The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-01-16
IN PEKIN.

We went down one of tn. broad
streets that run for mics without .
bend. The vista is closed by city
gate, x..d broken 10y here and there an
elaborate arch that spans the oad~ay.
q py.ow erected to commemorate either
wealth or virtue, but the green and
gold have rubbed OF, and the structure
is out Of line. like a gravestoDe where
the earth has sunk; the houses, built
Of brick. are OF one story. yet as the
front of the chemists. tea aud tobacco
shops are mass Of gili-l aud p .inted
wood sometimes ten feet high. they
make a dazzling show when new; but
psi"t AID gliding wear away rapidly
in this clilnte. aud when the gold tar
nishes it is no, renewed. so that there
sre sonber lines Of faded finery broken
ut intervals by u brilliant flash of color,
like the glare cf public house in y
street that has lost its gent,l'y. The
middle Of the roadway Is the bigbes,;
there are lower roads on either ride,
and off these the sidewalks and the
shops.
A, intervals the middle is occupied
by rows Of booths c.vered with wooden
boards or with curtains or rags, where
travelling merchants display their goods
nv in an English fair or else cook and
sell lot viands that always stiract the
country folks who have Come in to mar
ket. At Other points there a,e oblong
groups "f eager listeners. each group
gathered n uuda story teller, who t.l!s
his tales with wonderful dramatic ac-
items; and, IS wise as the editrrs of
Wes,eru msg- zin-s. when he has work.
ed up his audience b, the highest sus.
pense sends around the hat before he
besias the next chapter. saw him ve-
hemt ntiy shake hts Cash box in the
face Of mean fellow who was sn.ating
away without paying A few yards
off. n jusgirr has an equally eager
crowd, while he swallows porcelain
cups and needles without end. A little
further. aud there is tho ver,table box
OF Punch and Judy. although the dis
tinguished persons on that mimic stage
are nut very distant and poor relations
to th.ir nsmesakes here. On the side.
walks the chropndist operates on way.
worn feet, and rho bar ber is busy shaw
ing customers aud settling their tails.
An ancient scribe with horn specta.
Giles we'll on his nose is writing letter
for some love.sick swain, and knot of
ten or twelve idlers gather round to
hear it. Other crowds have collected
about ballad singers and street musi-
clans; and We are told that II IL Was
the kite season, old gentlemen of grave
aspect would be flying paper dragons
100 feet long. A ceascless throng. on
foot and horseback. is in motion through
all these stationary bodies. Soldiers
ride By with guns slouched across Il cir
shoulders. and others with bow and ar
rows. Cows and csmels lie about the
sideways. ard camel. are loaded with
sacks.ef coal. A huge red umbrells
appears, and . mandarin follows il.
horne IN his chair. with ragged lictors
clearing the way. We pass Pekin
cab stand. both the carts and the mules
rather f,ded. A golden streak Of 6re
rushcs eut Of the smithy, and urchins
stay aud watch it as they do at home.
A blind ,naa threads his way by
beating doleful tunes upon trombone.
Old men and young men carry sticks
10 which birds ara attached by slight
thread under the wing. and . good bird
may cost as much ~ s.. There 10 .
sound. no, OF revelrv, but of nouruful
stringed instruments. and banners
glsam in tho distance ansteadiIy ad-
vancing through the press; il 10 we'd.
ding procession. We are told. ard for An
hour ths procession flows slowly by.
coolies. who have flung scarlet cloaks
over their native poverty: bearers with
huge structurea. supposed to be brids's
presents. sometimes IN chairs on dat
trays; and instruments Of music. bnnnes
poles. sedan chairs. h-raldic shicsds.
tablets, coolies. trays. follow In . con-
fused and brcleAn line - il they bad no
natural beginning or end. Overhead
there - nusicsi whirs. incessant bus
not anplrasing; = tiny Tyre is inserted
in rigson'a tail. some ssy t. eusrd Il
from birds Of prey, snd the wis:d make
shr ....,.,.. l.. ia nayhk