Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-05-29


whites where the sight-seer is not adj
mitted.
Leaving this den and picking our
way through narrow alleys in abso-
lutte darkness, we went two stories
deeper under ground and stood at the
entrance of a prison--not a public
prison, but a little private family Jail,
for there, in little room about 8X10
feet, lay an old wrinkled Chinese wo-
man, who had not seen the light in
fifteen years. Her husband was sit
ting sullenly by smoking his pipe,
and seemed to regard our visit an in
trusion, but our guide, with infinite
tact and impudence, enjoyed a self
bestowed carte blanche to see every
thing worth seeing, and had no re-
gard for Chinese privacy. No one
could tell just the reason for this i'm
muring of the old woman, except her
lords will. In the room were dogs
and cats enough to drive solitude
away, and as no fresh air could enter
the place, except on the arrival of o
visitor, the odor was worse than I'M
bearable and just enough -four party
were left standing to drag the others
out by the forelock. A few doses of
medicinal Goldfish and limberger, Gan
antidote brought along for the occa-
sion) brought our companionsto their
feet and thecommand of forward was
given.
On the same floor, were several
lodging rooms, which we entered and
found unoccupied. Bunks or shelves
from floor to ceiling on thefour walls,
constituted the beds, and were just
close enough together to enable one
heather to tickle his neighbours rib
when he snored.
On terra .frnaa and breathing the
semi-fresh air of Chinatown, every
solitary man of us would very gladly
have asked our guide to relent and
take us to civilization and our little
beds, but, survive or perish, he had
brought us to see the sights, and we
dragged ourselves along to the JOSS
House, where John Chinaman re-
penis of his sins. This was an Crdi-
nary brick building deliberately fitted
up inside with carved and ornamen-
tai Work--the joss, or principal idol,
at the lower end of the room, with
numerous smaller divinities around
it. These latter are supposed to have
the care Of certain parts of the body
One will be implOred to relieve al
aching head, one to heal broken
heart.
Again, divinity No. 3watches Over
one when on journey; divinity No
4 comforts him when mourner. A
Chinaman who appeared to be there
for the purpose, showed us these
things and explained to our wonder
ing ears what they meant. On a lit
tie table near the entrance, set a disl
holding piece of punk, which wa
kept constantly burning, and near i
a lighted candle floating in a bowl o
water. These were to keep the "baC
devil" out. A very primitive anC
frightful picture of CONTIGUOUS huns
on the wall-so hideous, in fact, tina
the old philosper, whom / had al
ways pictured as the very model o
benignity as well as Of wisdom, ha
haunted my deans ever since. TIL
house is not furnished with seats, no
do they have any particular day foI
worship.
Anyone that has committed a sil
or has need of translunary assistance
goes and throws himself before tn,
proper idol and does the required
amount Of wailing, beating the breas
and pulling the hair, and goes ava.
sorer and happier man.
At a Chinese restaurant, we say
one of the finest dining-rooms in Sal
Francisco. The carving, gliding an
ornamental work was such as Chimes
alone know how to do. The table
and servicewere clean and inviting
and the young heathens, dressed i
their white aprons, the very perfet
ton of walters. Wedid not take SUP
per, but called for tea, of course, an
left behind our 1.-TWO bittee" Gu
. with the best Of grace, for it wa
tea.
The part of Chinatown to be see
in the day time is interesting. Sue
as the drug stores where their med
cines consist wholly of roots of a
kinds hung up on nails, and drie
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