New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-02

usua salntat;ons are made on the streeraising the
hands quickly and joining them for an lnsIantTthe
Tapping of these loose sleeves gives singular ehGct
Over this garment is worn palana or rock OF lIcn
cloth or satin, with sleeves full SIX inches shorter
than those of the blue undercoat. This outer rock
is short, reaching only to the hips sol ne. are
thicky quilted but the majority are of fine blue or
purple cloth The head is suTmounted by skull
cap of dark silk with button of red or lemon Color
This dress is universal there is no variation except
in tint. Many of the combinations OF color are
artistic and upon graceful Chinaman the costume
sits easily. The greater number, however, wear IL
with an air of cOnsraint, and as they 60 lnmntIhg
along with their awkward rolling gait they look not
unlike a band of sailors, masqucrading IN army
ovcTcoats half covered by pea-lackets E4 tba
weather and when not held in the hand it bangles
from u belt at the side.
FEATURES OF THE FESTIVAL.
On entering the door of house or store, the visitor
sautes by bowling low and placing tho hands to-
gcther in front. Generally two elaborate bows are
made. The compliments of the season are ex-
changed; few swcetmeats are eaten. n sip of rice
brandy taken, another low bow is made, and the
visit is ended On meeting in the streets situations
are exchanged by placing the hands together and
wishing the usual Kong he fat choy" "A happy
New-Year greeting.
Naturally few women are seen in the streets
The wives Of merchants are kept strictly secluded
and only those women are abroad whose trade de-
mands public display. These fill several of the moi
some little alleys which branch of from Washing
ton and JackSOn-sts. They stand at tho doors of
their small houses and laugh and chat with passcrs-
by. Their hcad-drCSS is far more elaborate than
usual The puffs and rolls of jet-black hair the
glossy bands pierced with gold aTTOwsall these
everyday attractions are enhanced by red and yellow
flowers arranged in curious designs on the back
hair while the smooth cXpanse of the front pats is
marked with broad bands of gilt Their dress is
gorgeous its grouping of yellow and green making
them look like tropical parTOqucS. In wandering
through one of these Chinese alleys on last New
Years day was witness and sharcr in II ludicrous
incident A remarkably pretty Chinese girl-wiih
great purplisIl-blacll eyes brought ont into high
relief by their rings of rouge. and with her VOlHp
tuOus lips inged with the TOSlcst pearl of a Sumner
mOTning-lOungCd i'm the open door of one of thcS"
houses. Her plump arms were loaded with massive
gold bracelets, while heavy ivory rings hung about
her neat ankles. She was superb figure of purely
sensuous Oriental bcauty-a lit companion piece 20
G6Tomes Moorish "Almch.' But distance WAS
necessary to the proper artistic effect, as all illusion
was spoiled when, i'll passing by, she grlSprd me by
lips and called out in shril voice, What dn Ic
soy ~ The hOodlum sling phrase, which was imi-
tated to perfection, she evidently regarded as the
height of politeness.
customs of the Chinese, they have one trait which
wOuld sit well their detTactOrS-an Eastern colr-
tesy, as il is beautiful in this country ms
Is subject TO heavy strain here, especially ut the
New Year festival, but it never fails them. 1hcy
are not insensble to the bitter hostility againsg
them in this city, but they meet contempt with
contempt, and take their revenge by spelling the
Egyptian in trade competition, and laying by hiS
newly mintcd coins for an old age of comfort and
phlosOphic case under the ancestral vine and fig