The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-31
GREATFUN IN CHINATOWN.
Children Of the Flowery Kingdom
Know How to Enjoy i Ma
tlonal Holiday.
No End OF Fire. Crackers and Good
Things to the Chinese New
Year.
A Glsncs at tho Chinese nnsrters--some
OF the Features OF the Cslebra-
tlOn.
"Gona Hi"
NLIe~nu MAJ VAnr

"Gona Hi"
Happy Nav Year."
They are "all same" II ID John China.
mans annual aeason OF fostivity, the Chi
nese New Year. 1t will continue one week
from last Thursday night and within that
time cur Celestial friends arc supposed to
find their climax Of fun for = whole year.
II il their Fourth OF July, Thanksgiving,
Christmas. Washineton's birthday and
Decoration day all in one. It is. therefore.
entirely proper that they should devote =
week to the celebration Of nllthsss Amsri-
can holidays.
Tho people Of Helena and in particular
the small boys have been on the qui vive
for some time. They knew months ago
whom this Chinese New Year would COM
moncs 20 they did not mistake the fusilads
Of fre-crackers and the rumble Of great
bombs for N attack from Chilli when ths
fun eommenced Thursday evening. The
city governments kindly accorded to
the Cinnamon tho privilege Of firing
az many frs-orackers as they pleased
in their own district while the
citizens Of the town in like charity con-
sentsdtto the celebration of the Chinese
holiday. Those who we're awakened at all
hours of the night by the firing of crackers
either muttered curses against the Chinese
nation a. a whole or rolled over to sleep
again with . whisper that the Chinese were
entitled to their fun as we'll as the Cauca-
SLAMS. How many people in Helena know
about the Chinese calendar? The authors
of the British and American encyclopaedia
evidently did not think it worth their time
to chronicle this information for it cannot
be found in either work. The Chinese cal
endar, in brief, ID rsokoned BY simple refer
sncss TO the length Of reign Of the living
emperor. Ii il not, as is popularity sup
posed, i txed date from the existence of
the Chinese government, Hhieh cam
menced, according TO Chinese tradition,
nearly 5000 years ago. me chl-
vided into dynasties, the last
dynasty commencing with Q new family in
1865. Since then the emperors have boon
long lived until the present emperor, Quong
Soy. who is but % years old and is now in
the eighteenth year Of his reign. Our
Chinese friend will therefore tell you that
this is simply the eighteenth yenr Of the
reign of Quong Soy. That is as far as his
calendar goes. The Chinese year, however,
differs slightly from our own year though
it ia reckoned on an aAtrOnOmlcal basis
of which the full moon at the fifteenth of
the month is an important starting place.
Once in three years the year consists Of
month there can be no more than thirty
days while there are often twenty-nins.
The Chinese new year, therefore, begins ut
a different date every year. This year it
commenced on Jan. % and will last until
Feb. 4. M
IN China it ID d royal season. All busi-
ness houses, except those which must be
kept open for the actual necessities Of the
people, are closed. The American boy who
thinks he has fun out of Christmas or New
Years or the Fourth of July does not know
what fun is if we may take the word Of our
esteemed friend BILLY Kay" Ths Chinese
in America likewise know how to preserve
thc traditions of the national holiday.
At midnight on Thursday, Chinatown
from the CITY hall beyond the limits of this
queer neighborhood was q blaze of shoot
ing tlre-craokers. oolored lights and fantas-
tic decorations before shops and in win
dows. Cinnamon in holiday garments,
were along This thorouRhfaro exchanging
hearty greetings and smiling over the good
things Of the past year and the promises of
the future. The swell fellows of the
distrlct wore new blouses of padded silks,
long flowing trousers and clean white socks
and new shoes. On each head was a close
\ fitting silk cap surmountea BY q tasael Of
red silk or more expensive coral, wound in
a close knot. The stores and houses were
brilliantly lighted and we'll cleaned. Tho
China women were quite as Interested in
the celebration as their brethern though
not so active in the outdoor festivities.
The fun commenced promptly at midnight
and lasted with hardly a rest until long
fnticued to continue the ceremonies. In
tho afternoon thu fre-cracker once more
was heard and in the evening the pro-
CRANE was resumed with tho same intensity.
It was the same last night and early this
morning. A few days of rest will follow
md on Thursday tho new years will close
with a great bang.
The citizens OF Helena, from the home-
less wanderer of the First ward to the roy
atty of west side swelldom, poured into
Chinatown to accept the hospitality of the
Celestial hosts. Those who did not make
themselves offensive were royalty received.
The Chinese merchants were specially hos
generous than the popular court inter
prefer, Billy Kay, OF the firms of Tong Eli
Il Co., His g~ood-natured face smiled a
welcome on all his friends, and all who
crossed his threshhold were impressed with
the courtesy Of this true Chinese gcntle.
man. He received his friends in d little
parlor in the rear of his store, and after a
cordial handshake they were invited to q
cup of tea. This was poured from a china
teapot enoased in q cosy" which outer
garment was necessary to preserve tho
heat. All who tasted the delionte flavor of
this pure brown liquid brewed from
never tasted tea before. A bottle
of fine old sherry was also waiting md for
the gentlemen there were imported cigars.
Each visitor left his or her card on tho
table, and after a parting exchange of
greetings, left with many kindly good
wishes for many happy new years.
Another hospitable houso was that Of Mr..
and Mrs. Tom Hing, or China Tom" He
ID the Chinese wit and man about town of
the CITY, n perhaps next TO the governor
aud mayor he il the most promineut figure
in Helena. A. popular cry, Lets go to
China TOMS house." met with q very
prompt response, and this host proved ono
Of the most hospitable in oil Chinatown.
structure. facing almost opposite the tailor
ing establishment of All Tow, who, by tho
way. is always ready to bet his money on
the election of Major Maginnis to any
office. A rap at tho door brought tho
happy face of China Tom to the thrash-
hold and over his shoulder Mrs. China Tom
smiled n Welcome. All who entered paid n
tribute TO her successful housekeeping. The
room was rs neat IA wax, from the
bright new paper on the wall
to the carefully blackened stovs.
The callers were first shown to
r table in the corner which filled all pur-
poses Of a sideboard. There was a bottle
of nged brandy, a dsmljohn Of fine old
whisky and several boxes of excellent
cigars. The visitors attention, however,