The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-30

S, San .frnffclacO-S ARW JOSS HOuSe.
from Ihe San Francisco Chronicle, December TO-
AtNo. 512 Pine street there is near COM
pletion a two-story building the architec-
turc OF which causes considerable comment
from observers. 1t is new Chinese joss
house. 1t is built Of brick, is 40 feet high,
40 feet deep. and II feet in Width. The top
is surmounted With heavy iron castings.
The front wall for eight feet above the side
walk is OF iron, succeed. The cornice is
OF heavy Roman galvanized iron. There Is
but one entrance to the building on Pine
street. The castings Of the door and the
two windows each side Of il arc Of solid
iron two feet six inches in thickness. The
door, as the shutters OF the windows, are
also Of thick iron. The upper story is
divided into rooms, and will be used as re-
ceptioD-rooms for visitors OF social and Off
cinl importance. There is but one window
on this floor, which also has heavy iron
casing and shutters. Over the front door is
a marble slab, upon which are inscribed in
gilt a number OF Chinese characters, under
meath which Is engraved IN English "Kong
Chow Asylum" The slab is OF white
italian marble, three and a half by seven
and bali feet, and said to be the largest in
the city, its cost being $3.50. The lot upon
which the building Is erected was the first
piece OF real estate purchased by Chinese IN
San Francisco. The building was TO be
completed by the 10Th instant, but net
being finished, all labor will he suspended
until after the conclusion OF the fes,ivi.
ties, which will begin therein tomorrow
evening, and partake OF u nature similar
to our national thanksgiving. THIS iesii-
val is OF ancient origin among the Monao-
Inns, there being from eight to ten days set
apart every TIN ee years in which, with fast
ing, they return thanks TO their Joss for
prolongation of life and prosperity. This
information was furnished to reporter OF
the Chronicle yesterday by Cbinaman who
spoke very good English, and who said
further that the building was erected by
Cinnamon from the Kong Chow district,
and would be "the boss Joss house on this
coast" When asked what was meant by
the word asylum he said it would be a safe
Mace to deposit the bodies OF the dead until
they were shipped to China; also, that the
leading men OF the Kong Chow district
would meet there to subscribe for their in
digent poor and sick. The cost OF the build
ing, when completed, will be $500. The
Chiuaman described an incident which oc-
Cured yesterday morning on the premises.
He said: "This place not quite Ieady yet,
but we must have big time, SO tink I put
canyus overhead to keep lain out. Then
woman who live in next house complain 10
police, and officer he come and say, Yon
nut tin roof over all. or you be rested. No
allow you to have canvas roof That cause
very much trouble and lots time and money,
ana this woman she put her head out OF
the window and laugh and clap her
hands, and she fall out and got hurt
pretty bad. You understand; why she
fall outY / tell you me have good time
here, all the same American Thanksgiving,
for sixteen year. Nobody make complaint.
THIS woman she complain. God came down,
push her out window. Maybe break her
neck. Ought to, anyhow" Upon seeing
the reporter smile at his Interpretation Of
the accident, he continued: "You no be-
lieve God do that? tell you. One time
in China Chinaman knock ,Joss head oil.
That Chlnaman die in three Gays. She got
no right say Chnaman shan't have his
church. Chinamau might as well go and
knock down Christian church. All-a-same.'