The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-06-19

Nc unpdIOOnaDle SINS. tn ~ T4|
bar mind of the Chinaman J,
debt is far more heinous ~, ~
disembowelling your wont ~.
abandoning your best friend Is "a
sickness: 1t is an outcroup;cs ~
eniinently practical mind in A
ituality finds no Granny for ]eS
and hard materialism rules -: s
ened by sentiment, unlighted "a
fugitive CLEAN of Imagination a.
The festival is heralded by 49, r.. !
arations and arouses an infePes<
the apathetic Celestial seldom -.
in any mundane matter. For d--
fore the great event the curbskoS3
ers in poultry and pork are ovsr~f :,
with business. The door poefs X p
of the shops of rich merchaDfr I,
fresh coat of vivid red pajrk
the walls of the interior take a : +, i!
blue tint. Improvised sidebosrS "a
put up, spangled with fancy tinseI ~.
and loaded with nuts, candies ana e 4
meats. Along the outer walls -
rows of large lanterns, paintel = D.
colors and adorned with thoze -
figures, which may represent IL
of the Confucian age, but whiok z
no living counterparts in the -
Celestial fields or the fishes in o..
waters. Arranged in corner q ,=s
shop is a store of fire-crackera - ~
noisy squib plays great part d p
joicings.
The night before the great e {
ushered in with hideous GLARE
tom-toms, squeaking of one-striseI r
dies and rattle of a thousand exS|
fire-crackers. This is the tina a ~
Chinese quarter thoroughly arouor Z r
walk through the main streets \ -
ways safe, but the risk of burne1 %
or singed eyebrow is amply M
the many amusing spectacleo ~
every side. The shops and houo
all brilliantly lighted, while the q
lanterns arranged at varying
make the street at distance loor
political torch-light procession IN
the ward patriots have absorb
much beer. On each side Of IL
long scarlet ropes of fire-crackeS
from the upper balconies, the
ends dangling over the sid1l
One gets a kind Of opera
baptism of fire (" in venturine Z
the street. Seated aloft, smokf
small pipe or cigar, is the pro-
of the house, his eyes dancing n
element as he watches the line 4
climbing slowly up his frocr1
Occasionally he adds to the CO.
whiplash reports of the small a
by throwing into the street
which explodes with an ears
report. The pavement is soon
under the red fragments Of firou,
among which the daring hoodmuI
and secures any crackers which e
has failed to ignite. From u =
balconies of many houses, I'll u
with beautiful lanterns and 1o1
plants which give them the sppo
of hanging gardens, comes Is
of minstrelsy. The sing-sone e
tions of friends, the waiting a. G
vendors of hot refreshmento, ~
sound of the fiddles, the clash 4
bols and the hoarse roar Of exl(
pyrotechnics-all these make up a
as essentially barbaric as one oo1
sire.
On the following morning ~
ing begins in earnest. The ~
decked out in the bravest -
likewise their owners. The
Chinaman scorns work ct this l
gets good food at the houso1
wealthy friends. He wears biz q
airy clothes, smartened, perhe(
new hat or jacket. The CHS
dress, however, is worn only
wealthier class, and it is seldo1
on the street except at this ~
1t differs widely from the .
costume in cut and material, y
far richer and more picturesqpp
The trousers are of damask BIlks
with flowers and other designs
are of all colors, but the pretfieq
delicate fawn color or Of Nile
the identical tint which feminlz
ion has lately added to her r.
Some trousers even may
made of fine channels skin.
the leg closely and are "a
tight about the ankle. Or
inner pajama of white linen g
keen ia worn A long III