The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-20
A BIG DAY FOR JOSS.
SAVANNAH CaINAMEN TO CELE-
BRATE THE NEW YEAR $3.50.

Tho Laundries TO be Closed and the
Disciples Of Confucius 20 Eat Chinese
Nuts and sweetmeats-To-Day the
10th Anniversary OF Kong Sirah's
Reign - Charlie Lee to Give a
Banquet.
To-day is the Chinese New Year. With
the Chinese it is the year 57S9, and the day
Is great holiday with the disciples Of Con-
tucius and the worshipers of joss. The en-
tire month is a holiday season with them,
and 1t is extensively celebrated in the Ce-
lestial Empire by feasting, royal banquets
and costly displays Of fireworks, and devout
worship of the god Of the Orientals
Today Is also the 10Th anniversary OF the
reign OF Kong Sirah, king Of the howery
land, who Is not quite 10 years old
A MORNING NEWS reporter went the
rounds OF the Chinese laundries last night
to learn what will be the programme for
to-day with the small colony of eighteen
who are living in Savannah.
NO WORK TODAY.
At Wing Lings Chinaman came to the
door, and to the inquiry as to how the
Chinese New Year would be celebrated
here, he replied that he didn't know, except
that Cinnamon would eat but not work.
wing Lee was out, he said,
and the door, scarcely opened
SIX inches, was closed in the
reporters face, and the uncommuni-
cative Asiatic went back to his room. doubt
less to resume his devotions to joss, which
the knock had interrupted.
A visit was made to Wong Gems place
1t was dark. Other Chinese laundries were
dark, except at Wing KEGS. Here were
Two Cinnamon, one Of whom was spokes-
man. "Cholley Lee" be said, ''catchee
New Ylee ale down on Bloughton stleet.
You go see Chollev. He telle ale blout
China New Ylee. There was none too
much courtesy shown at Wing KEGS, the
Chlnaman abruptly turning away when an
effort was made to interview him.
THE BOSS CHINAMAN IN SAVANNAH.
At Charley Lees there was a different re-
ceptlon. Charley was all smiles, and he
extended his hand in welcome He had
company, the most of the more intelligent
Chinese being his guests, among them
Wong Gen and Wing Lee. One of them
was playing a Chinese air on q Chinese
guitar, and another was accompanying the
music with song prettily sung with a we'll
modulated voice in the Chinese tongue
Charley called two of the guests from the
the table, and the three united in giving the
reporter all the information they could.
Charley Lee who reads, writes and speaks
English very well, said that there are four
more Cinnamon here this New Years than
there were year ago, and the differences
which existed then have been removed, and
they are all on the most friendly terms
now.
TO KEEP OPEN HOUSE.
There will be no Chinese religious exer-
clses among us, said Charley. "lhey at
tended the Baptist Sunday school vester-
day, and the Chinese New Year will
be given up to sustaining from work,
and music and eating. Most of the Chinese
VIII visit each other, and sweetmeats, con-
fections and nuts, which have come all the
way from China, will be set out TO visitors
'Going to be a feastF'
wei, l don't know that you can call it
a feast. l shall give supper to my friends,
and we will have some music, and we hope
to spend pleasant evening"
Charley extended pressing invitation
to the reporter to drop in and accept the
hospitality and courtesies Chinese host
usually extends his guests on New Years
evening.
NEW YEARS WITHOUT FIREWORKS.
Fireworks play prominent part in the
| celebration of New Years holiday season
| in China, but the city ordinances here pro-
hibit setting off Of fireworks. He explaiue ed
that the Chinese here are we'll treated by
Savannah people, that the colony is in
| good health and is literally patronized.
Our little colony are sober and industri-
Gus, and while the New Years holidays last
month IN China, we only take one day
| over here.n
Wong Gen has lived in Savannah for
eight years, and Charley Lee comes next.
having arrived in 1886. The others come
and go.
Death of Richard Martin.