The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-01-26
Not to BE Taken.

The Joss-house, where they had the
irreligious services, was chamber in
one of their best houses. An intelligent
Chinese man, who could speak little
English, was in charge of this room.
1 asked him why they put the tea-cups
of wine and tea and rice before their
god; if they believed that the god would
eat and drink.
"Oh, no." he said. THAT not what
for. What you like self, you give God.
He see. He like see."
1 asked him if l might have photo.
graph taken of the joss shrine and
house. to be printed in q magazine, 20
show how the Chinese boys and girls
kept New Years dav. At first he hes.
itated; but finally he said yes, if would
come very early in the morning, before
the Chinese people wanted to come in.
So, very early the next morning.
went with a photographer, and he took
the picture. As soon as the Chinese
people in the street saw us coming.
they began to gather in a crowd to look
on. But All Linn would not let one OF
them come into the room till the pict.
ure was done. Then we took picture
of the outside of the house. There
were gay lanterns and bright red and
yellow notices on each side of the door,
which l thought would show in the
picture, but they did not. The light
was not strong enough to bring them
out.
As we were arranging the instrument,
caught sight of three Chinese chill
dren in the door of one of the houses,
the youngest not more than two wears
old, and the oldest not over six. They
were dressed exactly like the grown-up
ones, and looked SO droll. toddling
along in their baggy trousers and big.
sleeved shirts. that l wanted to have
them in the picture. Their father said
they might 90 with me. and be taken:
they looked little afraid, but coaxed
them along, and was just placing them
in good positions by the posts of the pi.
azza, when. from the crowd of Chinese
men and boys who were looking on.
there suddenly went up shouts. exclama-
tons and outcries-angry voices calling
to the children. an
They will never let them have their
pictures TAKEN" said the photographer.
1T is the hardest thing in the world to
get the Chinese to sit for their pictures.
They have superstition that, if a man
has his picture taken, he will fall i'll and
die before the year is out expect that
is what they are telling these children
now"
% do not know whether this was the
case CT not: but at any rate they fright.
ened the children away. and / could NOT
coax them back. The Oldest one
dragged the other two away with him
rs fast as he could, and when l over.
took them on the threshold of their
house, and began to ask their father if
he would not come with them, and
make them stand sill, he shut the door
hastily in my face, saving in Chinese
which sounded as if it might
be very unpleasant. indeed.
Afterward tried to getone of the big
BOYS from the Chinese Mission. a. boy
who called himself "Christian Chinese
boy,n to stand in the doorway and be
photographed; but even he was afraid
to do it.
ut is no use," said the photographer.
"7ou haven't the least idea how afraid
they are of it. They've got to be pref
ty thoroughly enlightened before they
will have their photographs taken; and
even then they wont let their queue be
seen in the picture. If it shows the
east bit. they'll make me print it ont.
used to have great fun with some of
them who had laundry near my rooms
They'd be out. hanging their clothes on
the line, right under our windows; and
all | had to do was to open the window
and point stereoscope at them, and
they'd drop everything, clothes and all.
right on the ground, and run into their
house, and never show their heads till
we had gone away from the window"
IA Chinese NeD Years Day IN Santa
in 81. Nicholas.