Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-26
AMERICAS GREAT
CHINESE COLONY.
4 GLIMPSE At CELESTIAL LIFE IN CHINA
TOWN." SAN FRANCISCO.
Where all American Customs are lgnorsd-War
News the Absorbing Topic-A AongoIians
Idea Of Ihe,rieals, and Tea at so Cents Cup.
The Belle Of OhinaOwn-Wh'rs the Chinese
Women Lye-Cusioms Of Chinatown.

There is no place In the United States
where q more lively interest is being
taken in the Japan-China war than In
"Chinstowu, San Francisco,
This colony contains more Cinnamon
than are gathered together az any other
one place ia the United States, and the
fact that a number OF them have learned
the English language sufficiently 10 read
OF the development OF China's war 10
the daily press only serves TO intens-
ify the interest taken in the affair by
the MongOisns in that city. Every
scrap OF news is eagerly sought by the
Ceiestials and disseminated amid great
excitement. For the benefit OF those
Cinnamon unable TO read English
public reading rooms have been opened
In different quarters Of the colony,
where, for a small admittance fee, an
interpreter reads aloud tho war reports
sulished In all the San Francisco datlles
interpreting them into CSinese as he
reads. These rooms are crowded from
the time the first morning papers are
out until late al night. after the read
ing of each dispatch general discus
sion takes place In which all the China
men join. Many are in favor Of going
back to China and taking hand In the
fight should they be called upon. Ia
fact, late mysterious movements Ia the
colony lead 10 the belief that the Celes-
tials are in earnest ia this respect.
They also favor the idea OF raising
funds to be sent TO China, even II they
remain here.
All this is being done IN tho same
solemn way that characterIZes this
most remarkable colony, where all
American customs are abandoned, and
where the Celestias live as they do in
their native provinces.
chinatown" is a district covering
about three square miles. Instead OF
an occasional Chinese laundry, this Sec
ton is crowded with busy Mongolians.
II contains no American citizens aud
but few modern conVeniences. All
the streets and housetops are decorated
with hanglngs and lanterns, and Eng
lish is rarely II ever spoken within It's
limits.
1t possesses many features at once
unique and exclusively It's own, which,
TO visitor exploring this section, are
so strange that while witnessing them
IL Is hard for him to believe that be is
still la one Of Americas foremost cities.
Chief among these strange places IS the
Chinese theatre, which starts In at full
blast every midnight. For heathenish-
ness, prlmitiveness and ahsurdity, 10 has
not au equal In this couatry, II, In fact,
in the world.
To one attending a performance, the
first example OF Chinese passIyity in the
presence OF white men is presented by
the ticket taker, who admits them free,
positively fearing TO ask an admittauce
fee.
The house is always packed and to
the amazement Of the visitor aud utterly
regardless Of the performance or the
feelings OF the audience. Mongos
every few minutes run up short
fight Of steps and step on the stage.
The actors aud the audience are ac-
customed TO such intrnsIons, and the
performance keeps right on as usual.
The play is usually on a historical sub
ject, and staged In the rudest fashion.
For example, a bridge over river on
which besieRing army IS 10 cross Is
represented By broad plank resting
on couple OF wooden horses 10 the
middle Of the stage. The army con-
sists OF single Chinaman. in more or
less military array. IL is extremely
ridiculous TO an American, but the
audience take II solemnly.
The orchestra is always seated on the
stage and consists of q Chinese fiddle
and two wooden drums, which Keep mp
an incesssnt aud unearthly din. The
actors either chatter IN high falsetto
or chant In a dull monotone. Every
few minutes some one on the stage
shifts his position by one Of those baby
step runs used by the Three Little
Maids In THE Miksdo."
Directly over the centre Of the stage
is the private box used by the proprie.
tor Of the theatre and his distinguished
guests, and Is always filed by the arls-
tocrats Of Chinatown. Walters, bear
ina trays laden with Chinese fruits,
candles, nuts and cigarettes, run about
the house continuously during the per-
Torrance. The audience, made up OF
men exclusively, sit with their hats on
and continuously smoke.
After witnessing the performance FOR
a short time. all the Mongollans who
feel 40 inclined 20 upon the stage, be-
bind the scenes, and into the dressing
rooms Of Ihe actors. Here they enjoy
the privilege OF behoding the actors
change their costumes, put on their
makeup. aud lounge between the
wsits all Of which they do quite re.
gardiess OF the intrusion. There are no
females among the actors. The Chi.
nee 90 not approve Of women on the
sage. The feminine voice and carriage
IRE initiated so well bY nen trained
from ooyhood that stranger would
never suspect their sex.
After the heat and the crowd OF the
theatre, the reporter songh, the Drlnei.
pal restaurant Of Chinatown. which sc.
c0rding 10 the Chinese idea. is a nerfac,
bower OF beauty. The general tome ~
the interior is DELICATE creamy gree,
Chinese fans aud lanterns are snsnend.
ed from the walls aud ceilings. Upya
vases, ornamented with strange A.
vices, stand here ana there. in.er-
spersed with attractive flower pots
Inc reporter seated himself ata bean
tiful black ebony table. the top eIaho-
rately inlaid with mother Of pearl
Celestial Dicturssqusly attired gIidas
silently Ia and serves You in dsin,v
shell-like cups with the most exonisi,a
tea imaginable. /, sparkles ike LIQUID
gold aud tastes Ike the nectar OF tho
gods. To sit az ebony tables drinking