The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-09-11

ing the different sights aud sound. 4.
the pavilions, inside the temple va,;on.
ceremonies are going on. The tem,Is
itself, entirely new, is finely decorateS
with both permanent and temporsr.
ornamentations. Among the first A..
frescoes and wood-carvings and fipur.s
In bas-relief: among the second han.
ners, fiower-baskets and pictnr..
buddhist priests are praying to Buddh.
in the central hall, while in the b.nI
hall, where the shrine of the chief ds;. n
Is situated, tlocks of worshipers fit y
and fro making offerings of food. licbt
ing candles and burning incense. Tier.
is no scene in China more animated
Everybody who has any religion in him
comes to worship and ask some fayo,
OF the god. and each person LEAVE.
more or less money with the keepers os
the temple. In my native city festivals
similar to this occur two or three time,
in the week in different parts of tbs
town. Of course the schools are Kent
open on such festal days, otherwise n
tie study could be accomplished
Schoolboys 60 to the shows in the
evening and girls too. sometimes On
by themselves to enjoy the sights o
But there are holidays which NAV h.
called national, since they are observ.S
all over the country.
First ard most important are the New
Year holidays, which are celebrated with
as much eclat as unceasing firing Of
pyrotechnics. calls of ceremony and
universal goodwill and JOY will contri-
butte. Debts are paid up at the end Of
the year, and for the first week or two
little or no business is transacted. Every
one gives himself up to jollity. Chill
dren on such days are surfeited with
sweetmeats, and holes are made in their
holiday clothes by burning fire-crackers.
Largesses are bestowed upon both chill
dren and servants, while bcggars are
also remembered, so that this season is
really the most joyous of the year tho
time when charity is most charitable
and benevolence assumes more be-
nevolent aspect
Next in order of time comes the Feast
of Lanterns The main feature of this
fete, as the name implies, is procession
with lanterns of all shapes and kinds.
Soon after nightfall men and boys get in
line. each carrying upon bamboo pole .
great paper bird, or quadruped, or fish.
inside of which candles are lit. Very fam
tastic shapes sometimes are seen, and
NEUROLOGICAL books are ransacked to
procure strange creatures.
Imagine three or four hundred of these
lanterns passing before you. all brilliant
with rich coiors. Sandal-wood is burnt
in censers carried in small movable
pavilions, while bands of music mingle
their racket with the applause of the
spectators and the well-worn jokes of
the men in the procession.
Last of all an immense dragon about
forty feet in length is borne along sup
ported ON bamboo poles by a dozen or
twenty men.
There is another procession similar to
his in the fourth month, only it takes
place in the daytime instead of at night.
and the large number and variety of
lanterns are wanting.
In the fifth month are held tho
races. These boats are
narrow and long. capable of holding
about one hundred men sitting one be-
hind the other. Each one carries
paddle, and the boat is so made that it
IAN go just as we'll backwards rs for
wards. Tho direction devolves upon
he men in the ends of the boat In
the center the idol from whose ward or
district the boat halls sits enthroned
with an immense umbrella of red silk
10 keep the sun from tanning his COM
plexion. A band of music accom-
oanies each boat By its warlike
,langor it encourages the racers, while
is drum beats the time for the stroke
Banners are given after the race, ~
'po Is of victory, to be placed in the
temple of the patron deity. The scene
IN tho rivers on such an occasion Is
Tery animated and the cheers of tho
spectators from the different districts
attest their interest
In the eighth month comes the Festi-
7al of the Moon. answering to the har-
rest festivalin Western countries What
re called '.moon-cakes'' are sold at
his season. If the year has been pro-
iuctive there viii be a great deal of re-
oicing. Presents are interchanged at
his time as also at other festival sea-
IONS As the moon becomes gradually
uu there appears in it to the Chinese
we . man who is climbing tree. Tho
ull moon is greeted with much cere-
nony. and the night ON which the
urinary appears at its brightest y.
passed in feasting and rejoicing.
THE S0AlAX