Sharp County record., 1885-08-06
CHINESE HOLIDAYS.

Almost as Many Holiday Festivals as There
Are Days in the Year-HonOrs to Idols
Overwhelming Music and Animated
Scenes.
In his series in Wide AUabe on
"When 1 was a Boy in China, Yam
Phon Lee gives the following description
of some of the many holidays in that
country:
1t would be matter of many chap
ters were | to describe all the holidays
which we have in China. The bare
enumeration of them would be as dlttl-
cult as tedious. In point OF fact we
have almost as many holidays and fes-
tivals as there are days in the year.
Each prominent idol has a birthday,
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 a number of deitleS,
great persons deilied, 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, pageantry 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 was present at this really great ex-
hibition, | can give you an idea OF it.
For a long time committee OF citizens
had been collecting subscriptions from
dwellers far and near; and weeks
before the completion of the tenn
pie, a large pavilion was erected,
the material of which was mainly bam-
boo in the form of poles, mattiugs and
slips. Marvellous architectural results
are attained by combining few
wo0tlen piRars with thet bamb BOO fin
various forms, and soon light and
airy structure looms up in the sky,
which can be seen from great dis
tance. 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 curl> dragon of many colors,
cleaning with innumerable spangles,
through whose mouth rope is dropped
on which is suspended an immense
chandelier. =. The latter is finely carved
so far as the body which is of wood, is
concerned, and for brilliancy of coloring
has no rival in China. 1t is octagonal
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
are arranged tableaux from romance of
which the Chinese are very fond
Sometimes comic tableau is given;
for instance, in one case are shown a
number of blind men fighting with
bamboo sticks on the street, and as the
blows are dealt bLindty and in al 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 men or birds, and their de-
licious odors peryade the whole place.
The walls of the different payilions are
gaily painted. On them pictures in
water-colors are hung as well as scrolls
bearing the writings of celebrated men.
Under these, are placed IN rows, line
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
a most attentive audience. There are
drums, kettledrums, immense cymbals,
gongs, cornets, flutes, castanets, two
Stringed fiddles, and don't know what
else besides, and when they are sounded