St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-15
CHINESE IN BRITISH co1UwRy1

IL
The Victoria, British Columbia Times gives
doleful account of the condition and prac-
tees of the Chinese population In that city.
Their filthy and degraded habits make them
undesirable neighbors, and yet it is admitted
that they are faithful and intelligent workers.
AS desirable as their exclusion may be, on
many accounts their forcible expul-
sion and the prohibition of their
emigration, the Dominion papers
assert would be in violation of the principles
of the British constitution, which is opposed
to the oppression of any particular race The
policy of exclusion, it is asserted, would
damage trade relations with China.
As depraved, immoral, and unwholesome
as are their customs and habits, it is alleged
that If the facts were known, Chinese life in
Vietoria's Chinese section, chinatown as
it is called, it is doubtful If affairs
are very much worse there, than in many
new western towns in close proximity TO
large public works. Degraded personal
habits, vice and immortality, dissipation,
gambling and every conceivable species of
debauchery greatly absound. Human degre-
dation in many of these towns, not alone in
the "Chinese quarters" is reduced TO a
pass of wretchednesss and personal criminal
ity almost beyond conception.
Some of the details of the revelations made
by the Times of the personal habits and con-
dition of the Chinese quarters at Victoria.
are in the extreme disgusting. Large num-
bers are packed like sardines in fish rooms.
Three thousand Of these gregarious Celestials
are crowded into city block, where filth and
corruption abound. There are numerous
regular opium ''joints'' in the city, small
shanties for smoking opium, the
rooms generally six by ten feet.
equipped with hunks, where the sleepy god
may be evoked by opium fumes
The Chinese have this year erected thea
ter capable of seating 500, at cost Of $4,000,
and this place of Oriental fantastic display
is overcrowded with the lovers of Chinese
Thespian performances. The orchestra is a
fair specimen of psndemonium euphouy.
lncontinency goes on shamelessly and
unchecked. The Times says on Fisguard
street alone there are thirty-f -four places where
the traffic is carried on, and It declares If
these dens are not closed out the city NAV
ere 4OuS DC calleu uDOD 10 n9nt scOurCe Of
leprosy. cholera and fever that will cause
mourning in many Victoria households.
With all these hideous features the Times
admits the Chiuese have some redeemipx
qualities. The have their own benevolent
and charitable societies for mutual protec-
tion, council board and relief associations
from which an allowance of fifty cents week
is paid an invalid or disabled member. And
the societies have very good rooms aud places
of meeting in the new brick buildings which
have been erected in Chinatown during the
past year. They are very devout observers
Of their heathenish religious worship. The
two Chinese temples, resplendant with gold.
silver and glass ornaments and the Chinese
decorations are thus described:
The interior Of the temple on Fisguard street
on great occasions. as in the case of the Devils
festival last week, is filed with figures OF men.
horses and tigers of grotesque shape and terrible
countenance. The air is filed with the odor of
burning sandal wood. The service on the lower
floor of the sanctuary is conducted by two Chi
nese priests attired in red and white. with Chi
nose acolytes dressed in blue. These iutone
nravers, and 20 through with curious ceremonies