Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-02-23
, THE CHINESE JOSS.


and trouble here, and the subject OF
Chinese exclusion Is Of all-absorbing in
terest In all the Pacific coast States.
But without discussing this topic, writes
r. NJ. 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 the 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 ''made his
pile" he rarely settles down to become
q citizen Of the United States. With no
intermarriage 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 tenacity.
Hated by the average Californian,
cheated and maltreated on every side,
with his keen initiative ability he soon
becomes an adept in all the sly tricks
that have been practiced upon him, and,
taking every kind Of abuse without a
murmur, he rolls up the dollars, while
his prosecutors are holding indignation
meetings. A trifing incident will show
the sagacity Of the ''triclSy Chinee."
My wife intrusted the weeks wash
to an intelligent-looking laundryman
one 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, failing to keep his word, my wife
repairs to the 'twashee-house" on the
following Monday and upbraids the
Chinaman for breaking his promise.
But 10! the scamp has forgotten his En-
glish and says: mo sa-be what lady
want" My wife says: "Why did you
not bring the wash Saturday." "Me
no sable; bling clothes to-mollow."
That was all the 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-
ara. 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 q protested Christian. But the
Celestial coming to our hospitable
shores IsTSR forgets to bring his ''joss"
and =" the accessories for his worship.
Curious to know the manner of
worship, 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 a 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 predominating
sentiment in the Chinese breast,
rather than love, the nominations and
other ceremonies are intended to scare
the devil, rather than as demonstra-
ton of reverence for the joss. But Mt
other than these few stated times, the
joss seems to be TO the Chinese what the
orocles were to the ancients. At any
time u day, the devotee may go to the
joss house, make his Offering of food, or
whatsoever he wishes TO place upon the
mltar and then he cU2sults the joss upon
al 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 a kidney cut in twain, painted black
without and red within. The worshipe1
expresses his desire and casts the blocks
INTO the air. Upon the manner Of Their
fall depends his answer. Another way
In vase Is bundle Of long narrow
bamboo sticks, their sides covered with
Chinese characters. The inquirer takes
the vase In his hand and whirls 1t rap
idly round and round, while to the joss
he makes known his wishes. One OF
two bamboos will work up from
the bundle and finally fall out, and in
the writing ON those is found the answer
This reminds one of the children's care
Fame Of fortune-telling. There is pro
vision also for any guilty ones who wisf
to make confession Of their sins, a.
books are provided in which the peni
tent records his own evil doings, afteI
which the devil has no claim upon hin