The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-03
CHINESE CHARACTERISED
MOngOlinns in New York Fun-LOv-
ing People.

The Chinese are a fun-loving people. in
spite of their general aid of Indifference in
the presence of strangers. They race up
and down stairs, or sometimes through the
streets. frolic, every man laughing
until he is out of breath, pulling cues, steal
ing hats and playing all manner of practi-
cal jokes on one another. recently heard
great commotion in Doyers street on
hot Sunday afternoon. when the street was
crowded with Cinnamon, and. fearing
trouble, hurried hastily to the place, only
to find one man the butt of another mans
joke, trying to get away from his pursuer,
while about five hundred laughing men
Joined in the fun. and finally administered
good-natured justice to the perpetrator OF
the joke. AT another time on Sunday after
noon l heard a sudden outcry and scufie
overhead. and the running of scores OF
feet. | ran into the hall, fearing that the
building was on fire. and with a sickening
dread at my heart for the Italian children
in Bethany Sunday school, which was then
in session in the mission rooms. | saw
man coming down stairs, and asked him
what was the matter. With a shrug of in
finite disdain he remarked: "Oh, my people
too muchee laugh, and passed on his
way. 1t was only a school-boy joke played
by one group of men on another. followed
by general melee, in which shouts and
laughter, and the inceSSant clatter of
wooden soles on board floors. made us think
of "pandemonium let loose.
Some of the keenest and purest humor
and some Of the wittiest salles / have
heard have fallen from the lips OF China
men in lower New York. / well remember
which a Chinaman once said. Mclean
man savee understand) Chinaman allie
same number one fool. Chinaman savee
Mclean man alice same Chinaman every
time gette top side Mclean man'-which
does not contain a reference TO pugilism
but merely means that in battle of wits
the Chinaman sees through" the Ameri-
can man. and will come out on the top
side" They are very quick at repartee, and
their black eyes will sparkle with amuse-
ment and fun If you jest with them, or
when they start the ball rolling among
themselves.
apartments, happy and comfortable. They
minister TO one another in sickness, bury a
relative or neighbor when dead without
calling on public charities for help, and in
the case of q relative assume the support
OF the family of the dead man when he is
gone. These people-these much derided
people-spend hours together in one anoth-
ers apartments, conversing together. eat
ing together, sometimes smoking the long
water pipe always with a pot CT steam
Ing tea between them. In two years / have
seen thousands of such groups but never
yet have l found these men drinking liquor
together / have found them playing games
have found them playing their musical in
struments, which are harmonious to them,
however much they may lack of melody to
other ears: or have found them reading or
discussing the last Hong Kong or Shanghai
daily; but repeat have never found them
drinking liquor, or in any degree under the
influence OF lntoXicantS.
The Chinaman celebrates his wedding
not by a drunken carousal but by the fin,
est feats that his pocketbook can command
to which not only his immediate relatives
are invited. but all who have the slightest
claim of friendship upon him. a Chinaman
who was recently married in Mott street
gave three large feaStS in as many restau-
rants. entertaining several hundred people
at each before he had gone the round of
his acquaintance and friends. Yet this man
was not one OF the most prosperous ones
A child's birthday is likewise celebrat ted
with a feast, the wife entertaining her
friends in the family home while her hus-
band entertains his friends at his place OF
business or In a public restaurant.