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


against one Of their own families.
Every thing IN the Joss houses We VS.
tied Is sad 10 have been imported from
SnlDa.
We were next plotted into high
toned Chinese restaurant The nrst
fioor is devoted 20 the sale OF cigars, TO-
oacc0 aud trinkets and to the general
business office. The second floor e tor
seeond-ciass customers, while tue tnifd
floor Is furnished with elaborate aud
costly furniture and fixtures. Here
their nrst-class customers are served,
anu beng accorded tnst Distinguished
honor, We drank the tea breweG IA
81 paTate cups, from which ii ls poured
into smaller te2cups. the leaves being
kept back by small saucer held Ia
the top OF small brewing cup. With
the tea, cake, sAlted almond meats
and variety of preserved Chinese
fruits were served, and the charge 10
each person Was 25 cents.
We next entered store where 1--we
fowls are kept and sold. Here We
found large boxes fastened 10 the cell
ing, which were used as sleeping places
by toe families aud employees. Al the
next place In our line of march We
found a family 4-cping fruit stand
on the sidewalk, living and eating IN q
little stall and sleeping IN a box las
tened to the front OF the building under
the awning aud over their fruit stand.
A dozen Cinnamon can live IL apparent
comfort In the same space required by
q single American working man for MS
bedroom alone. They are shelved ~
to sections, two aud three tiers, one
above the other, and deep enough for
the slight Chinamans TO slide In.
Always Clearly Dressed.
notwithstanding all inconvenience
III these close, sutfocating quarters,
which are located from the roof Of the
house t. Two and three stories beneath
comes out clearly dressed, when one
would naturally suppose from one
visit that ne would sleep the sleep Of
death at the end of the night, and be
hauled out dead lump in the shape
Of q mummy.
'Let all keep together near the front
look sharp" cried out the guide as he
stood on the steps of q narrow and
dangerous passage-way leading into q
A
the dim light of kerosene lamp.
"Are YOU all hereg' take care of
yourselves. Do not lean against the
walls If you do not wish 20 rum your
Clothes"
"Now see that you keep in line, keep
close up to each other" sung out the
guide, as he led the way into the
depths of silent darkness below. The
passage way is scarcely wide enough
| for even An ordinarily fat man TO pass
| through. The numerous beams and
| doorways at frequent turning points
were 80 low down that heads must be
bowed in humble submisslsn to our
surroundings with sights unknown and
| unseen yet to come.
Cinnamon preparing their Opiums
| and filling their pipes for a quleting,
peaceful smoke, which shall lull them
| to sleep for the balance of the night.
At one point We halted for q moment.
| Here several passages led out from a
small room, and the guide was anxious
| to know that none of the party had
been lost or gone astray. We counted
up and found that q number of
strangers not belonging to our party
had followed US closely. Our guide
| AOt oCCu Wv Jul htCh AL VIC
! rear noticed them and boone sus-
| intentions.
| Made . Suggestion.
He suggested that it would be more
agreeable to US il they would take
some other route, and realizing tina,
they were suspected and watched they
disappeared out of sight. Moving along
into little room under the sidewalk
we found q Chinese woman with q
little girl about seven years OF
age, who at the request of the
guide, sung IN q trembling little voice
"Nearer My God to Thee" q number
of juvenile songs in English, anc
closing with a Chinese song. W.
were Informed that the child
was under instruction in one Of
the mission schoole IN San Fran
CISCO, and tribute was offered. Re
Stunning our march through narrow
passa ges and over narrow stairways
we passed kitchen in which consoli
dated cooking was in progress. We en-
tered a Chinese theater, where W,
found a midnight supper in course Of
preparation for the employees. Thu
was a sight worth seeing. Moving on
We came to the stage of the theater, Z
rough, barn-like place. Here meI
were at work making elaborate cos
tunes to be worn by the actors durinl
the new play season. The theater it
self was but dlmly lighted, but WI
could see that it was a large, sQuar,
room. without decorations. The p
was filled with benches. while aionl
the side were narrow galleries for tn,
women, who ara never allowed to Ell
with the men.
Moving on again through more mar
row passages, deep down under TIT
theater, then climbing up again, W
came TO the street. We made turl
and soon came iuto an alley abou
twenty feet wide, which was fairl,
swarming with Cinnamon. Anothe
turn brought US into Chinese iodginI
house.
A Cheap Lodging House.
We passed into an open court reek
ing with filth. After the guides CIV
ing US graphic description and
brds-eve view Of the past midnigh
surroundings, we passed on, crossln
the court. We were ushered into {
room not over 10 by II feet IN SIZE
with the ceiling very low, IN which
dozen men were smoking opium an'
sleeping. We were told that this wa
the regular lodging place of twenty
two men during the winter. the bunk
a