The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
DO THE CHINESE EYER YAWNs
The Pursuit OF knowledge ON tho Subject
In tho Interest OF Science.

In tho Interest OF Science.
A mar who is an observer of the ways Of the
Chinese In New York has told a Sun reporter
that no Chinese person ever gapes. or. to use a
better word, ever yawns. The reporter made
inquiry Of q Chinese laundryman who speaks
pigeon English, but could not get a satisfactory
answer to his questions on the subject. When
asked whether the Chinese ever yawn the
laundryman smiled. The reporter gave him
q practical illustration Of yawninR; the
laundryman smiled again. and moro broadly
than on the first occasion. The reporter then
gave him another illustration, pretending to be
very sleepy. and yawning once more to the best
OF his ability. The laundryman made q sign to
two Of his partners who were ironing shirts.
and all three OF them smiled. as though they
were pleased with the exhibition. To repeated
inquiries whether the Chinese ever INDUCED In
anything Of that kind, no satisfactory reply
could be obtained. though one Of the laundry
men nodded his head once while he smiled.
In order that tho question might be settled, in
the interest Of science the reporter next visited
the Chinese temple in Pell street and pursued
his researches under the image OF the great
dragon; but no one there was able to speak
English. and the man who sells joss sticks could
not be made, either by signs or by words, to I'M
derstand what was wanted. though the reporter
bought a bundle of the sticks. the smell OF the
Smoke ITOm WnlCH u saiu W hIiNo III tuo
1t was to a policeman who is often on night
duty In the Chinese quarter that the reporter
next applied for information. The policeman
said that for years he had noticed the Chinese
at late h ours OF the night, when they were sit
ting In front Of their abodes. or standing near
the lamp posts. or meandering through the
streets; b ut never, to the best OF his knowledge,
had he seen any OF them yawn. however weary
or sleepy no might be.
The search for information on the subject was
so discouraging that IL was abandoned for the
time. Yet, inAsmuch as the habit Of yawning
ia so widespread And so ancient, and inasmuch
as there arc animals that yawn when tired and
sleepy. the reporters curiosity to find out
whether the Chinese yawn was as keen RS ever.
midnight. that the reporter Unexpectedly be-
held q spectacle which brought relief TO his
was sitting in a corner seat Of the car a short,
s%hicG,sst black m man O who appeared 20
OF the car we're three Chinese sitting
together. wearing an expression OF mol.
between tho Thirty third street station and tho
next up station, when the reporter observed
bent forward, straightened up, threw his head
In a backward direction, and yawned,
SSS Ssn Of PSsGi s ssS. on The The tfFss Ghln SsPt
The black passenger had hardly shut his
mouth ghsn The iso, Chinese h p sitting opposite snsos 70
their mouths, and yawned. Their yawn was
not OF the size OF the black passengers yawni
but, beyond any question, II was q thing of the
same nature, produced by the same cause, and
indicative OF the same physical condition, or, in
other words, the condition OF sleeptness.
The question was settled at last, the chinese
possess the power OF yawninR.
There may be a doubt whether the Chinese
passengers would have yawned II the black man
In front Of them had not yawned; and II may
be QUESTIONED whether the Chinese had ever
yaWned before or will ever yRwn again. But II
must be said that their yawn had a natural
look, which would go far 20, prove that theV
had pos essed the yRwning habit for a lifetime,
and that they we're merely led TO Indulge in IL
on the elevated train by the example which the
black passenger had set for them.