West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-04-17

An Sing, Chinese merchant. was buried
recently i'm Chinatown, san Francisco. The
corpse was encased in handsome coffin.
literally studded with plated screws and
handles, which was exposed To the public
gaze under a white canopy erected i'm Du-
pont street The stand itself was literally
I adorned with gilt paper and peacock feath-
ers, while al the foot of the collin. ON a sec
ond table, large quantity of Celestial deli
cacieS were spread ont, which were 20 aC-
company the departed soul TO the abode of
joss. y miniature image Of the Chinese
deity spread his hand bcnignly over the
feast, and there was no lack of candles and
punk. A band of professional female
mourners filled the air with cries and lamcn-
tations. At noon Chinese band put i'm an
appearance, but the ceremonies for while
were carried on 10y one man only This
/ person, dressed like an ordinary Chinaman.
with the exception OF wearing "a black cloth
| turhan studded with brass ornaments PLAYED
"a pair of cymhalS and a bell. chanting as
an accOmpanimcntth the great and good deeds
of the departed. The band began plaviup
rs soon as he had finished, and were Joined
10y the mourncrs i'm grand chorus. the fc-
males humping their forchcads ON the cob
bIestones. The ceremonies ON Dupont
street lasted about three hours AT the
close ct the services the coffin was placed i'm
"a hcarsc and conveyed 10 the Chinese crave
yard. The hCarse was preceded hy "a hack
containing the Chinese band, beating bells
and gungs, which were suspended from the
root of the carriage by ropes Next were
several carriages filed with professional
mourncrs, who were array,d. i'm white
sacks, and with white bands about their
iorehcuds There were further IA number
of carriages containing the friends aud rcla-
tivcs of the deceased which i'm turn were
followed by the hcarsc The hearsc and
collin were as elegant as the most Celestial
taste could wish, and were looked upon hy
the Hcathcn who drove an express wagon
immeilhtciv behind 1t with triumphant sat-
istaciion. This express wagon contained,
fins OF all, whole roast pig of comfortable
size, number of chickens Drowned by the
generous heat on the baKe-ovcn. "A large
bowl Of rice, "a dozen broilcd crabs. mum
Der of bottles, presumably filled with liquor;
also cups sauccrs, bowls and Chop-sticks.
beside the usual lot of joss paper sticks
and candles. When the procession had
reached the outskirts of the city IL halted,
and the good things Of this life were ten
derly transferred 10 one of the carriages.
with the exception Of one poor old hen
whose mcagrc limba gave promise of an all
earthly iaw-dclying toughuess. one crab.
and three little bowls of rice The bic
gong was unstrung from the roof of the
hack, the pillOwslips and bandugcs removed
from the mOuncrs, and the procession di-
vidcd, the smaller number of vehicles
following the hearse Arrived at the grave
yard of the FOok Wang Tosg company.
the grave-diggcr was diligently sought ~.
lie is an lrishman. aud hc was found
pleasantly engaged feeding his pigs on
Ch ncsc funeral chicken. AS philosophical
as any gravc-diggcr, lac never said IA word,
but scizing his spade, pitched il into the
ground AT place indicated by line, as If
he were planting row of potatoes, and dug
grave. just as silently the coffin was
drawn ont Of the hcarsc and placed into the
grave head first, the foot end being ,hcd
down with the spade. Then he spoke up
for the first time. ''Whcre's vOur brick Y''
he said A BRICK, one side Of which was
inscribed with number of characters, was
produced, and, with the spade, placed ON
the head end Of the coffin Meanwhile two
of the mourncrs had spread thc feast at the
foot OF the grave. Tea was poured into the
cups, the chOp-sticks were placed by the
side of the rice bowls, and the crab glowcd
like the setting sun. Others had been busy
lighting punk-sticks at the head Of evtry
grave within the intlJure, and when they
reached the last and thcirOwn they lit three
short and thick wax candles Each mourn
or thcrcupon made three low salms before
the grave, and then the dishes were over
turned and the food left on the ground,
basketiul Of paper punk and ioss-sricks
were burned, and the grave digger fell to
andhled the grave. The Chinese with
drew after having drank the contents Of
bottle which had been par; Of the de-
ceasod's feast, but which they had taken
care not 20 leave on the ground Half an
hour aftcrward the harem Of the dead Mon
gOl, consisting Of three moon eyed beauties.
arrived at the graveyard in a hack They
were not admitted TO the cemetery, but they
kindlcd a bonfire among the sage bushes
wherein were burned old clothes, books.
punk, red paper, a large quantity Of what
may have been cheese or turuips, and sun
dry other mysterious things When the
fire was at It's height The women bowed low
with clasped hands several times, and then
departed without having cast even one look
in the direction where their former lord and
master will be buried until such time as the
absorption Of The ground shall have put hm
in ht condition TO be reshipped 20 the land
Of his fathers