The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-11-12
GOTHAM CHINESE.
Their Singular Superstitions and
f'atalisnn.
The Reasons which Mae the China
man, Naturally Coward, Meet
Death with Stoicism - Chi
nese Hospitals.
m. Y. Commercial Advertiser.l

.
Soon after the first batch of Chinese put
In their appearance in New York they
began TO surround themselves with heathen
accessories to which they had been accus-
toned In San Francisco. Before three
months had gone they had several flourish
ing opium dens, half dozen "fan-t ton"
games and lottery joints and a dozen
stores for the sale Of Oriental commodities
Having provided for the amusements OF
their daily lives the moon-eyed strangers
set up relations with the powers above, by
establishing joss house, wherein they
hang their prayers with commendable reg
ularity and punctuality. Next they set
about encompassing order by the founding
Of Chinese law court, and lastly and very
recently they completed the social circle Of
Chinese life by opening hospital, or more
properly house wherein the sick may die
without bothering their friends and rela-
tions.
Cinnamon are well known to be fatalists.
This trait In their National character makes
Cinnamon, who are otherwise cowardly,
meet death with the utmost stocism. On
the Pacific slope executions of Cinnamon
have been by no means unfrequent, and in
no case has the victim of the law failed tc
march TO the scaifold with the fortitude OF
an Indian. The belief that what is 70 bs
will be, and no act of a person may avert
catastrophe, renders the healing art most
difficult Of application to Cinnamon. Once
John becomes really sick, he is pretty sure
to die, because he gives up all hope, refuses
to take medicine, and resigns himself stole
ally 10 the fate in store for him. He is
superstitlous, and places what little faith
he has in curatives, not in drugs, but in
queer amulets, funny bugs and nauseating
liquids blessed by the priest. This super
stition affects his relations, and once the
hand OF death is considered to have set its
mark upon the sick mans saffron forehead
he is an outcast. He is carrion and no more
iit 10 remain in human habitation; for
should he die under the roof, all manner Of
ills will fall upon the inmates. Therefore
he is hustled out to die
In San Francisco, dying men are often
found upon the streets. Parents are as
ruthlessly sacrificed, once their ailment Is
considered hopeless, as the veriest stran-
ger-and yet the children of n Chinaman
Hro the most dutiful Of any children of any
people.
Hearing that hospital, or sick house, as
the Chinese term it, had been established
in Chinatown, representative of the
Commercial idrcitiscr set 10 work to fad
the place, and explore it il opportunity of
ferod. From inquiries made among the
white people in the neighborhood, the house
was located on the north side of the street,
ive or six doors from the corner of Chat
ham street. The entrance was under
ssoop, and opened into a long, dark hall
way, that In turn led into blind court be-
tween the front and rear buildings. The
drains from the adjoining houses emptied
into the -nagged court and the
sewage lay in little pools in the
broken stones, sending up an OYER
towering stencil. Garbage was scat
tered over the ground, where II
had been thrown from the windows, and
lumber, boxes and barrels filled up the in
tervening spaces. Picking his way across
tbs court, the writer reached deal door
that appeared TO open into the rear house,
hut which really opened into long alley,
at the end Of which was another door on
which was pasted red sign in black Chi
nese characters. Knocking produced no
response. The visitor lifted the latch and
pushed the door open. A volume OF foul
air and smoke poured out, nearly sitting
the reporter, who drew back for a moment,
bus recovering he entered. The place was
dark, hut gradually the eye becoming nc-
customed 10 the gloom II was possible 10
distinguish th9 limits o. the place. Not
stick OF furniture was in the place, but
brancr made of an old coal oil cGn burned
In the midil, OF the room. On one side
vern three hunks, arranged end for end,
and o. one, covered by quilt made OF
gundy glcks and rags, lay hnman form.
As tha visitor approached the miserable
creature half raised upon his elbow and
asked in hollow voice: "What for!r
"You sickf" interrognted the reporter.
"Me belly sick" answered the China.
man, falling back with groan.
"Hungryy"
"No-no can eat"
"Whcrc are your friendsy"
"No got iicnds. All gone"
AS tho poor fellow ceased, a hollow
cough told the story. He was dying from
consumption which carries OF fully half
his race in this country. Poor food, insult
flcicnt clothing and an unsanitary mode OF
life soon works havoc with the weak
physique Of the coolie, and his vicious hab-
its OF opium smoking and gambling hurry
him On until too weak TO stand, his friends
carry him 10 the sick house.
There was nothing more to learn. John
was dying, and he would do nothing TO
help himself, for was not the hand OF death
upon hims SO, leaving small piece of
silver in the talon-like hand Of the sick
man, the reporter left. As he stepped into
the court the proprietor of the sick house
was coming in with tin plate Of rice and
a diminutive cracked cup Of tea.
"Whnt is the matter with that man.