The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-10-06
CHINESE cuRlosiTlEs.
yoss-sticks, sandai-wood Perfumes and
Other Mongoiian Toys.

CHINESE CuRloSiTiES.
yoss-sticks, Sandal wood Perfumes and
Other MOngoIian Toys.
The odditv and general excellence
Of things Chinese have long been rec
ognized by us "barbarians Of the West"
The demand for silks, china, porcelain,
bronzes, metal work and curios from
the Flowery Empire increases from year
to year and Is the basis Of n business
we'll up in the millions. Every now
and then some feature is introduced
which, however time-honored in the
Orient, is u great novelty in the Occi-
dent. Among late arrivals OF this class
are the joss or incense stick and dried
sandalwood chips used on the affairs OF
the Chinese houses of worship. Moy
Yuet Sing, banker and importer said:
THE joss-stick is very old institu.
ton. Originally we believe it to have
been torch used by the superstitious
TO drive away evil spirits, and even to-
day 1t is occasionally so employed by
some OF the dying churches which try
to conserve all the ideas and practices
Of remote antiquity. Afterward the
ioss-stick was made fragrant and was
used as incense in divine worship.
Then it was employed as q purifier and
lisinfectant. hardly know If it does
have much power in this respect, but
Its perfume is very penetrating and
grateful to the nostrils, and il
covers up all other odors, even If it does
not destroy them. You find it in every
sick room in the old country. Gamblers
burn immense numbers of joss-sticlss
for luck, not only in their own homes
and gaming houses, but even in the
churches. 1t is q common sight for a
devotee of hazard to enter q joss house,
burn few sticks to his joss, a few in
honor of dead ancestors, dead friends
and dead relatives, few in token OF
his misdeeds and contrition, and a
great many that he may be successful
the week through in every game OF
chance he may play! They are made
largely near Quan-Tung-Foo and are
very inexpensive. Grass straws or
thin splinters are stained dark red and
|
sawdust, nitre, benzine and a few
spices. You light it the same as ordi-
nary punk and it burns the same way.
They are put up in envelopes, twenty
to an envelope, and ten envelopes to a
package. This retails at from fifteen
to fifty cents package. according to
quality, perfume and finish.
''Sandalwood is taken from the trunk
and roots of the tree, cut into conven-
lent pieces and thoroughly dried. 1t is
a fine yellowish-red wood, looking like
cedar in color, but resembling cherry
in grain and strength. 1t is used
chiefly in prayer. urns. These are
small brass or bronze vases filed with
white sand and fitted with perforated
top. You light q half-dOzen pieces OF
sandal wood, and when they are in a
hot blaze you bury them in the sand
just below the latter's surface. Here
they shoulder for long time and send
up rich, thick, white smoke, which
fills large room with its fragrance in
q few minutes. 1t is also cheap. You
can buy enough for a dime to last you
a fortnight.
1.-The fre-strings are a very popular
toy in many parts of China. They are
made very much like fire-cracker ste ms
out of inhammable paper slightly
charged with powder dust and hall
filled in one part with a mixture OF
powder, steel-filings and some other
! o,,l>cfo mo ,uboSo wa ot oo,,, pouitior 10 e,
trade secret with the manufacturer.
You ignite string, holding it with
your fingers, and it burns slowly till it
reaches the filed part. 1t bursts into
flame, blazes rapidly, and the filling
changes into little white-hot, semi
then throws out minute sparks, stars
and coruscations, which explode an6
blaze up in turn. In dark room the
effect is very striking and very beauti-
full. They are not at all dangerous and
may be used by small children withou
any risk whatever. They are extreme
ly cheap, costing from three to twenty.
five cents a hundred" Here Moy lii
one, hanging it between his thumb and
forefnger. The lighted end consumed
slowly until the filling was reached,
when it famed up furiously and then
died out, leaving red-hot little globe
on the end of the string. This seemed
to boil and revolve a second, and then
without any noise threw out scores o.
golden stars, edged flames and lines ol
| silver lirht Ont of curiosity the re-
porter put his hands into the current O
flame and spark, and to his surprise
found it stone-cold. ~. Y. Mail anl
Erprsss.
KING OF THE ROCKIES.
The Lame and Halt Can Climb It a
Quickly Now as the Robust.