Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-31
CHINESE NOVELTIES.
Murderous Antique Weapons I'm
ported for Use in Churches.
NO EQUALS HERE OR In EUROPE.
Why hongolians Make Clubhouses Of Their
Places Of Worship.
CLEVER coSToRrIoSs WITH NAMES


clusion laws which Congress has enacted,
the tide Of Mongolian immigration con-
tinues undated, and the Chinese population
of New York has passed the 10000 mark.
and is now rapidly running into higher
figures. 1t is also increasing in prominence,
wealth, power and popularity. The best
evidence Of growth is found in the Mongolian
churches and their club rooms, although it
is very hard to tell the difference between a
Chinese church and Chinese club room.
In both there is some representation OF the
deity; in both they wear their hats, smoke
cigars and cigar cites, drink ale, wine, beer,
play dominoes, dice and cards, and have
breakfast, luncheon and dinners.
1t seems sacrilegious to the American
mind, but to the Oriental it is all right
Their view was well summed up by the
Buddhist High Priest in Mott street, when
he said, God is our father and likes His
children to have a good time. Like every
father, he would rather have them enjoy
themselves in His own house, than in a bar
room or saloon, tor that reason, He prefers
them to smoke, drink, tell stories, and in
general enjoy themselves In church rather
than anywhere else"
NOVELTIES IN CHURCH.
In the leading orthodox church there are
number oil novelties that have come across
the Pacific and the American continent in
the past eight weeks. One OF those is state
umbrella. Its handle Is about nine feet
long and is made OF a hard wood that ap-
pears to lie Ealf way between oak and hick-
ory. The umbrella proper is a huge cylin-
der open at the bottom. The top is about
five teet in diameter, and the cylindrical
sides are about five feet in length. 1t is
hard to tell what the material is, so COM
pletely is it covered with embroidery and
emblazonment.
The general design consists of golden
dragons trying to find their way through in
terlaced geometrical figures. At distance
the effect is that of rose, pink and gold, but
close to the work there are so many colors
as to b; file the eye. A feature of the en-
broidery is the use of numberless little mir
rors, some plain, some colored, some varie-
gated, but all set in minute frames of metal
highly polished and almost as brilliant as
the bullion which forms large part of the
embroidery. The lower edge of the cylin-
der terminates in heavy and beautiful
fringe. 1t is said to have cost $4OO. 1t GER
tainly would cost at least that much If made
in our own country, but in China, where
labor is cheaper, it probably did not cost
more than SIS.
A WAR srANDARD.
Another ecclesiastical novelty is war
standard, this consists OF a square banner
attached to crossbar upon pole at least
ten leet in length. The banner is about FIVE
feet by three, and contains even more en-
broidery than the state umbrella. On either
side great scarf hangs from the crossbar
which in its widest part is at least 18 inches
across. The scarIs are green and are orna-
mented with golden dragons loot in size.
The amount of work displayed upon those
mythical beasts is simply wonderful The
laying Of the hair is represented BY the lay
ing OF fine gold braid of different tints. TIE
eyes are initiated with diminutiye glass
orbs of gold and green; the teeth, fang and
tongue. by almost microscopic workmanship,
in silver, scarlet and snowy white. The
standard is intended to be carried By one
man, but whoever carries it must be a yeri-
table giant.
A third novelty consists of a series Of
historic weapons, of which one is an orig
inal and ten are limitations of those en-
ployed in long past ages. The original was
used by a famous champion who lived in
the ninth century of the Christian era. 1t
is an ak or halbord, about nine feet in
length, whose handle, instead of being oak,
is hollow brass cylinder, initiating large
bamboo. 1t is two inches in diameter, and
at the top 1t becomes fat blade, turned,
six inches in width.
A MoNGoLIAN GIANT.
The weapon weighs about IS pounds, and
must have been welded by some Mongolian
Hercules. Like ali old weapons, it has a
legend attached to it. Its owner, who has
an unpronounceable name, with it held a
bridge during very sanguinary civil war.
He was supported ybv 30 men who voIun.
teered in forlorn hope, but did all the
fighting himself. AS the enemy came across
he swept them down with this terrible
weapon, and is said to have killed
300 warriors in little less than five hours.
I have no doubt that this aw ul weapon
could be equal to such an emergency, but 1
gravely question any human being could
WELD it SO effectively.
The other weapons are light, graceful and
fantastic. The shafts are oak, eight feet
long, and are painted in the same color as
the familiar fre-cracker. The heads might
be termed Chinese Lochaberi axes. One of
the designs is huge beetle. Another is an
immense napkin ring. clasping enormous
sharpened pencils. The third is a spider.
whose eight legs, hairy and gged, make
frightful weapon OF destruction. Two OF the
have no parallel in European armor
DR. warfare.
A TERRIBLE WEAPON.
The shaft ends in mass of metal shaped
like a dust-pan and something
like spoon. 1t is triangular bit of brass
and about Is inches in length and ten inches
wide at the top. The sides are sharp and the
upper edge comes over forward into series
Of teeth and claws. The head priest says
that it was used 5000 years ago, and was in
tended to answer two purposes. When used
with the side edges il was as deadly as an |
axe; sideways it was used in catching hold |
Of people. In the latter regard 1t had two |
One for making prisoners
during battle or siege and the other, saw
ing men from drowning. 1t is probably the |
most curious weapon to-day on exhibition in |
New York.
The Long -Gee-Tong or liberal church, has
not been behind its chief rival. 1t has also
1elved into antiquity, and brought over
rou the far East, the weapons and armor
Or fac-similes that were used anywhere as
'ar back as 400 B. c. All of these are IN
.eresting and instructive. The shields are
very much like the Scotch and English
oucklers of middle ages, being steel circles
,f two feet in diameter which rise in the
,cuScI W uCdft anu oudIp pOlut. 1ne
armors are of different styles and ages, and
,f any amount OF variety.
ARMoR OF PAPER.
One suit is about six inches thick, and
consists of layers of very fine and strong
paper. To one accustomed to the brittle
pages OF modern magazines, such defense
,eems Judricous, but this coat will resist a
A-calihre revolver bullet. the edge OF
cavalry sword, or the point of a bayonet,