The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-08-26
CHILDREN OF THE CHINESE.
Joaquin Miller Talks About the Little
Observation-Disclosures Creatures.

JOAQUIN Miller Talks About the Little
observation-disclosures Creatures.
To one who has seen all the world, there
is not so much that is picturesque i'll the
Chinese colony here: and | could NOT
truthfully indorse nearly all that enthul-
astic tourists say Of either their shreWd-
ness or intc-est.!n my way. For example,
as Il lack Of common sense, they nave
marble and stone seats in one Of their Dig
stores here, to accommodate customers.
The best and biggest Of these stone seats
have marble backs Enough TO paralyze
the spine OF white man-eVen = Chine
man, | should think-in five minutes. And
I could 90 through the colony here 81
day, and pick ont dozens Of like eXAibi-
tions of q low order Of common sense.
Some color is to DC found here, and that
IS relief to the eye which has to put up
with the mournful dress of the average
American, after a residence in Mexico
But it is moi very picturesque. The pig
tail is simply rcpulsive. Ana Il Christian
Chnamcn who had his hair cut is hardly
more attractive His coarse, thick Tartar
hair is perhaps at its best when closely
shaten and tied up in cue, after all. AS
for the rolling, lolling, lazy and hideously
helpless Chinese women, | know OF no op-
ject to which you can safely apply that
much used and much abused word, dis
gusting, as to one Of these pitiful ana 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 confusion Of sex, how
ever. Did ever tcn you tila5 q Mexican
boy baby puts on his little pantaloons the
day he is born and wears them right elong'
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 III
their peculiar 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 i'll their mar
row streets Like q little donkey or q lit
tie darky, the Chinalnan is at'his beet, 30
far us personal levity goes, when he ls
No trouble seems to come this way Tor
these kittcnish little heathers, these curl
Gus little citizens, tumbling around uhder
the legs of their scdate ,sireE up here on
the pleasant hill overlooking Ekc glorious
bay aud all the battle ships. The boycott
and the Chinese question are terms which
reckon they have never heard. And
whatever may Dc tied up for them in their
uncertain future, let them shout out the
spirit.of play that is in them now to the
full. Care will come soon enough to our
colored citizens of !Asiatic descent.
The Chinese parent is the most affection
ate ever saw among all the nations OF
the eacth. And this may be i'll part be-
cause the children are not numerous here;
but it is no guess work to say that it ls
largely because the child rereres the
parent. To see little fellqY quit his play
suddenly und run and lay his little red or
yellow silk head up against his adorins
| father, as he stands on the sidewalk
watching him. is funny, if not affecting.
|-Joatlin Miller in Chicago Times.