The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-09-02
FEEDING THE BEAD.
The Chinese of Atlanta Gather Around
Graves in WeStVicw.

Monday was the day made sacred by
the feasts OF souls among Chinese all over
the world. and was observed with all due
ceremony in every cline where there is
a subject of the Celestial empire.
IN China il is observed with great pomp
anu ceremony. especially among lie nohili-
", where the day is given over TO the feast
and thousands flock 10 the various ceme-
teries throughout the kingdom 10 81 ow all
honor and alteration to the gods
Notwithstanding the fact that the con-
uhSent OF the Celestial empire in Atlanta
Is quite large. those who observed the day
numbered just nine but tney made ID in
their intentness ia the sacred observance
for a larger attendance
ihe obs rvanc- OF the ceremonies last
Monday was held az Westview al o. m.
and by that time there WAS -oII .eted a
crowd of curious s;ghtseers vno had teen
attracted by the announcement of the cere-
monies
The crowd had swelIed to more than a
hundred by the time Two carriages follow
Ell by cab. wendell their way slow
~ over The hill pa the distance and. drew
near the gates of the cemetery.
IN the carriages were eight cinnamon,
ami another brought up the rear guarding
the precious yiands and whisky that We're
TO be the offerings 10 the powers IF Cark-
ness and the Weavers of the 'estiuics CT
lhe departed brctar-r who were iHtcsIe ed
In The tt'fb Terry ana nor 4t4lUit Ndipl-
ness they were 10 lc offered as ii means Of
Precipitation and an extension of good Will
Followed by the curious rhrong the car
riaces were driven over the beautiful sl' pes
and around winding roads until The Test
iuss places of Charley Joursou and IL Leon
We're reached. Here the party aiighted nom
the vehicles. and the WORK Of opening the
exercises began amid the merry antics Of
the Cinnamon in their seeming impression
thar the whole affair was huge joke.
= peculiar part Of the exercises was that
the offerings We're an set at the foot OF the
deceased. aad the menu offered Tor the de-
location Of the particular personal deity
whom they wished to honor was OF the
choicest Viauds so foudly cherished by the
Chinese
At the foot. on either side Of the grave.
were placed two small wax candles tf reu'
resembling very much miniature sky -2cK-
cts. between these were arranged three
Htue bowls filled with boiled rice OF siist-
euing whic-a-ss and bowl OF hard-polIed
eggs Tn the foreground were placed
punches Of incense used 10y the ceiestiais'
ana or the kind often seen in the sick room.
Three t:ny cups OF fragile ana heautIIai
design were arranged in q row III Iront OF
thc rice bowls. These cups were nlied WIN
whisky Nest came "a roasted fowl. a huge
piece or boiled pork three chopsteks and
then "A profgsi0u Of apples, pears and ba-
..aras. a package Of cigarettes for the
1.esta OF me goI was then placed in a con-
veuieut position.
All being placed. and the feast made
ready. each member Of the party. with
one exception. aUu-oachet the foot Of the
banquet te.ia. a-3 ar-er taking various
siens IF his utter uuworthiness TO par
take of The good things. took up one Of the
cups. ana. after surinklius its contents
about the faas-. ~e1Iled his cup. ID with
nnal ealaam made way FOR the ext. At
Irf
pi.e ef yarie0lored papers was set on fire.
AMI the party awaited its burning. This
was Done. one of them said. to se:.d up the
paper as clothing for the departed one when
he was ushertd into the happier world
and commuHcd with the gods