Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-01-25

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 2lst.
EDITOR HERALD: With all ma.
tions and races of people, the oh.
+servance of their natal day has
passed into the recognized tradi-
ton of historical fact. It is to the
manner born to observe as becomes
the custom Of the hour, the Incl.
dental compliments of the season,
and from the king to the parvenu
exchanges OF simple expressions
coincident with the times are con-
sldered breeding. 1t gives US to.
day Chinatown galore. A paroled
city, flooded with its invaders,
might convey q decimal idea of
the almond-eyed Celestials filling
the streets of San Francisco with
ill-shapen costumes, Pagan GUS
toms and gorgeous wardrobes.
Armed with the vestal of observing
their New Year-five under the
present King OF China and the
thirty-first on this coast - they
have turned Chinatown into a vast
play house, spite of it's filth and
social horrors, and are dancing,
drinking, eating aud dreaming
away the hours In a manner of
unctuous abandon against Chris
tian decency aud in defiance of
local authorities. Bunting, deoo-
rated with their yellow-headed
dragon, flies from basement to
dome; tropical plants, mblems of
their torrld country and significant
of Chinese habitation, regale the
promenaders with an exhalation
redolent with the accumulated
garbage of unkempt CUTTERS; han
ners, balloons and highly colored
pigments spread with lavish hand
upon exterior objects, swell the
color and general ensemble OF the
settlement, until analysis of its
eccentric peculiaritiss defies de-
scriptien. The laugh, Jest and RI
bald pleasure of the heather Chi
nese echo up their dirty streets,
through their Shiny alleys and
bubbles to the surface from their
disease.brseding cellars. Briefly,
all Chinatown, metaphorioally
speaking, is afoot and horseback.
At the Chinese theatre on Dupont
street a dramatic translation of
seme mythological subject, acting
direct upon the observances Of the
day, Is being listened to by two
thousand Mongolians. It Is UNDER
stood that the play will reach the
climax of the story in one week.
OF course to the average Caucasian
in which humble guild your cor.
respondent claims place-nothipg
is understood. A tornado of each.
nations delivered ia whirlwind
doses, is about the idea, so we shake
hands with the bejeweled function
ary at the door, nod TO the box
keeper and stroll round the corner
OF Jackson street to Wang Foo's
celebrated tea house, whose Young
Hyson, as brewed by the commits
sariat of that hostelry, is pro.
nounced by connoissieurs the best
on the coast.
A tiny cup, that reminds one of
nursery days, highly ornamented
with national emblems, Greek to
any other than a China man, chop
sticks with plate of rice, served q
Ia carte, is the lunch. The Tempt
ing array Of mice, peculiar and do
cidedly mysterious sausage, gar
nished with hanging strings of fat
and smeared with some condiment
known only to the diurnal habitues
of the place, have no attractions for
the casual inspector, and the petite
lunch 10 taken between comments
on the day, chatting the highly or.
namentsd attendant and watching
the parterre of oolors as it floats
about the tea shop in the shape of
elegant brocades on the backs of
the visitants.
Nothing known to the vulgar
public-as the term is understood
by medern people--is missing. In
harmonious colors, staggering
stride, defiant in its insolence, loud |
OF speech and altogether shameless
in their exchange of social eti-
quette, they form, In this their
holiday, q sad trsvesty on the
loudly proclaimed refinement of
the 10th century.
After lunch, draught of the
opium pipe on bamboo bed is the
afdire, and lazy turn down jack
son street to No. 6lS brings us In |
contact with the slavish Instincts
of the habitual smoker, hundreds
of oddly shaped pipes and the dead |
ening drug in bulk. You pay your |
bit to the leer-eyed mendicant who |
retails this death In any quantity,
you are awarded to an |
throw yourself upon the |
bamboo stretcher and await the in
itial light of the opium by the
slave attache of the house.
The atmosphere Is heavy from
the fumes of a score of pipes. Ma
ture gradually succumbs to the be-
numbing yet pleasant effect of the
odor, the opium attacks the sys-
tenn and dreams OF the Orient, gor-
gsous in rose tinted horizons, float
IN the fancy. Half sleep, half
dream.lsnd, half Weakening, the
borders OF that country from which
no traveller returns Is reached. Riot
might run wild at your side, but
sweet oblivion to all but the attend.
ant God Of dreams only is recsg-
nized. According to the physical
strength to resist the opium is the
length of the semi-unconscious con.
ditien continued, and, more
stupid than You are will |