The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-28
THE CHINESE JOSS.
Religious Observanoes Of the Mon
golians In America,
The Idols Arc Set Up In This Country
Amidst Costly and Prctentious
Surroundings and Arc yyor-
shipod Constantly.

While the evils Of cheap coolie COM
petition with American labor may be
but little felt or understood In the East
ern States, 1t is causing much worry
and trouble here, and the subject of
Chinese exclusion is of all-absorbing in
terest In oil the Pacific coast States.
But without discussing this topic, writes
+. M. Harper in the Chicago Inter
Ocean, It may be of interest to know
what influence the joss exerts upon his
devotees when absent from the Flowery
Kingdom. AS tho willy Celestial only
comes to this country for what there
is In It," and expects to return to his
native land as soon as he has "nadc his
Pile" he rarely settles down to become
q citizen OF the United States. With no
1ntermarriagc or social intermingling
with the white race, he initiates our
ways for profit only" but clings to
the customs and religion Of his fathers
with the greatest tcnacity.
Hatod by the average Californian,
cheated and maltreated on every side,
with his keen initiative ability he soon
becomes an adept In NIL the sly tricks
that have been practiced upon him, and,
taking every kind of abuse without q
his prosecutors nrc holding Indignation
meetings A tri1ing incident will show
the sagacity Of tho tricky Chinec."
My wife intrustcd the weeks wash
to an intelligent-loolsing laundryman
ono Monday not long since upon his
promise, given in excellent English,
that the clean clothes should be brought
to the house on the following Saturday
But, falling to keep his word, my vito
repairs to the "washec-house" on tho
following Monday and upbraits the
Chinaman for breaking his promise.
But lo the scamp has forgotten his En-
glish and says "No sable what Indy
want" My wife says: "Why did you
not bring the wash Saturday." me
no so-be; bling clothes to-mollow."
Tint was all tho English he seemed to
know. Very convenient sometimes not
to understand.
AS knowledge of the English Ian
guage is very essential to the Chinese in
their business with the Americans,
they are very glad to attend the mission
schools and they make very apt schol-
ars. Whether many of them become
genuine converts to Christianity
through these schools or not am Of
course unable to judge, but certain it is
1t pays the Chinese merchant or laborer
to be professcd Christian. But tho
Celestial coming to our hospitable
shores never forgcts to bring his ''joss'
and all the accessories for his Worship
AS these pagans worship their fore
fathers, the household god or Joss rep
resents some one of the most distin-
guished ancestors of the family to
which the joss belongs. In small set
Elements or isolated groups of Chinese
the household joss must answer every
purpose for worship, but in the larger
towns and cities room or building is
set off for a joss house, and upon the
decorations of this Is lavished q good
deal of expense, If the Chinese of that
community are prosperous, and they
mostly nre San Jose has what is said
to be the most beautiful joss house in
California. A very respectable two
story brick building has been erected
in Icinlcinvillc Zone of the China
towns of the place, San Jose has two
Chinatowns), and has been ornamented
with very deliberately carved and
gilded decorations and furnishings,
brought from China, and several josses
have been placed in the inches pre-
pared for them, and last winter the
building was dedicated in grand style,
) whole trnin-load of Chinese coming
over from San Francisco to assist in tho
ceremonies. And now the altar fires
are kept constantly burning, and the
atmosphere of the whole building is
laden with the fragrance Of burning
n sandal wood and spices.
Curious to know tho manner Of
worship l have learned that only on
special holidays -four or five times a
Year, are there any important cere-
monies, or united worship. On those
occasions there is good deal of blow
Ing OF horns, and pounding of drums,
and burning of offerings and incense,
nominations by the priests, and
general feasting by all. AS
fear seems to be the prcdominating
sentiment in the Chinese breast,
rather than love, the incantations and
other ceremonies are intended to scare
the devil, rather than as dcmonstra-
ton OF reverence for the joss. But at
other than these few stated times, the
joss seems to be to the Chinese what the
oracles were to the nncients. at any
time OF day, the devotce may go to the
joss house, make his Offering of food, or
whatsoever he wishes to place upon the
altar and then he consults the joss upon
'. all subjects of interest, whether of bust
ness or sentiment. This he does in va
rious ways. Upon the altar lie two
blocks Of wood, shaped like the halves
OF kidney cut in twain, painted blacl,
without and red within. The worshiper
expresses his desire and casts tho blocks