Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-01-02
A NIUNT IN "CHiNATOWy.D
Facts Relating 20 Orirntn, Habits and
General Mode OF Living

General Mode OF Living
The Chinese in Los Angeles, Cal,
says a correspondent are quite numer-
Gus and almost monopol2o a certain
portion of the city; they are quiet and
orderly as class, attentively ninding
their own business, but, nevertheless,
always target for the ever present
hoodlNm.
Through the kindness Of ono Of the
city otticials--a courteous lawyer and
gentleman--we were escorted on n
most interesting tour through China
town. as it is called Starting out at
8 o'clock one pleasant evening, We
called first at some OF their stores,
business being about over for the day.
we found them in clusters. Old and
young, eagerly gathered about the
counter, at their greatest Of amuse-
ments-gambling. Not word was
uttered by any, so absorbed were they
in their game, and after casting
hasty and wondering glance at us, they
ignored us entirely Passing on and
visiting many stores, we came to u
restaurant about 10 P. NJ. First en-.
tering a small Office, we passed in at Il
door to find ourselves in tie dining
room; here, seated at tables, aye sever
al Celestials, quietly but hard at work
on dish of thick kind OF soup which
they caused to disappear rapidly by
throwing into their mouths with chop
sticks, A fat cook busy AZ the stove is
seen in the rear, humming a dismal
air. The man who does the waiting,
being considered quite musician, is
called upon for music and favors us
with a series of howls and groans
which he calls song; and then, on
his One.stringed instrument, he makes
us feel generally i'll. AS the music
progresses and the musician seems to
warm up to his work, lie howls like a
dog and rolls lis eyes wildly. A
movement is heard above and, on look
ing for the cause, we find a dozen
pairs of sharp eyes looking down at us
from above; thus, while supposing our
selves in the company oftwo or three
Cinnamon, we realize that a score or
more of them are about US, and we
find that the apartment is, as it were.
cpt in two, thus giving two floors to
an ordinary sized room, ladder being
used to ascend to the sleeping apart
ment above Thus one fair.sizel
room can be used for a restaurant
below, and lodge twenty persons or
more on the shelves above; but they
seem happy and contented. AS they
are packed together in such state,
we wonder how they can emerge look
ing so clearly each day: but they are
particular abont their appearance gen
orally and carefully battle every morn
ing.
The night is wearing on, and mid
night brings us to dark, dreary spot
where, hand in hand we are wonder
ingly led through passage after pass
age, first up, then down, until our lead
er knocks at door, being answered
by Chinaman who, after a glance,
recognizes one in authority, and quiet
" ushers us in. We find ourselves in
dimly lighted temple, weird, strange
looking place, with an altar, We are
conducted to an apartment in the rear
behind the altar, and there we find
singular scene. Reclining on touches
smoking opium are the priests, who at
first look amazed at the Intrusion, but
soon relapse into their stolid, fixed eX-
preston. One Of the priests 10y re-
quest kept telling us his feelings as the
smoking gradually affected him, and if
he told the truth, az no probably did,
he soon became too happy to talk, and
the expression on his face certainly de-
noted intense and almost supreme hap
piness.
We accepted an invitation to take
some tea, which was very hot and
without sugar. The custom of offer
ing hot tea to all visitors is a univer-
sal one among the Chinese,the omission
Of the courtesy being considered OK
tremely ill-mannered.