The morning call., 1892-12-20

quite well, has q partially bald head and he
is the jOlliest looking Chinese in San Fran
cisco.
His face breaks all I'D into big smiles on
the slightest provocatiOn and good nature
sticks ont all over him.
The Chinese public school had some
little Christmas doings in the school last
year. Leong knows what Christmas
means. and he decided that the Chinese
school ought to have as tine q Christmas as
any OF them this year.
Miss Thayer, the principal, gladly con-
sented and LeOng went right 70 work get
ting SUBSCRIPTIONS among Chinese mer-
chants and az the consulate. The people at
the imperial consulate are always friends to
the Chinese school. The Jolly hustler very
soon raised $500 and then lie got the use of
the upstairs hall of the Chinese Merchants
Exchange al 739 Sacramento street.
Chan Wing, another smiling Chinese dry
goods merchant, went into it heart and soul.
So did Vice Consul King 0wyang and his
Chinese wife, who Is an accomplished
English scholar, and who dresses prettily ir
American fashion.
These and others. with the assistance of
Miss Thayer. Miss Green and Miss Arnold,
the teachers OF the school. decorated the
hall and planted the tree. Most of the
money Miss Ibayer invested in presents for
the children.
That was how the Chinese Christmas tree
came about.
Chinese lanterns and a special policeman
al the bottom of the stairway told last night
that something unusual was going on up
stairs.
There is a large hall or anteroom at the
head OF the stairs, and that was Respondent
In evergreens, holly and American flags, as
well a. in itch Chinese furnishings and big
rsgs with fierce dragons on them.
The main hall was large and was closely
set with chairs. Ii was gorgeous In it's
beauty and magnifcenee. The side walls
were covered with three immense American
sez,
and beside these were some splendid TRAN
GUAR banners, reaching from ceiling to
noor. They were made OF silk embroidered
in gold. and borrowed from josshouse for
The occasion. There were big framed pie
lures OF the late Consul Bee and Chinese
great men on the walls, and plenty of ever
green and holly were tastefully and lavishly
bestowed. The ceilings were hung with
red and blue bunting, and four big and
costly lamps OF ebony ana glass were hung
with little Chinese lanterns. There were
two great hanging baskets made of yari-
colored beads and crystal that had been
borrowed from the leading josshouse.
Near the rear of the hall aud across
stage was Partition OF open Chinese lat
tice work with double doors 10 the center
lett open. This partition on one side was
covered with big American flag and up the
other side a terrible dragon with darling
tongue and fierce claws climbed up great
curtain Of yellow silk. At either doorpost
stood large and beautiful vase brought
from the consulate, holding evergreens and
small American flags. Above the door was
splendid narrow curtain of red silk
deliberately embroidered in gold
The large doorway of the partition was
filed by the Christmas tree reaching to the
ceiling and gay with a wealth of giittering
baubles and full of little candles. About
lis roots was truckload OF things that
Santa Clans had deputed Miss Thayer to
buy.
This was part Of the scene that greeted
the visitors. Miss Thayer had avoided any
announcement for fear that some would
come to jeer and disturb. but fully 200
whites helped jam the place until not foot
of standing room was left. Among them
were twenty or thirty public school
teachers, School Directors Brooks and Sc
well and Rev. Mr.. Masters Of the Metho-
dist Chinese Mission.
The Chinese Consul General. thin little
man who don't talk English much. came
dressed in rich silks and sat on one of the
black and gold chairs at one side of the
stage. 1t was his first Christmas on earth.
Vice Consul King stood by the door, his
wife sat with some ladies that Leong Mum
had seated with Cheste rfieldian grace and
self-possession, and nearly 100 Chinese.
prominent aud obscure, occupied part OF
Inc back seats or helped crowd the aisle.
Down In the front seats were the chill
dreD. Some OF the boys were 16-year-old
striplings, but most Of them had not passed
the age OF cuteness. Most of them were
dressed more richly in blue black or brown
Inquired SILKS than was ever Mob Hill kid,
and their queues dropped from under hats
that were black or of blue and gold. There
were about ten little girls dressed in Chi
nese fashion. All were very still and good
They did not show their pleasure by eager
looks and enthusiastic establishment, as do
the children Of the race that rules American
schools.
Pretty soon Miss Thayer gave a signal
and the school rose. Another signal and
they quickly faced about. A piano twit-
tered, and the opening song. Hail, Our
Pleasant School," made the dragons prick
up their ears. There was no Chinese theater
wall about the music. 1t was United States
music, favored lightly with a Sigh, harsh
ness Imported from Canton and ereabouts.
They did it so well, however, that the
audience appiauded vigorously, and re-
peated the applause after every number on
the programme.
Master Leong Tau spoke a piece about
the Last School Day." and then twenty
one other class songs and recitations fol-