The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-07

preached one Celestial, and, pointing to. a pic
ture | said: John, what him meanP John:
me no sabe (understandt UNI" /: "I es. John,
you do sabe, but you no tell" John, with the
same brilliant conversation with several other
Celestials. John undoubtedly understood the
significance of the pictures, but he thought was
making heap fun" and hence was a sealed book
to me. The air was filed with the odor OF burn
ing sandal wood On the lower floor were two
priests attired in red, with attendant acolytes
dressed in blue. These were constantly inton1ng
prayers and going through with other ceremo-
MES too deep for Caucasian comprehension. On
the upper floor Chinese orchestra was playing
ANY American who has ever heard a Chinese Or
chestra will sympathize with me when say
that this one kept playing constantly. shall
not attempt to describe the alleged music
Had an enemy, l would wish him no greater
punishment than to be compelled to listen
to Chinese orchestra for two hours.
There is a story of new church member who,
having offered prayer in public, asked one OF
the brethren what he thought or the effort.
You did pretty we'll" replied the brother, but
you didn't bemean the devil enough" "Well,"
said the new member, 'ft is best to be careful.
for we don't know into whose hands we may
fall" The Chinese appear to act on the same
principle. This festival of Du Chew is IN reality
devils festival, and all the ceremonies were
intended to propitiate the evil spirits which are
believed TO interfere much with Chinese AFFAIRS
Tho Lord they say, is good enough anyhow,
and Will treat them well. IL is, bnerelOrci Ile
many devils that beset the orthodox Chihaman,
that he tries to get on the good side of.
Chinese theology is acurious mixture OF Con
fucianisTn, Taoism and Buddhism and IS so in
termingled with all kinds of traditions that l
doubt if many Cinnamon have definite idea OF
what they do believe in regard to religion.
Some of the better class who have been
in this country several years, are beginning
to doubt the soundness of the system. The
next morning after my visit to the Joss House, l
Of rio
purchase some small articles of souvenirs for
friends at home After l had made the pur-
chases, the Chinalnan said to me: you at Joss
House las night" Yes 1 replied. All" said
he cheap foolee! heap foolee! Cost twenty
eight bundled dollahs. Mepay fourteen dollahs.
Heap fooee!r And thought so, too.
After leaving the Joss House; we went to a
Chinese theater, for not all the Chinese in Port
land were worshiping at the temple. At the
head of the stairs stood a white man taking
tickets We asked him the price of admission
-Four bits till midnight" was the reply. We
did not care to pay four bits to see play OF
which we could not comprehend single word,
especially as we could stand at the head OF the
STAIRS as long as we pleased and witness the per
Torrance Ten minutes was ample time In
which to see all we cared to- A Chinese orches-
ira was playing, and we soon beat hasty re
treat. The characters, as we beheld them, we're
almost the identical ones represented in Ii. b.
AIcDowell's article on 1.-THE Chinese Theater," in
the Century for November. From my hasty
view Of the performance and the characters,
judge this article in the Century is pretty
faithful description.
BRIDGEPORT, Ind