Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-11-28
CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS.
MoNCot IANs IN NEW YORK ARE FUN.
LOVING PEOPLE.


Always Joking and PLAYING Franks With
One Another.-AIl Of Them Are Very
Fond Of companionship.
The Chinese. writes Helen +. Clark
IN u Century article on ''The Chinese
of New York; are fun-loving people.
IN spite of their general air of indif-
ference In the presence of strangers.
They race up and down stairs. or some.
times through tie streets, OH a frolic.
every man laughing until he Is out of
breath, pulling cues, stealing hats and
playing all manner of practical jokes
Oh one another. recently heard u
great commotion In Doycrs street on a
hot Sunday afternoon, when the street
was crowded with Chinese, and, fearing
trouble, hurried hastily to the place.
only 10 iiinl one man the butt of an
other mans joke trying to get away
from his p,irsucr. willie about five hun
dred laughing men Joined in the fun.
and finally administered gOod-natiired
Justice to the perIctiltOr of the Joke.
At another time on Sunday afternoon
I heard a sudden cutlery and scuiilc
overhead, and the running of scores of
feet. ran into the hall. fearing that
the building was on fire, and with a
sickcning dread in my heart for the
Italian children in Bethany Sunday
school, which was then in session In
the Mission rooms. saw n man com.
ing down stairs. and asked him what
was the matter. Witrh a shrug of In
finite dlsd,lin. he rcmarked: "Oh. my
people too m,ichcc laugh" and passed
OH his way. 1t was only school-bOy
joke played by one group of men on
another, followed by n general melee,
In which shouts and laughter. and the
inctssant clattcr of wooden solcs on
board floors made us think of "pandc.
inoIium let loose"
Some Of the kccncst and purcst
hunor and some Of the witticst slllies
I have heard have fallen from the
lips Of Cinnamon In lower New York.
! we'll remember the amused AMI con-
tenptuOus look with which u China.
man once said. "Melican man snvee
(undcrs;andI Clrinamnn allie same mum.
cbr one fool. Chinaman savcc Nell.
can man alice same. Chinauian every
tim, gct,c top side Mclean man
which does not contain q reference to
pugilisnh. but merely means that In q
battle Of wits the Chinaman "sccs
through" the American man. AMI will
come out on the top side" They are
very quick at rcpartcc. and their black
eyes will sparkle with amusement and
fun II you Jest with them. or when they
start the hall rolling among themselves.
They dwell together for years in the
same apartments. happy and comfort.
able. They minister 10 one another In
sickness. bury relative or ncighbor
when dead without calling on public
CHARITIES for help. and In the case of u
relative assume the support of the fam.
lily Of the dead man when lie Is gone.
These pcOplc--ihcsc much dcried PEG.
pl"--spcnj hours together In one an.
| others apartments. convcrsing togcth.
| or. eating together. somcti lines smoking
the long water pipe. always with pot
| of sieaming tea between them. In two
years ! have seen thousands Of such
| gr0uis. but never yet have I found
these men drinking liquor together.
have found them playing gslmcs--some
times. hut MOI always. gambling: have
| found them playing their musical In.
strumcnts, which are harmonious to
them. however much they may lack Of
melody TO other sars: or have found
tlsam reading or discussing the last
Hong Kong or Shanghai daily: but |
repeat ! have never found them drink.
Ing liquor, or In any degree under the
Influence Of lntOAica
The Chlnaman celebrates his wed.
ding. not by % drunken carOusal. but
by the finest feast that his pocketboOk
can command. TO which not only his
immediate relatives are invited. but nj!
who have the slightest claim OF friend.
ship upon him. \ Chlnaman who was
recently married In Mott street gave
three large fcasts In rs many restau-
rants, entertaining several hundred
people mt each before he had gone the
round OF his acIuaintances and friends.
Yet this man was not one of the most
prosperous ones. \ child's birthday
Is likewise celebrated with u feast. the
wife entertaining her friends In tho
family home. while the husband on,
tcrlGins his friends ut his place Of bust