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

Almost n Many Holiday Festivals n There
Are Days In the Year-Honors to Idols
Overwhelming Music and Animated
| Scenes.
In his series in Vide Quake on
''When l was a Boy in China" Van
Phon Lee gives the following description
of some of the many holidays in that
country:
1t would be matter of many chap
tiers were I to describe all the holidays
which we have in China. The bare
enumeration of them would be as diff
cult as tedious. In point of fact we
have almost as many holidays and fes-
rivals as there are days in the year.
Each prominent idol has birth day,
also an anniversary of his death both OF
which are celebrated. There are some
the Goddess of Mercy, for instance
who have half dozen days sacred to
them. There are n number of deities,
great persons deitied, that are common
to the nation; while each city, town
and hamlet has numerous local deities
who are its special protectors.
Extremely lucky it is for the afore-
said idols that their devotees are natur-
ally fond of shows, pagesntry and dis
play; otherwise, idolatry would have
little to attract the multitude. As it is.
millions of dollars are spent in these
celebrations every year. At the dedi-
cation of temple in Canton. two years
ago, thirty thousand dollars were spent
As l was present at this really great ex-
hibition. can give you an idea of it
For long time committee of citizens
had been collecting subscriptions from
jewellers far and near; and weeks
before the completion of the tenn
pie, large pavilion was erected,
the material of which was mainly bam-
boo in the for of poles. mattiugs and
slips. Marvellous architectural results
are attained by combining a few
wooden pillars with the bamboo in
various forms, and soon a light and
airy structure looms up in the sky,
which can be seen from a great dis
lance. This pavilion is directly in
front of the temple, while smaller ones
are built in vacant lots near by, all
connected with the main building by
awnings pitched over the streets.
There is high tower in the middle of
the great pavilion, on the ceiling of
which curls dragon of MANY coIors,
cleaning with innumerable spangles,
through whose mouth a rope is dropped
on which is suspended an immense
chandelier The latter is finely carved
50 far as the body, which is of wood, is
concerned, and for brilliancy of coloring
has no rival in China. 1t is octagonsi
and each side throws out four branches,
which uphold kerosene lamps The
centers of each side are cut out, and
glass inserted, behind which automatic
figures are made to move by clockwork.
The finest effects of this chandelier are
of course obtained when the lamps are
lighted. Suspended from the roof in
other parts are other chandeliers, less
elaborate and smaller perhaps, but not
less artistic and beautiful. Forests of
pendants are attached to them, so that
on all sides the light is reflected. Then,
in the intervals between the chandeliers.
hang oblong cases, all decorated with
silks and satins, and finely carved, con-
tanning dolls, about two feet high, ele-
gantly dressed in character. and
grouped to represent historical scenes.
These figures have machinery placed
beneath them to make them shake their
heads, or lift their hands. or sway their
bodies, just as the role of each REQUIRES.
There are also smaller cases in which
arc arranged tableaux from romance of
which the Chinese are very fond.
Sometimes . comic tableau is given:
Tor instance, IN one case are shown q
number of blind men fighting with
bamboo sticks on the street. and as the
blows are dealt blindly and in all di-
rections (by means of the machinery,
the crowd of spectators never fail to
laugh.
Flowers of all the kinds which grow
in the "Flowery Kingdom" form an
important and pleasing feature of the
entertainment. They are made into
shapes of mon or birds, and their de-
licious odors pervade the whole place.
The walls of the different pavilions are
gaily painted. On them pictures in
water-colors are hung as wen as scrolls
bearing the writings Of celebrated men.
Under these, are placed in rows, fine
flower pots crowned with the choicest
flowers Of the season. Dwarfed trees.
too, are placed beside them.
There are platforms in every good.
sized pavilion where the musicians sit
and discourse music for the pleasure of
. most attentive audience. There are
drums, kettledrums, immense cymbals.
gongs, comets, flutes, castanets, two
stringed iiddles. and don't know what
else besides, and when they arc sounded
together the effect Is overwhelming on |
ears unaccustomed tO such strange
symphonies The flu:ist first blows his |
flute, then the cornetist Joins with his |
toot, and then the kettledrum man
strikes up, which il . signal for the !
cymbals to clash and the gong to raise |
its hoarSe cry, while the shrill fiddles |
may b distinguished in tho din like tho |
witches voices shove the storm in Mac |
beth.
Worss still follows, when the mu- !
sictans mrn frum instrumental to vocal |
music and one Of them gives you . |
solo With that falsetto-pitch which il
meant 20 initiate . female voice