Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-05
"SHO ZEE DAY"
New York's Dead Cinnamon Made
Happy at Their Homes, the Grave.
They Are Presented with Years Rations,
Wives and Servants by Their Living
Brethren-A Great Feast.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
NEW YORK, April notwithstanding the
rain and heavy fog, at least 500 dead Cinnamon
were made happy to-day at the various New
York cemeteries. It was ''Sho zee day. or
decoration day among the Chinese of America.
On this day the dead Cinnamon have big blow
out at their respective residences-the graves
whittier their friends and relatives are expected
to bring them their annual provisions. These
consist not only OF choice roasted pigs, chickens
and other delicacies of the American and
Chinese markets, but even wives and servants.
These last are an imperative tribute, although
in life deceased NAV have been bachelors and
not rich enough to hit the pipe' but once
year, they are supposed to have left the mis-
fortune of poverty and all others behind them in
the body, while their spirits enjoy the life OF the
nabobs. But these enjoyments must be started
to them from this side OF the mysterious
river. The paper, blouses and money that the
Gevotees burnt on yesterday at the graves are
changed into silken garments and the yellow
paper slips into pure gold bars to-day IN the
and pretty paper servants of both sexes. There
were about 200 of these females reduced TO ashes
in Evergreen and other cemeteries, and almost
as many roasted pigs were set before the graves
and afterward swallowed by Cinnamon who were
not yet dead. Each carriage was followed
to the cemetery by wagon containing roasted
pig with decorated tall ears and hoofs, and sew
eral big baskets full of incense, papers and joss
sticks, as well as show bread, rice, wines, etc.
At about noon there were over fifty carriages
ranged at the entrance OF the cemetery. Several
wagons with the pigs and things were permitted
to be driven close to their destination, while the
Cinnamon walked. One hundred and twenty
families were represented. Each company set
their own pigs and other deliCacies before the
graves of their own dead, worshipping while the
rain poured down.
A big square tombstone on the outer edge of
Celestial hill is the general altar of the Chinese
dead, where it is supposed the spirits of all
Cinnamon, irrespective of birth, politics and
religion, congregate to receive homage from the
heads of Chinese municipality,
After the ''layouts'' were spread out Ju Sling
Pong knelt before the roasted pig, and out
Of his sleeve he pulled big roll of
paper, which contained the long prayer
that he had been preparing for the dead
for the past week. He made three low bows and
then lighted the paper from forty-nine little red
candles. While the paper was yet blazing he
threw in the paper money and the paper men
and women-then three more salaams. An at
tendant poured out three cups of wine and
handed them to Ju, which he spilled with
staggering motion into the fire, saying at the
same time, ''These, my noble lords, are the
small tokens of ChinaIOwn's great regards.
Please accept with our prayer
Three more salaams and the roasted pigs and
other substantials were gathered up and were
put back into the wagon, when the Cinnamon
drove back home and prepared to deVour the
pigs of the dead TO- night.