Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-11-04
rBg cHIuEsE FESTIVAL Begins.

Ono Of the annual festivals of the Chinese
is now in progress on I street. 1t is Whae
the uucslsstialized Anglo-Saxon heather de-
nominate Devil Driving" This designation
tbe more communicative Chinsmen denounce
as.slander. One of them last evening, who was
more Than usually ELUSIVE. spoke Of it some
-,,,.t n tb;. wise: "This all same church.
s,d fo, .July. He big man in corner heap
General. ali slame Washington. He great
6gb4. oh long time go, tive thousan' year.
! al more. He much head: oh gleat big
had Chinarnan. he much like him, he say
| ali same him Garfield, much big head; him
| know so much, him whip EN- all thousan' mer;
he much fight him much good good man
flor China. Other big man in corner? Heah.
he vley wise man-viey good man. China
man no good man not likee him much. The
horsee? Yes. that his horsee; ride much, an
fight. Belly nice horsee. Two Cinnamon
here in Sac'mento. Little fellos up there?
On, them come Joss-house, ell same good
men. Christ, Chiaaman Pope, al same
church, good men nuch-What you Gale
m-m-m?"
do you mean saints?'
:" Yes, all same sainte."
This year the Celestial worshipers have
arranged their public place of celebration or
worship with greater elaborateness than
usual. Two immense figures in the first Ger.
ners OF the room show that they are the re-
suit of much patient labor, while between
them stands en- excellent model OF
horse, made entirely of paper, and so neatiy
done as to excite admiration for the taste
and patience of the two workers. who have
spent four months of labor in its construc-
ton. In the center Of the room hangs
huge lantern, within which six circles, re-
volvinS each opposite to its neighbor, and
bearing figures in open relief IN some cssss,
and in others figures, thu shadows OF Which
only are seen, as reflected upon the paper
walls. A few years ago in like lanterns, the
circles of which are operated by the heat of
the lamps, only Chinese figures appeared, but
it viii now be noted that John has intro
duced new ideas, as one of the circles consists
of train of American railway cars, and IN
another appear an American steamship.
Three priests officiate behind the long coun-
ter that bars the approach OF the vulgar
Saxon toward the altar, and these are
constantly informing from huge piles OF
manuscripts the deeds Of valcr and the
words Of wisdom OF the saints and
soldiers OF the long-ago of the race. Behind
the priests row of acolytes stand, YEARLY
changing reats from one leg to the other, and
not so deeply impressed with the ceremonies
Of their ancestors as to smother all boyish
impulses, which lead them to whisper and
smile and now and then mimic the tall, rad
robed and cadaveroas offioiators at the altar.
A dense crowd of Cinnamon throps the
heataen temple till 1 or O'clock in the norm
Ing, and appesr to be deeply interested in the
sing-song reeitals Of the priests and to reVel
in the din Of sounding gongs. beating OF
drums and twangiug of catgut. Yesterday
the festival and ceremonies began with q
gaudy procession through the streets of China
town, and a great explosion of bombs and
crackers. The ceremonies are TO continue for
some five days. and will close with a gorgeous
display of pyrotechnic explosives and q grand
procession aud illumination.