The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-01-10
NEW FORKS CHINATOWN.
JOSS HOUSES. qkMsLlNo
Rooms AND FifTH.
Inc rs-rsil.d Hss,A... j ID ur. or
" Abandon ana E,Ide' EnJoy-
-'ai and Aeeumslatss Mach
Good ssneliean'' Noney.

tnlnese quarter. The almond .r.a
cniluren OF the sun are. II Is true.
Sca''erea all over the city and its sub
urDs' 70 the number OF more than
eight thousand. II Is hard 10 find
any neighoorhood where there are
no oninese iaundrles, for they seem TO
nave taken to that business almost
exclusively In this part OF the country.
Nevertheless they have a sort OF head
quarters In the neiehborhood which
they haze taken for their own. au6
hers goes on all the traffic no incou.
siderable volume which they have
among themselves. Here are their
temples. their gambling-honses, and
their opium dens. all under the same
roof In some instances Here are
their restaurants. their grocery stores.
their society rooms Qor every China
man belongs to society. their mu-
nicipal government (for they have one
OF their own, their professional poo
pie. their artisans. and their bankers.
Here are several great Chinese inn
porting houses, aud here are the
homes OF many OF them who could
afford to liyesen Fifth avenue II they
choose TO do it As to auy one OF
these. long aud interesting chapter
might be written. but we are now con-
sidering the colony as whole.
h u
nor beautiful place which we are
studying On the contrary. Il Is
squalld In appearance, rickety, old.
and ill-preseryed as TO its buildings
badly kept as TO its streets, and AZ the
frSt glance seeming like the haunt OF
uespair'ng poverty. II has, however.
TWO advantages which. to the mind OF
the Mongolian. outweigh the disad-
vantages. IL Is central location.
easy OF access By the principal routes
OF travel from all directions, and the
rents are cheaper than they would be
likely to get in any other neighbor-
hood equally accessible. The China
man does not come 70 15srIea II 7
'peno money es4sscially in rents. Hid |
comes m 70 r16ulato.
~Ihe neighborhood which they have
appropriated Is small, comprising only
about three city blocks la Mott and
Pell streets just out OF chatham
Square, but their ideas about space are
those which obtain in all the crowded
tenement districts OF the city. and
some thousands OF them are TO be found
here night and day. No exact state
ment OF numbers is possible for they
are suspicious and secretive. and take
refuge In their ignorance. either real
or pretended, OF the English language.
when questioned by the "Mellcan
man" Moreover, this is the pleasure
resort OF all those who live and work
elsewhere. When work is slack, or
they feel inclined for holiday. they
seek their companionship and their
designations in the company OF their
compatriots. Here, too. they worship.
naively seeking the aid and comfort
OF their religion whether they are bent
on business or debauchery.
They have built one house only,
renting all the others they occupy.
This one is large double tenement
house of ordinary New York fashion.
and in 1t, as said above, are temple.
shops, homes, and gambling and
opium dens. On every house In tho
district. however. are the queer-look- =
Ing signs, hiero-glyphically illegible
TO the Caucasian, which indicate the 2
business carried on within. The vista
of the street with these projecting !
signs. handsome and grotesque Ian
terms, and queer tInsel ornaments.
hung out apparently for decorations
only, is so quaint as TO be bewlldering
to the average New-Yorker' who has
not studied the queer sides OF the city. 1