Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-22

which wouldn't be in keeping with Pacific
coast ideas. One is that the environment
doesn't always make the man. Right down
in shabby, dirty Pell street he would find
two or three Chinese shops, each of which Is
managed by a man who is quite as shrewd,
sympathetic and quick witted as any man
in similar position anywhere else in the
United States. One of these America
Chinese fellows whom I dropped in upon
was the living image of our new Secretary
of War, Mr.. Steve Elkins. This statement
is not uncomplimentary to either of the
| gentlemen named, for the Chinaman looked
healthy, manly and sensible, and his eyes
asked the customary question which every
one expects of business man, "Who are
| you, how much money have you abou your
clothes and what do you come here for?"
When the Sun Sets on Mott Street.
There is another side, however, to the slum
lite of this quarter of old New York, and 1t
is visible after P. NJ. when the workmen
in the few factories on the street go away
and the inhabitants of the various tene-
ment houses in the vicinity return to their
homes Then the aspect of the street is en-
tirely different Everybody likes resting
time once in "a hours, and if Pell street and
Mott street and Doyers street live up to
their privileges there is nothing in the laws
of the Police Department or In the city or
dinances in general to prevent them.
1t is after in the afternoon and before
in the morning that the very un-American
spectacles which are presented in this To-
cality may be seen by any one who chooses
to look. 1t is due the inhabitants to say
that they make no secret Of their customary
methods of life, and the social code of man.
ners in the poorer districts finds no fault
with the American summers stare, al
- =. "a
British. Let the visitor beware, though;
because the people live out of doors when
the weather allows it does not follow that
they expect unlimited visitors to enter their
houses Nobody in the Chinese quarter is
likely to be ugly, but great many are as
full Of self-respect as If they lived on Fifth
avenue or on one of the swell streets which
cross that fashionable thoroughfare. They
sit on their doorsteps and fire escapes, in
full view of everyone, for the Chinaman
privacy is desirable only for vicious pur-
poses Visits are exchanged as informally
as among the Dutch founders of the city,
chatting with one another. Window shades
are not drawn, SO anyone may pry into the
domestic affairs of John Chinaman to his
hearts content
Miseries and Mysteries OF the Street
luuecu, ouc udSG lOOk dSluo rum VIC
Chinese if he would see the dark side of |
Chinatown. The CelestiaIs have their |
vices, chief among which are gambling and |
opium smoking, but more quiet, harmless
lot of people cannot be found in the best |
streets of the city. The miseries and |
mysteries of the vicinity are to be found |
not among the Asiatic heather, but in the |
houses in which Caucasians huddle together.
Why lodging houses and family tenements
should be popular in a part of the city |
which is full of beings whom the lower
classes profess to abhor is hard to explain;
that they are there, and fully occupied, can
be seen at glance. Perhaps the occupants
have learned by experience that the Chinese
are inoffensive neighbors; certainly no
other class of men drink so little or make
less trouble for those who do not annoy
them.
1t neves is hard to find drunken Caucasian
and negroes in Chinatown, but reellng
Chinaman would be curiosity. The Irish
American corner loafer is there with his ir-
-epressible inclination to make Rome howl;
ramps of any and all nationalities are
here, too, for part of Chinatown's streets
ire storage places for wagons at night, and
wagon is as good bedroom as any tramp
an ask for in warm weather Decent
women pass through the streets without fear
If being annoyed by the almond-eyed
oungers; the Chinaman seldom speaks to
woman who does not first address him, and
women of this class abound in the Chinese
treets.
The Children of Chinatown.
strangest of all, however, in this strange |