The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-31

melon. The Florida md California
lwnrfed when compared TO this giant.
Near the end Of the table was
M snrthon jar filled with ASHES,
osnI. s TaiS ! YER sss.r,,i ssys Msa. 1 laxs
Dipped 4 piece OF sandal wood in this inr
and u cloud Of burning incense doated
through the air. From either cornsr of the
table were spirals Of atiIfensd phpar. ending
! y beautifully colorad masses Of paper
flower, ana y w midst of each wss 9
the guests were there Mrs. Tom sptcad d
shawl before the altar, and throwing her
self III her knees, bowed before the altar,
and whispered y prayer to tho images, way
Ing her hands slowly over her carefully
combcu hair. Though 1t was New Years
there was an involuntary hush Ms thia
heNthen wonian supblicatod the god Of her
ancsstorasand her country. Perhaps II was
tho rsapsct which one religion should give
to another whom there arc honest believers
in both.
You have M more small drink before
you 60 said Tom, and once more the yis-
itors drank the long life OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Tom. Hat before they went Tom insisted
on his wife exhibiting his new years gift
to her. She was coy about responding. but
Tom insisted. and she rather proudly hold
up her hands and showed two beautiful
bracelets eTd EFT Ct ooilsd gola: Il,
visitors, as he placed them on his hands.
They were very heavy and evidently Of
''Pay $l45 to catch,'' said Tom, as he
handed them back to his wife. The host
was 10 we'll pleased with his reception that
hs brought out q string OF firecraokers
longer than his body and valued at So.
The callers gathered in ! semi-circle, tho
center Of which reached across the street,
while Tom touched a match to the fuse at
the end and commenced swinging the string:
Yhs first cracker sputtered the signal and
Tom shut his eyes and swung the red band
untilit made q circle Of cracking fire.
Whom II was finished good-nights were ex-
changed and the crowd moved down the
street. The Americans, who are indebted
to Chinese ingenuity for the ire-cracker,
renlly never know what fire crackers are
until they hear the noise INC see the blaze
in Chinatown.
While essentially the same in form the
altar offerings differ somewhat. In the
store of Yee Buck Lee these were particu-
larry striking, and Of which the prettiest
~feature was the display of Chinese lilies in
bloom. In decorated Jars the tender green
flowers Of surprising purity and fragrance.
In gon,e Of the jars were M many as five
plants all in bloom. Behind was a large
panel with q hideous portrait of the wise
man of China surrounded by several wives
with expressionless faces. and q group Of
small children. ~
Who is this fellow?'' we aaked.
Him heap wise. Ono hundred and fifty
years old"
Tha store seemed to be a favorits resort
for Cinnamon during the evening. They
were seated about near the wall while each
took his turn as spokesman. Or course no
one knows what they we're talking about SO
It 10 safe to assume that wit and good
hurnor flowed, for all we're laughing when
each story teller finished. "A remark from
q first warder who stood in front Of tho
window was = key note to the whole stu
alton: Dem fellows have a good time in
der way" he said.
morning to night. The Chinese. with whom
gambling is an instinct, played every sort
Of game from fan tan to all sorts OF mys-
FERROUS combinations of domin0es. They
had been saving their money for a good
time and we're having it. In the store next
to the city hall There was a large gathering
Of Cslestials. One of the attractions not
possessed BY any other quarter was the Chin
esc band. 1t was a curious mixture of sounds.
The leader seemed to be the man with the
monstrous pair of cymbals: the other two
players were pounding drums, one OF which
was a stone jar covered with = drum mead
from which sounes were drawn forth by
means of a pair of drum sticks. TIL other
was a base drum of larger surface suspended
from a bamboo pole. A few pipes resem-
bling clarionets were used at times by other
players. If any Of them possessed tho soul
of music none of the visitors learned of its
existence. It was Il symphony of crashing
blows and shrill sounds blended together
without regard to harmony. It mar
be tho Celestial idea of music but it is IN
fitted for the Caucasian ear. At every
house was d tray loaded with sweetmeats
for the ladies, all of these were imported
direct from Chine for this festival. They
were not unpleasant to the taste and some
were exceedingly delicious. Most of the
visitors left their cards in exchange for
which they received the cards OF their
hosts. These consisted of bits Of colored
paper with Chinese Inscriptions nn%nounc-
ing the name of the firm. the individuals
name, while a we'll known Wall street mer-
chant had in addition a mourning card, his
mother having died less than Il year ago.
Tho Chinese New Year is a season really
ENJOYABLE to the white people Of Helena
and it is hoped that there will at least be
enough Cinnamon in TOW to continue the
festival from year to year.
M