Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-17
FROM THE BAY.
SCENES ON THE WATER FRONT -
CHINESE FUNERAL.
Random Thoughts and Recollections-
o1d-Time Programmes-Night Music
-Ths Garibaldi Obsequies.


Chinese officials. He was mummied, old
and yellowed, and his face was what all
Chinese faces area mask which resolutely
conceals all trace of feeling or emotion.
Yet if ever I saw one of these masks
thrown off it was on Sunday. We had
been on the Oakland boat, and had stood
in pity round man, perfectly strange ap-
parently to all, who was wet, bloody and
insensible. 1t was such sight as one
stumbles across occasionally where many
people are massed, and in turning up Mis-
sion street we came upon another scene.
A Chinese boy, chased by dozen half
grown hoodlums, ran up the street at his
greatest speed, and was finally overtaken
by the swiftest runner, who dealt him blow
after blow as he ran.
CHEERS AND SHOUTS
Came from the pursuers running at greater
distance, and then suddenly they swayed
backward as another Chinaman shot into
view from cross street. He took in the
situation at once, and that unpenetrable
mask of stolidity, indifference, apathy
which hid his real face melted away, leav-
ing the most villainous look of hate and
threatening upon his features. "Come on
now, do" he seemed to say, though he
never moved muscle as he stood stock
still in the middle of the street. 81 should
just like chance to stab every one of you
white towards to the heart" And then,
as his enemies skunk away, he took up his
march again, and went on with utter in
difference as to the abuse showered upon
the young boy of his own race. He had
simply cut across the quarrel that was
all. Having cut through it, he was salts
fed, and had not even sympathy enough
for his own countryman to throw him a
glance. Just as we came from the boat a
crowd of the rag-tag and bobtail OF the
wharyes caught the eye.
A sLATTERNLY WOMAN,
With staring baby upon her hip, stood
upon the outskirts, men in rough clothing
lounged about, and passers-by stopped to
listen for moment. A woman's voice at
high pitch reached ears even at some dis
lance, and soon perceived an elderly and
motherly person in the midst, whose fer
vent bless the-Lords were receiving re-
spectful attention. 1t was a gospel meet
ing by the wharves, and the hymn, Take
the Name of Jesus with YOU" rose by and
by, its burden chiefly carried by the four
or five home missionaries who had the
work in hand. Captain Kentzel, as round
and tubby as a hogshead, blinked sleepily
at the meeting and said, "Come,
now, boy" very iercely to ragamuffin
newsboy as if to make amends for suffering'a
gospel meeting under his very nose. 1t
was that very same mysterious awe
Monday to the funeral of mighty man,
President of one OF the Six Chinese Com.
panies. But Chinatown never smelled SO
vile, never was SO crowded, never was so
dreadful before, and had not courage
sufficient to last to the great tent in which
the dead man lay. But the mourners
passed after while, dressed in white, and
that was far better than seeing nothing.
Somebody said, too, there was roast pig
and chicken and rice, and by and by there
was the long procession of so many hacks
and wagons l grew tired counting. Also.
on the hearse a man dressed in white scat
tered papers abroad by the wholesale, bear
ing
UNCANNY CHARACTERS,
Which, to the initiated, extolled the dead
Lee Poy Foon to the skies. Seeing and
hearing and smelling these things, felt
that had learned something Of a Chinese
funeral, though had not penetrated to its
center. The Garibaldi obsequies were diff.
ferent, yet the crowd at the Grand Opera
House seemed not like home faces either.
There were toe many swarthy skins and
large dark eyes. There was an italian
accent to the audience, as the glance roved
over it, which, to a thoroughly American
mind, perhaps presented Garibaldi as a
Washington done over into Italian. The
singing was by Speranzas there was a
Casanova on the stage Calegaris delivered
an Grafton, and other strange names were
sprinkled over the programme. See how
Economically their sound fingers in the ear ::
Isola, Giovanni, Rossi, Gallo, Luigi, Giuste,
Micheletti, Giuseppe, Sbarboro, Campo
donico, Francesconi, Fugazzi, Lucchitti,
Cavaletti; and yet the owner Of at least one
of these noble names dispenses groceries,
another has a popular restaurant, still an
other is in the commission line, and 80 on.
But think how small the names of Smith,
Brown and Jones would appear on pro-
gramme beside these so vendetta-ike and
stiletto- suggesting. It is a comfort to i'm.
agine that perhaps they may be the
SMITH, BROWN AND JONES
OF their country. Sometime ago visited
the studio of Mr.. Mezzara with lady
friend, to whom he had kindly given hints
on sculpture. There was nothing beauti-
full, to me, in the plaster studies, and the
disorder that lay about everywhere, but
very much admired Mr.. Mezzara's way of
breaking our English into music and the
gentle manner in which he insinuated that
the lady's work thus far was nothing,
nothing" Also, distinctly remember the
tall, cloaked, and dropping mustached
bandit who was presented to me by some in
distinct name, and 1 thought him possessed
of such an air till, preparatory to departure,
he drew the stub OF cigar from his pocket
as if he intended to smoke it as soon as
outside. That was enough. No American
woman can think any man possessed of
such an air, who is SO economical or SO
poor as to smoke the stub of cigar. l
enthusiastic over lady near Chico with a
gift for sculpture and who utilized hair
pin in her plaster working. Grace Green
wood was then paying long visit to Cali
fornia, and at one of the church fairs here
recited Hoods "Song of the Shirt" ap-
pearing as worked out sewing woman,
and very well she recited it, too. This was
oNB OF THE SUCCESSES
OF the entertainment. A second success
was the recitation by Harry Edwards of
that since hackneyed poem "Curfew Must
Not Ring Tonight" but then new, and
the third was music on the harmonicum
by gentleman name Davis, who was a
printer by trade, but had cultivated this
little instrument almost to perfection for
his own pleasure and amusement. AS
The Mocking-bird was succeeded by
"Old Folks at Home" that by Home,
Sweet Home, and that again by g Last
Rose of Summer," the audience thrilled
with delight, and it seemed afterward as if
they would never have done clapping.
Just after you have gone to bed at night,
or maybe you have slept and woke at mid.
night to hear il, you will often listen to
footsteps on the walk outside keeping time
to the music of an accordiaa or harmoni-
cum and creeping in SO out of the moon
light, accompanied as it is perhaps by a
light laugh which is softened by the night
air, it gives the half-wskened sleeper q
calm and beautiful feeling. Sometimes,
MUSICAL CAR DRIVER
Gses nv on his last trim: sometimea there