Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-11-04
THE CHINESE QUARTER.

Over the Dead--Chinese Industry and
Economy--Thos season OF Mourning--
superstitions Concerning Death.
As the Chinese differ in their daily
life and customs from all other branches
OF the human family, equally at vari-
ance are their last sad rites over the re-
mains of dead Celestial. Though they
are numbered by the hundreds in New
York they never intrude their religious
views and opinions upon the public un-
TIL one OF their countrymen is removed
from his washtub and opium smoked
cellar by Father Time, and then the de-
monstration is one that keeps the
Chinese quarter in n state of uproar for
several days, ending only at the grave.
AS Il general thing the health of Il
Chinaman is not impaired by base
ment and filthy surroundings, and
nothing mars the even tenor of his life,
apart from the customary small boy
and the inquisitive Caucasian with his
bump OF curiosity slightly enlarged by
liquor. He works at all hours of the
day and night in an uncomplaining
manner, washing and ironing, tying up
packages OF laundried linen, and affix-
ing TO each a slip of paper bearing few
cabalistic scrawls. which signifies that
there is "a certain amount due on the
Mclean mans washee." His in
| tervals for rest are not many.
When hungry, few minutes vigorous
use of the chop sticks replenishes the
inner Chinaman, and his sole comfort
is when he crawls under his table TO
smoke opium, or goes out TO neighbor's
cellar TO "buck" " Chinese faro. His
sleep is a secondary consideration, taken
when nothing else remains to be done,
on the smooth side of bis ironing board.
When one is seized with illness very
little until 1t is given him by his
brothers. He is removed to the inner
room of his establishment, n native doc
tor called in, and he is left to recover or
die rs the malady, heightened by the
| physician. may direct. If the former.
the disease being of m unusually mild
nature, he is seen in due season at the
gaming table, n triae yellower than
before-nothing more. II the latter, his
fate is speedily known. and the Chinese
quarter takes on a series Of semi-h holi-
days, governed exclusively by the
amount of money taken in during life by
the dead man which did not go up in
| opium fumes or into the gamblers cof-
fers. His death announced, every
brother pig-tail in the neighborhood
| grows curious.
A committee is formed in one of the
cellars, and proceeds to the scene o
death. All the late mans effects arc
carefully inspected, dollars, dimes and
pennies counted, and then the funeral
festivities begin. The remains are en-
cased in n new cloak coat, new shoes are
put on the feet, and coffin purchased
| without quibbling rs To the price.
Once the lid OF the coffin is screwed
down, it is not raised by the mourners.
Candles are lighted and placed at the
foot, and punk fire is kindled in dish
ut the head. There is no Grape attached
to the door knob, as all OF the dead mans
| friends have been notified of his demise
A demijohn of whisky is purchased. a
goodly supply of opium and pipes laid
! in, and the wake begins in earnest.
Open-house is kept from that hour until
the interment, the committee assuming
the role of host. At least six of the
mourners are in attendance day and
night. When a Celestial friend or
stranger calls to pay his respects the
whisky and opium are produced.
Should the newcomer be averse
to drinking whisky, one of the
watch salies forth with a can to
a saloon and returns with beer, and the
gentleman who ot je ted TO the contents
OF the demijohn drinks to the successful
| journey OF the Chlnaman's spirit to
Chinese heaven. The beer quaffed, one
who had known the dead man in life
seats himself near the coffin, and, with
one hand resting upon it, narrates the
history of the one they mourn. All the
facts, both great and minor, which
characterized his life, are told; the man.
ner in which he existed in China, now
he was induced TO come to America. his
wanderings while here, and last but not
east, the sum of money he saved in ply
ing his vocation. The story loses moth
ing by the telling, and should the crude
narrator become mellowed with whisky
or beer. the acts and virtues of his sub
ject are extolled until one unacquainted
would regard him little short OF q
second Confucius.
After due season of mourning, all the
way from three to seven days, during
which time, unless the weather has
been extremely warm, the body has not
been on ice, preparations are made for
the burial. All the blankets and house
hold effects are given away, the blank
cts generally 10 the undertaken, to
whom Is awarded the contract for
burial, and the washtub, sad irons and
other vessels and instruments to friends.