, 1886-09-07
CHILDREN OF THE CHINESE.
joaquin Miller Talks About the LittlA
observation-disclosures Creatures

Joaquin Miller Talks About the LittiA
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Creatures
To one who has seen all the world, there
is not SO much that is picturesque in the
Chinese colony here; and l could not
truthfully indorse nearly all that enthui-
astic tourists say of either their shrewd-
ness or interest in any way. Fol example,
as a lack of common sense, they have
marble and stone seats in one of their big
stores here, to accommodate customers.
The best and biggest of these stone seats
nave marble backs. Enough to paralyze
the spine of a white man-even a China
man, | should think-in five minutes And
| could go through the colony here all
day, and pick out dozens of like exhibit
tions of a low order of common sense.
Some color is to be found here, and that
is a relief to the eye which has to put up
with the mournful dress of the average
Amer lean, after a residence in Mexico.
But It is not very picturesque. The pig
tail is simply repulsive. And a Christian
Chinaman who had his hair cut is hardly
more attractive. His coarse, thick Tartar
hair is perhaps at its best when closely
shaver and tied up in a cue, after all. AS
for the rolling, lolling, lazy and hideously
helpless Chinese women, l know OF no OBJ
ject to which you can safely apply that
much used inc much abused word, dis
gushing, as TO one of these pitiful and to-
tally inane creatures.
The one real and uninterrupted delight
here is the Chinese children. They are not
very numerous; but they are bright, won
derfully full OF fun, and very beautifully
dressed. There is a confusion of sex, now
ever. Did l ever tell you that a Mexican
boy baby puts on his little pantaloons the
day he is born and wears them right alongf
Well, the babies of both sexes here seem
to do that, so far as l can find out.
1t is worth while any day to climb the
hill into the heart Of San Francisco, and
half way to the top, to see these children
run and tumble and laugh and play in
their pee uliar and highly colored clothes.
just like other children. They have not
much room, but they are chock full of
heart and light spirits, and make the most
of what little room they have in their mar
row streets. Like a little donkey or a lit
tie darby, the Chinaman is at his best, 80
far as personal levity goes, when he is
very small.
No trouble seems to com his way for
these kittenish little heathens, these Curl
GUS little citizens, tumbling around under
the legs of their sedate sires up here on
the pleasant hill overlooking the glorious
bay and all the battle ships. The boycott
and the Chinese question are terms which
| reckon they have never heard. And
whatever may oe tied up for them in their
uncertain future, let them shout out the
split OF play that is in them now to the
full. Care viii come soon enough TO our
colored citizens of Asiatic descent.
This Chinese parent is the most affection
ate 1 ever saw among all the nations of
the earth. And this may be In part be
cause the children are not numerous here;
but 1t is no guess work to say that it is
largely because the child reveres the
parent. To see a little fellow quit his play
suddenly and run and lay his little red or
yellow silk head up against his adoring
father, as be stands on the sidewalk
watching him, is funny, If not affecting.
joaquin Miller in Chicago Times.