The morning call., 1893-02-16

the house, best clothes were hauled out
from under the shelves Oh which the wear
ers slept and neighboTs stuck their heads in
through windows or cracks in the wall and
exchanged joyous greetings.
Same to you and many Of them" replied
the beaming sons OF COnfucius in Courteous
accents, after which they set of more ex-
piosives.
Shortly before midnight the roll and rattle
OF the crackers in various streets and alleys
proclaimed the approaching dawn OF an
other year The conclusions uneaTthed
odors that had lain dormant for months and
as they fOated out on the atmosphere the
merry makers shrieked with delight
At Y o'clock came the grand crash that
lighted up the heavens and Uttered the
earth with the fuzzy red wrecks OF the
crackers. Great clouds of powder smoke
obscured the lights and the smell Of burn
ing paper filled the air. The riot was on.
After the first grand burst the good people
who were sorry for the past and wished TO
mend their ways moved in the direction of
the temples with their offerings.
few bombs had been let off as a guaran-
tee Of good faith on the steps of the temples
and IN the railways. when were plastered
with New Years greetings printed in plain
crimson. Inside the gods beamed gTaciOuSly
between two Furnished lows of impossible
battle-aXes, while the g0d-tendeTs stood by
to pilot the penitents 10 the altar with their
Ions.
Sum Fuss, a true heather and a firm be-
lever in devils, celebrated the New Year
with great eelat and in a manner BETTING
his station In life. His observance Of the
day made the eyes Of the other pagans stick
out With envy and surprise. There are no
insects on Mr.. Fuss when 1t comes to cast
ing cut devils in true orthodox style, and he
knows it, too.
First, he hired a man to scrub the store,
regild the sign over the door and decorate it
with a red rag trimmed with rOsettes of the
same hue. Next he bought new tOpknot
for his little round cap. mandarin orange,
a sailed fish with lusteTess eyes, some Chi
nese sinkers or doughnuts, after which be
killed duck that was then baked and
boiled In oil.
Mr.. Fuss then overcame the natural
scruples Of his race on a delicate point He
took his annual bath in ammonia water,
had his fngernails polished, and then, like
the lamented McGinty, he dressed up In
bic best suit of clothes. In 1t be looked
like bit Of autumn landscape minus the
harmony with which nature paints her
gems.
Sum Fuss in holiday garb was what might
tTuthfully be termed a loo-loo In every
sense of the term.
He had on pair Of new lilac silk trousers
deliberately figured and tied at the ankles
like the mouths OF meal-sacks. His quilted
top blouse was Of Prussian blue with or
ange fscings and large, roomy sleeves that
hung down to his knees.
This Gorgeous rig was topped of with
pea-green cap with a gold band and a
freshly creased queue entertwined with
scarlet braid. MIR. Fuss was in the pink Of
condition. but before setting off for the
temple he contributed his share to the gen.
eTal racket
From the balcony in front Of the store be
rugged pole, to the outer end of which
Cd q ~ IF u,
feet long.
The string. consisted of cannon sized
festival crackers, altern ated every foot or
so with bombs. With the little snappers
the devil was routed from his lair and the
fearful roar of the bombs greatly acceI-
Grated his stampede to the unknown whittier
ward. When satisfied that he had cleared
track for himself TO the temple Mr.. Fuss
took up his platter Of god food and jour
neyed forth.
His offering consisted of one duck. pale
but beautiful IN death, pork tendeTloin
boiled and rib roast culled from another
hog. Placing this cold SNACK before his
fayOrite god and bidding him eat, the pagan
purchased large bundle of punk sticks.
Lighting one end of his bundle of punks,
Mr.. Fuss made salaam and dropped to
his prayer bones on mosaic mat, while the
band played independent airs.
Then he arose much refreshed in spirit
and distributed his punks in beautiful brass
eensers, wherein sandalweod AMI more
punks were burning In the sand. As he
did this man concealed behind the god ham,
mered on a gong, the orchestra caught its
second wind and MIR. Fuss, after having his
fortune told for two bits, made another
salaam and fell back for the next pagan.
Having thus erf0rmed a duty he owed
TO himself, Mr.. Fuss withdrew to his resi-
dence and more explosions took place.
He also drank tea and gin and ate things
With reckless Indifference TO fate. Devils
had no teTrOrs for him as he watched the
lilies bloom and lighted The sacred punk
with hierOglyphics on il. He had squared
things with his god and Queered the devil
SO what more could he wish for.
Along toward daylight the riot lulled, but
Mr. Fuss still had other matter to occupy
him for several days. He has his new
years calls TO make. mostly at those
places where they have plenty to eat and
drink.
In making the calls he takes his family
along The little pagans are logged out In
lavender silk and sky-blue caps, for Mr..
Fuss is proud OF his progeny and fond OF
display.
Those who are big enough to walk toddle
along in front of their glitteriBg parent,
while be carries the late arrival In his
arms. Loaded down with infants and red
VisitiDg-cards longer than porous .plasters,
be makes his rounds. eating, smoking and
drinking. telling funny stories. singing
Songs aud passing the compliments OF the
dav.
When il is time to contribute more noise,
Mr.. Fuss touches off the rest Of his bombs.
and the panic continues with undated yio-