Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-08
CHINESE NEW YEAR.
The Mo1goiians 10 Begin Two
Weeks Jollification To-Day With
FIRECRACKERS, CANDY AND WINE.
A Campaign to Be lnaugurated Against the
Legion of Devils.
THEY ARE TO BE DRIVEN FROM THE CITY

The Chinese take about two weeks to cele-
brate their New Year. The anniversary,
according to their calendar, falls upon to-
day. 1t goes without saying that for the
next few days there Sill be more fire.
crackers set off in various parts of the
world than even upon the national day of
American independence.
Pittsburg has a resident Chinese popula.
ton of about 200, but it is the headquarters
for the celestials who live in Western Penn
sylvania and Eastern Ohio. 1t is here that
all their business is done with their relatives
and friends in their native land, so that
there are always a number OF strange Mon
golians in the city.
Will Be General Jollih cation.
The Chinese have peculiar way of cele-
brating this, their most important festival.
1t is jollifcation, pure and simpie-eat,
drink and be merry; that is their motto.
Contrary to a popular impression the
Chinese are not 'near" in their dealings
with each other, or in expending money in
entertaining their guests. The dollars that
will be spent in this city within the next
few days will run up into the hundreds.
To-day will be devoted exclusively to
visiting among themselves. They will not
tolerate any outsiders in their laundries or
their stores. The leading Chinese merchants
in this city are Tung, Wah Lung & Co., on
Second avenue, above Ross street, and it Is
here where the general festivities will be
held. During the day nearly all the China
men in the city, together with those from
the nearby towns, will be the guests of this
firm.
1t will be grand, free blowout. The
delicacies that are dear to the Chinese heart
will be served in profusion. The tables will
be burdened with candies, nuts and sweets
of all kinds, specially imported for the occa-
sion. AS there will be no Americans pres
ent at the feast, their stomachs will
not have to suffer the inhiction of
diet that would probably make
them sick, and the refusal to partake of
which would be considered an insult. But
they will not only eat. but they will drink.
and when Chinaman partakes freely of
rice wine, which is in color like gin, but OF
the strength of raw alcohol, he is likely to
become hilarious.
Care Taken of the Too Hilarious.
The rice wine will have its effect, but
there will be seen no intoxicated Cinnamon
on the street. If one happens to get too
much on board be will be put in bunk
until he sleeps off Its effects. Then, as the
firm of Sung, Wah, Sung & Co. are also
dealers in apothecaries' supplies, if the
patient does not come round all right he
will probably be given gnat's eyes, the tail
of lizard. or possible the tongue of a
beetl, all which rank very high in the
Chinese pharmacopeia. Either are said to
be excellent remedies for a swelled head.
Every Chinaman imagines that he is
pursued by devils. They never undertake
anything but what they think there is some
particular devil who has q grudge against
him, and who exerts all his peculiar power
TO upset his plans. A general onslaught
will be made upon these devils to-day. In
cense and Joss sticks will be burned to the
ancestral gods that they may drive these
devils away from Pittsburg. They will pay
attention to their own demons alone, the
Americans will have to look out for their
own devil.
A Custom That Is to Be Broken Up.
For a number of years past it has been the
custom Of the Pittsburg Cinnamon to give
their Christian friends grand supper DUR
ing the celebration of the New Year. This
is always got up in very elaborate man
ner, but as yet there have been no prerara-
tions made for it. and it is doubtful
whether it will be given.
Rev. E. R. Donehoo, in speaking of this
custom yesterday, said that it was the desire
of the Christians to do away with it. The
trouble was, he said, that the Chinese were
too extravagant. The money they wasted
on this supper was something astonishing.
Nothing was too good for the white people.
The latter, however, thought the money
could better be expended in other ways,
and the custom would probably be broken
this year.