The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-01
Celestial GeGS.

ME no wantee you Gomez lound hea
STAY away" and a Celestial frown was
bestowed upon the unheedlng reporter
from square aperture in the door OF q
rickety building on jackson street, San
francesca.
'.ltIs all right, John; want 10 buy
y joss
..Come I'M said the Chinaman. in
Iaollitied tones.
The rough door was pushed open.
ard the reporter entered the room
where the joss -maker-for such the
mau was-plied his pc uliar vo alton.
Here were seen unSubstantial idols of
all descriptions ranged around the room
in promiscUous fashion, and with
what seemed lack of reverence on the
part of the manufacturer. Then there
was the raw material-gilded and col
-ored paper, rough framework and other
accessories -strewn about the place.
odds and ends, dirt and disorder being
.everyw here visible.
You paintee man." asked the Joss
maker, as he picked up a scrap of blue
paper, probably intended for the robe
of goo, and which the reporter had
paintee man buy joss; make pictua.' ~
No, ! am not an artist, but wish to
price thu gods. What is this one
worth?' and blue, red and yellow
idol with q staring countenanoe and
with the convential Chinese head-dress,
together with paper robes stuffed with
cotton, waS pointed out.
-'Twents-fi dOlla,' was the reply
Assuming that the price wss sat STAG
tory and pending an imaginary trans
fer of the property, 1t was found Nv
putting few questions to the Nor
rolian tina; quite g. trade in those idols
is carried on in this city. though. of
course, the oh eff buyers are the wor-
SHIPPERS of Joss. When finished. the
loss, if it a one which has been made
TO order fsr wealthy Celestial or
which is to- take its place in temple.
must first be consecrated BY a high
priest, wa, with his acolytes goes
through prolonged .Gnd apparently
reconcile ceremonial. winding UP by
daubing little red paint in each of the
black eyes of the joss, who is
mysteries of this work. and the
herea ter. it is the dying wish of ev-
cry Chinese who can affor& it that a
Joss may be burned for him after his
death. and this proceeding forms .
part of all weil-regusated frsne al cere-
monies another caIlse for the great de-
mand on the etiigy manufacturer and q
consequent source of revenue to him.
The heal being If wood or pli&ble card
board, and the body of cheap though
gaudy material. there is nothing which
may be considered of value. the ingen-
jous work in which such display
Of detail is made may be quoted
II lar more consequence than the use-
fai or extraneous stuff which goes 20
make up the potent and mystic joss.
ives the paper tinger-naiIs, of extra
Ordinary length, are finely curved. and
the thck-soled shoes ,nd fan are not.
omitted A half-completed joss is ohe
of the 4ueerest looking sights to be
seen in the Chinese quarter, work being
commenced from the feet, and the inside
portion of the body being plainly
visible
The subject Of the proposed purchase
was again brought up by the Mon
yolian, and while he was jabbering
away regarding the merits of the life
sized image which the reporter had
eingled out. and telling what good luck
IL would bring the buyer. another China
man, leading q child, entered the apart
ment. This little heather was down