Passaic City record., 1890-07-03
A CELESTIAL PICNIC.
A Unique aud Interesting Excursion
I'm which Cinnamon Play the Part
OF Hosts, and Play 1t WELL
Passafe Represented.

On the ninth of June, 1890, ;
grand excursion was given by the
various Chinese Sunday schools O
Brooklyn. The steamer Crane
Republic left Jewell's dock at 8.3c
on. the morning of that day bound
for Roton Point. Being Monday
the dav on which Cinnamon have
most leisure, there was very large
delegation of that nationality.
Every Chinaman who was identi-
fed with any Sunday school organ
ization invited his teacher, and the
pastor of the church in which his
school was located, and furnished
tickets for the occasion. The
Passaic laundry-men were not to
be outdone by their Brooklyn
friends, so they invited the three
ladies who teach them at four
O'Clock every Sunday afternoon,
and presented them with tickets.
The invitation was warmly sec
onded by most cordial one from
the Chinese manager of the affair
in Brooklyn. 1t is foregone con-
clusion to say that it was accepted.
At 7.oo a. m. on the appointed day
two teachers and three scholars
took the train at Prospect street
for Jewell's dock, Brooklyn. 1t
was our privilege to be one of this
party; and it proved to be an
occasion that will never be forgot
ten. We have heard it said that
the Chinese have blank faces;
faces devoid of expression. We
thought SO once ourselves, but one
look into the faces of those who
made up the crowd that greeted
US when we arrived at the steamer
forever banished the mistaken
idea. Every face was full of joy
full expression. 1t was the annual
day of leisure for them, the day
upon which they met their friends.
1t was their day; it was their affair,
in which they might take pride,
and show their American friends
that Chinaman knows well what
gratitude means. We do not
know what they call it in their
strange unpronouncable language,
but the outcome of the sentiment
was unmistakable, and Webster
classifies it under the head of graft
tude. "a virtue of the highest
excellence, implying feeling and
a generous heart, and a proper
sense of duty
There were one thousand per-
sons on board the steamer when
she sailed out and made for ROTOR
Point. About six hundred China
men and the balance American
ladies and gentlemen, including
several ministers and two police
men. The latter could have been
dispensed with; there was nothing
in their line of business that called
for attention. There was not a
drop of liquor on board in any
form, so peace and good will
reigned supreme throughout the
day aud Othello's occupation was
gone" Every lady furnished a
basket of refreshments and every
Chinaman contributed fruit of
various kinds. The delicious tea,
which we are told cannot be
obtained in our country, was the
beverage of the day. Many of the
Cinnamon were supplied with a
dainty little kettle and alcohol
lamp, and would ask the members
of his party frequently to allow
him to offer them a cup of tea. If
the invitation was accpeted he
would set the infnitesimal machin-
cry at work, and in less time than
it takes to write it the tea was
ready, made in your presence, and
served in very small cups. We
marveled at the hasty boiling of
the water, and it was suggested to
our mind that this was no doubt
the legitimate use for alcohol
slave to accomplish mans purposes,
not a tyrant to control him.
AS rule the Chinese have deli
cate appetites: eat and drink
slowly, and always know when
they have enough, all of which our
people do not. Cannot we afford
to gather this useful lesson from
our Celestial friends? 1t seemed
very strange to us, as we looked
over the motley crowd. to see here
and there an unmistakable China
man, dressed in all proper taste in
American clothing, and a hat of
the latest style, with an American
wife beside him, and in some cases
one or more children, who shared
the lily of mothers fair brow and
fathers olive cheek. One of these
men, we were told, was physician,
who had graduated with honors a
e., x,o,~c c.-oo f-o,,, o,a of >,.,-