Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-07

a Visit 10 San Francisco's Chi
nese Quarter Told
BY PROFESSOR SwENSBER6
A GIsphic Picture of the Manners and
Customs OF the Monaghan lnhabl-
tants Of the Golden Gate.
Register. Last chance today.

tanSs OF the Golden IStc-
Register. Last chance today.
A journey through Chinatown opium
loints. gambling dens. lodging houses,
joss houses, resta pranls and theatre.
Cnlnatown-one OF the most interest
ing Of all curiosties of the metropolis
city. Ii occupies an area or about SIX
teen blocks IN tho heart OF the city,
instead, as We always supposed,
on the outskirts of San Francisco. The
population as given US, is about $4,000
though II may be much less Ii Goa
slsts mainly Of laborers. laundrymen
aud domesllcs. though there are good
number OF industrious shopkeepers
anu wealthy property owners. These
Mongollans live IN houses, on the roofs
and In underground cellars. The
stores, windows, wares and business
methods are all strange to the white
race. The temples or joss houses,
theatres, restaurants and workshops
are queer aud interesting looking
things.
The opium dens are reached through
dark, narrow passages, and contain
wood hunks or shelves on all sldes.
Into these the celestlals retire at night.
resting their heads on wooden box
or some article of wearing apparel. A
few whltfs from their pipes bring on
the desired stupor. The cooking Is
done III an open CRATE, generally IN the
middle OF tue floor. Cheap eating
houses furnish meals for about ten
cents per day, yet they can board
themselves tor less. The visitor can
here imagine himself in populous
corner of China. Even the front Of the
buildings have assumed celestial
aspect, not only III the signs and pla-
cards In the shop windows and walls,
but In the altered architecture and
decorations.
Chinese Eucroachmeuts.
Chinatown Is that portion OK San
Francisco which was at one time Occu-
pied by the wealth and aristocracy OF
the city, but the industrious Cinnamon
encroached from time TO time upon
this portion of the city. purchased lots
and houses, built upon them and
changed the houses and blocks after
their own style and to please their own
peculiar fancles and convenlences, un-
til at last they became the possessOrs
Of the property which at one time con-
stltuted the city of San Francisco.
Chinatown is less than ten minutes
walk from the city hall, and is sur
rounded on all sides by prominent bus
mess streets, fine business blocks and
residences, occupied almost exclusively
by Americans. A daylight tour through
Chinatown can be made with safety by
| women. though we would not advise
them to visit the underground portion
of this peculiarly constructed city.
Neither men nor women can make the
trip into and through its mysterious
alleys, by-ways and slums at night
| without guide, unless they are will
ing to take serious risks.
DisreputabIs Localities.
Visitors usually 90 in numbers of
ten to twenty; if the number Is below
| ten, say five or six, one guide is sutti-
cent, but if they 60 in larger numbers
then two guides usually accompany
the party, one to lead and the other to
| follow. The usual charge of the
| guides is from 81 to 81 person. When
| there are men only in a party places
are visited, If they 80 desire, where re-
| spectacle women could not be taken,
and the worst of Chinese depravIty
and We are sorry to say, that OF other
nationalities is shown.
Starting out with party and two
| guides about 10 p. M, short walk
brought us into the streets monOpolized
| by the Chinese. There are peculiarly
| quaint little shops and stores of al
sorts, in which are kept every variety
of Chinese goods, made by them, and
| imported from their own country
| Here also is offered for sale everything
| eatable and drinkable that the China
man of ordinary means can buy
| Vegetables predominant, and they are
manly those sold in American mar
kets. All Chinese stores and shops are
kept open until late hour of the
night. In many places there are
| crowds of men pursuing their fayorits
| Chinese games and gambling voca
tons. Some are smoking pipes, cigar
cites and opium, and seemingly takins
comfort and ease. In another shoI
| you can see from one-half TO a dozen
men at work by the midnight oil max
! ing cigars.
| Passing a barber shop, we look into
the iron doors, which are open, aud SEE
the peculiar methods of shaving the
| heads. Several more Cinnamon were
having their ears cleaned and the hairs
which grow IN them p!ucked out. AL
of them seemed In take solid comfor
under the mesmerzlng influence o.
the performance. We entered n drus
store where We found Chinese patrons
| drinking vile looking connections on
OF bowls and having expressions Oh
their faces indicating disgust. Sittlnl
at little tables ON one side of the room
we're several parties smoking anC
| gambling. Our guide seemed perfect
| ly familiar with all the places, adj
dressed these inmates by their names
and walked INTO all parts of their hsbi
tatlons without a word of resentment
being offered. We entered auothe
( combination store where the guild,
walked back of the counter and helped
| himself TO such articles as he deslreC
to eat. He took from the drawers and
shelves dried fish, dried lizards, drieC
tosds, drled snakes and every othe
conce val'le variety of Chinese drugs
| prescribed by Chinese doctors. and ex
| planned the various healing virtues at
| trbuted 10 them.
| Imported Pigeons
On we move aud upon entering an
/ other shop ne are shown box of pig