 which the
more distinguished guests were invited.
10 front OF the gallery WAS large gauzs
screen extending around the oiro.e behind
which we're accommodated over a bundred of
tho elite of Chinese female ,oiety, hidden from
the gazs Of the promisouou,, but fully able to
witness all that was going on. They ware ar
rsyed in all the oolors of the raioboR. The Va
riety and gaudy effect of tho head dressings
were marvellous Amid this circle of the 70.
cherche aud small footed a host of children
we're playing 10 soemoly Iu1orous manner.
| A theatrical performance lasted from the be-
ginning to the end of the fets, and the sweet
sound of tho tom -som, one stringed fiddle aud
oymbal, leot an inspiring charm to the GONE.
tendants, and at half pas! six O'Clock state
dinner OF forty courses was selvod. The guests
included all the prominent Chinese of the city.
10 Chinese circles the entertainment WAS
voted to be one of the most magnificent ever
given 10 this city. 10 ftont of the bulldog the
street was blo,kaded all day with sdmiriDg
Celestial throngs. The costumes OF the acsors,
and nearly all the decorations. wera imported
from China. A friend of Chen Shu Tang es.
timated the cost Of the entertainment at fully
l$S,000.
The GRANDMOTHER OF CHRIsT.-Ths time
at which Ruth aud Naomi arrived 10 Judah
from the land of Moab, said Mr.. Talmsge, was
harvest time. 1t was the custom in those days
when husbandman dropped shsaf from the
wagon for him not 10 STOP that sheat WAS to
be for tho poor Ruth was so fair and tcluti.
full she would not want to blister her hands 10
the field Boaz goes out one day to SEQ the
reapers gathering 10 the field, and right be-.
hind the swarthy, sunburt reapers, he beholds
the beautiful cleaner, more tit to stoop to q
harp than to bow among the sheayes. 1t was
lave a. first sight. Iu the attachment which
Boaz formed for Ruth all Christendom is inter.
ested, for she afterward became the sucestress
ct the L2rl Jesus Chriss, our King cf glory.
In the FIRST place, We learn from this subject
that trouble develops character. 1t was be-
reavemeut and exilo and poverty that develops
ed Ruth's character. Trouble is su educator.
1t takes sorrow aud persecution todevelop men.
women, churches, nations. God never smites
With hammer but to make something. .Agaiu,
we learn the beauty cf untlripg friendship:
When distress came. Naomi was not troubled
With many callers. Hop many friends had she
Only one-Ruth. Paths which open 10 dark
ness end in great joy. Ruth We tiod to become
the grandmother Of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God is going to help you through. the sorrows
Of this life into great joy-it not IN this world
then 10 the world to come. We learn also from
this subject that events that seem insisni6canl
+ arc momeDtous, and again that thersis something
) very beautiful in female industry. For everJ
. intelligent woman there is somethlee to do
Sccisty needs to be reconstructed. May. tht
God of Ruth and Naomi be your God forever
= WHEAT BRAN, White and Brown Md