The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-14
orn cAfIronNIA LrIrrI,.
Chinese New fears-A visit 10 The CHI.
! se.e consni-srOo''el Place AZ ch'ns


Chineae New Year.s-A visit 10 The chi.
nese Consni-s Crooked PIaces IN ChIna
Town. Il
sASifRAScisco, February /, 1879.
Correspondents d tlie lntsi issacor f II
The most interesting event that has
tlawned upon ourcity torsometlme was the
celebration Of The Chinese New Year, the
preparation for which was on an elaborate
scale, and was really a notable occasion.
The almond eyed sons Of the Elowery
Kingdom commence their year with the
Grst day Of the new moon In Januaryyahd
the celebra i'm usually continues six days
and involves great preparation. The
celebration Is initiated blythe Chinese NOR
chants and other notablcs who, dressed In
gorgeous array, go from house to house "a
make their usual obiesance. At each
house they are gtyena toy cup Of steamins
tea, after partakiug Of which they helT
themselves to the delicacies served up ii
a round wooden box, resembling a cheese
box lid partitiOned of so as to contain va
rious kinds OF oriental fruits, candies and
nuts. Their visiting cards are made OF d
red piece OF paper, four by eight inches
inscribed with their name, address and
place OF business. These are neatly folded
into a card Of ordinary size and are re
lnctantIy given TO each visitor, whether he
be able TO read their language or not.
After nighttall the streets and houses
were illuminated by a proiusion Of Chinese
lanterns and other contrivances, which
at a. distance seemed to invest their quar-.
tiers with blaze OF oriental glitter. The
sightseeing visitors were Convulsed with
laughter, the sound OF which mingled
with the continuous squeaking OF fidlles,
Clashing Of cymbals, the ear.piorcing notes
OF countless reed instruments and explod.
Ing OF tlre.crackers, made q confusion oil
uncarthly sounds, compared with which
the variegated hubbu6 OF babel would
have been angelic symphony, and this
vas kept up the greater part Of the night.
The theatres, joss houses and restaurants
were so thronged that II was almost i'm.
possible to gain atlniittancc.
Chinatown occupies q portion OF the
central part Of the city, and contains some.
thing oyer thirty thousand inhabitants.
we, with a corps OF press representatives,
led BY a policeman, pushed our way
through tho densely packed streets, max.
ing calls upon the principal merchants,
who we're so annoyed by Ioodlunls that
they barred their doors, and only opened
them when they know who their callers
were. The Chinese arc quick in their per.
ceptions, and generally know, at a glance,
whether 1t is safe or not to admit visitors
They are always pleased to have gentle.
men aud ladies call on them. We also
visited their theaterS, and the actors had
their best loot foremost In the effort Ia
please nowvisitors. I.5C1
Next we came to the JOSS Houses. The
two principal temples were decorated
beyond description. Many artificial flow.
ers cut out Of fancy colorcd paper at,
tached to sticks were offerings 10 the III.
whites exposed for worship. The
Chinese Jupiter, on Clay street, Is kept in
good order, and contains all the sacred
vessels and utensils necessary for the per
iormance OF the mysterious ceremonies Of
oriental worship. Tho god was seated on
his throne, which was scarcely visible by
reason OF the profusion Of floral offerings
and others Of u more or less ornamental
character, which were placed at his feet.
The many features connected with these
temples OF heathen worship, interesting as
they might be, arc too numerous to men.
ton In this letter. From the gaudy TEN.
pies we descended into one Of the worst
underground opium deus in tho Chinese
quarters. The habitues were lying in
every conceivable position. II is an un.
pleasant place TO visit. Similar in
character are the gambling deus,
but constructed In such way thai
at moments notice the apartments can
be vacated through holes that seemingly
nothing but rat could crawl through
Owing to this fact the police meet with
poor success in raiding these dcns The
ground is literally mined with avenues oil
escape running in every direction. Con-
nectGd with these tlcns arc more public
places which are used as card rooms,
where games are played for money. These
arc open day and night, and adjoining
tllese are other rooms separated BIZ partil
lions about three feet high. They arc pro.
yidcd with extensive couchcs which cover
Tie whole room, on which those who
weary with playing may lie down. On a
board by their sides is placed a lamp from
which they may light their peculiar pipes
Or by which they may keep their tea hot.
Here they rest for hours, only 10 resume
their playing, meyer leaving tho place for
days at q time. 1t is never safe for ono to
go alone into these places. They arc the
scenes OF many robberies and murders.
During the day n number OF clergy.
men accompanied BY eighty gentlemen add
several ladies called on tho Consul Gen.
eral, Chen Shu Tang, and tile Vice Con-
sui, Sit Ming Cook. The latter is grad
uate Of Harvard. Most Of tho gentlemen
paid their respects 10 the Chinese officials,
the Rev. Thos. Girard making quite a
lengthy address, which was listened 10
With pArk ed attention and replied 70 by
inc VICE Consul ina pleasing speech,
T, NJ, G,