The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-21
(For the Dlspa'ch.J
wandcrings of u Richmond BOY Ia
CaliEOrnia--What He Saw and Says
of tsac Chinese.
1From a OrIyate letter
For the Dispatch ]

From private letter.
The monotony Of business bas been little
varied with me Of late by a trip to Sacra-
mento for and by most interesting
trip through the Chinese section OF San
Frsncisco. OF The former | have little to
say. as it was mainly on business; but OF
the iattcr l could easily write book, did
time allow. One OF my men has an acguaint-
ance named -, who Is a detective, and
one OF good standing among his fellows.
Certainly, have rarely seen a man who
from his look seemed better fitted for his
occupation-smail, black eyes, hair, and
moustachc, active and muscular, and as
sharp as a brar. We met him at the new
prison in Frisco by appointment at
o'clock p. NJ. He introduced us to -,
policeman Of the regular force, and the
party, consisting OF the two officers, -,
and myself. after q curSory view OF the city
prisons, proceeded to Chinatown. I had
often heard OF and seen in priut accounts
OF the Chinaman among bis brethren, but
had little idea OF the facts OF the case. Nor
can / give you any adequate notion OF the
horrors OF that trip, and many things CAN
not be written. Our first visit was to an
opium den. Descending flight OF steps
and trave,s;ng a dark underground alley, to
uilU our Way tHlOuSh HiSu haN w
light a candle, we came to barred and
bolted door, through which, by some Chi
nese "open sesame" given by -, we en-
tered a room. This apartment was bnr-
ro,red out below the foundations OF the
building. The height OF an ordinary story
had been divided into three stories, each
about six feet or less in height. Through
the lowest OF these we passed by narrow
passage, on each side OF which were tiers OF
bcrthS. In each berth were two Cinnamon.
They were in every stage Of intoNication.
The air was dense with fumes, and the
heat sufncating. There was no Tentlla-
ton whatever. The dirt and filth on the
floor was an inch or two in thickness, and
of the consistency Of mud. The drunken
inhabitants when fully under the influence
were chasty to look upon, with half-closed
and CLASSY eyes, lips drawn back from their
protruding teeth, and limbs contorted as il
under torture. The other stories we reached
by rckety and Shiny ladders. We c>ti-
mated the number there present at between
three and four hHndred. Although the
weather outside was chilly, the perspira-
ton rolled from us as il we were in steam
bath, and was glad to escape into the open
air through another underground turTo'c,
the roof Of viii .h was so low that we had
to stoop to get through. The next thing
we saw was Chinese dinner-party, 1t being
the birthday Of an aristocratic Chinese
merchant. This was rs gorgeous as the
other was rcpulsve. We entered the house
with little ceremony. - seemed to pos
scss the password. And, bV the way. it
was curious 10 see the trembling attention
which these wretches paid to his orGers,
and the utter disregard for their feelings
which both - and - showed. They
Il t,,I- y1.tt nf lrk
anvbody's door and mapching in on any
one without the slightest ceremony. Any
orders not instantly obeyed were enforced
by cuffs. kicks, and oaths. / was informed
that this was the only way to deal with
:. John" successfully, and before the trip
was over Thoroughly agreed With them.
That dinner party was magnificent. Tue
room (about 50 feet wide by 90 feet long)
was arcbed and grained, and the roof sup
norted bv curiously- spiralied columns. The
arches were eaboratcly carved, and orna-
mented with silded work, ebony, ana
ivory. Many OF the columns were wrapped
by carved and gildcd dragons, tue ceilings
frescoed and carved, the walls decorated
with gorgeous silks, satlns, sildingS, &c.
The room was illuminated by lanterns sus'
pended from the ceiling, OF fantastic Shapes
and OF various tints. At each end nl the
room was conservatory OF quaint plants,
and on one side was balcony, or rather
yeranda, filled with blossoming trees and
bushes. At one end OF this balcony was
the orchestra, consisting or Vloilnlst VINO
held bis fiddle on his knee; banIolst,
with queer-lool;ing little :nstrument-its
drum was covered with The skin OF snake;
and a singer who accompanied herself by
beating occasionally on 4 copper hemi-
sphere supported on tripod. and sang in
q sweet voice n kind or monotone, which
was informed was 4 recital or The GOOD
deeds OF The host. She was extremely pref
ty in spite OF tie moor-eye>; and her pale
blue silk dress, or rather trowsers and
blouse, with gold and coral ornaments,
made quite picturesque OUTFIT. The most
and guests, some ten in number, we're seated
around round table, their wives taxing po-
sition. standing at about two PAGES Dehlnd
them. The Chinese conslderlt DafoarouS 10
cut food at the table. Everything having
been prepared, was served IN cHquisne
china, and ever and anon some lord OF ere
ation would take from his saucer piece OF
something to eat and hand it back 10 us
wife, who took the morsel in her hngers
from his chop-stick and greedily deVoured
if. ate some OF their pastry, tasted some
of their meats (what it was Is happily Il
mystery TO me), drank glass OF their wine,
made fiom ricc-an amber liquid, somewhat
thick and Sweet, but strongly Intoxicating;
and in going out noticed an OLD codger
with enormous spectacles, with tortoise
shell rims. seated in dim nitche writing
away with paint-brush in Chinese Dook.
I was informed that this was Chinese re-
1orter-ve gods !-WritinS history OF tue
occasion, and that he was regularly ap-
pointed to chronicle the deeds OF the great
man on whom we lad intruded. l a"kpd
this venerable scribe to write my name:
| have it now. 1t is as follows:
| left, cougratuating myself that the Chi
pese ways were not as our ways, or our lm-
Dertinence would have entitled us to being
kicked out. Then we visited gambling
dens, opium-dens, boarding. houses, &c
&c, in numberlcss succession. We also
visited drugstore, and this was curlos-
ity TO behold-roots, berries, dried suckers,
lizards. horned toads, intestines OF AMI
mails. herbs, &c. I saw prescription put
uD. A Chinaman went around among nc-
merous boxes with q pair OF scales IN MS
hand. In one OF the pans was small
weight. which was never changed, the dtf-
ferent weights being arrived at by shifting
the noint OF suspension. There was no
nojnter. The Chsnaman sighted along the
4 a,s }r;notno IL into line with the