Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-05-03
A CHINESE FUNERAL.
A Minute Description of One of These
Affairs in California.
Borden, CAL, April 6, 1890.
DIR. j. B. Ritchey,
AIoAH..-.ll-

McMinnville, Tenn.
Dear Friend: ] have thought for
some time / would write you, but
my fingers have been so stiff l could
hardly hold pen or pencil. l hard
ly know what to write that would
interest you most. There are many
things l could write about that would
be new to the people back in old
Tennessee, some of which might APP
pear unreasonable, but nevertheless
are true. The prospects for fine crops
at present are good, but l suppose
you are posted in this by reading the
papers. 1t will not always do to be-
lieve all you read in the newspapers.
They are like men--sometimes tell
the truth but not always. The last
time | was down at your brothers.,
we both agreed that the STANDARD
was one of the most truthful and re-
liable papers, knowing it as we do),
stating facts as they are. But we
have not been getting the STANDARD
every week. Think the cause is in
our Office here. We have a new post
master and he does not deliver the
mail as it should be done. While
Mr.. Dyer, our former postmaster, was
in Office we never failed to get our
paper every week.
There is one thing / would like to
tell you about if | could write it as it
occurred. Some weeks ago a rich
Chinaman died here at Borden. |
had always desired to be at one of
their funerals. Believing there would
be II big time over Man Wo, as he
was one of the kings here, the next
day after his death Wade, John and
| went up, but soon learned he would
not be put away that day. | went
back home, but Wade, anxious to
see it all, remained and took notes.
He being small they did not care for
his going into the room where he
lay on the floor. / discovered they
did not want me to go in. They told
Wade he might stay. He says the
Chinaman's wife was sitting on the
floor by the dead body of her hus>
band weeping, and would lay small
pieces of silk paper on his body, and
then her servant would take them off
and burn them. This they kept up
all the time, day and night, She had
to do this from his death until he was
placed in the coffin, which was about
n hours, she not sleeping or eating
during that time. When she would
cease weeping they would throw her
on his body, and then she would go
to weeping again. Wade came home
in the evening; said the funeral
would come off at 10 o'clock next
day. We went back early and found
a large number of Cinnamon. They
had been coming on almost every
train from the city. In front of the
house, in the street, was a table set,
and on it a hog, nicely baked or bar
bacued. 1t was lying on its belly in
large tray or low box. On the right
Of the hog was a dressed sheep, not
cooked, with head and feet all on, as
if it had laid down to rest. Had its
head tied up with red cords. 1t was
not skinned. The wool had been
shaved off with razor. Just behind
the hog and sheep was nicely baked
rooster with comb and all on. Three
tail feathers sticking in; must have
been stuck in after baking. Under
him in the dish six eggs, the gizard
and liver. Still behind this were
several dishes of different kinds OF
meat, and all kinds of deserts. 1t
looked as if it had been prepared for
wedding dinner, something like the
dinners set when we were boys.
Close by was stretched a canvass, and
under it the band played; a drum,
and something like a clariOnet, and a
fellow with brass plates or gongs'
They kept perfect time. Now and