The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-13

er these streets might as we'll be located
in Peking, so little does he know of them.
Scarcely are their names familiar.
But since Ii Hung Chang landed here
with whistle of steamer this cannot be
truthfully said of all New York. Thou
sands have taken the Bowery cars, ahght.
ed at Pell street and stood upon the cor
ner looking narrowly up its winding way
Soon policeman is spied. "Can you get
us guide through Chinatown" you ask
The officer, without speaking, beckons
to an understood man who has been stand
ing under a lamppost watching you since
the minute you left the cars. He is a
short, stout fellow, an American you
would say, we'll posted on everything, well
spoken--a type of the Bowery. He makes
his living showing people through China
town. Without him you would see Moth
ing but the outside of the low-stooped
tall-storied tenements, but with him there
is an "Open Sesame"
The guide wants S12 for night in Chi
natown when Ii Hung Chang is in
town" You argue with him that Chang
has gone
poN Oil CHINATOWN Is Ell 1dIe, ne tells
you. THE candles are burning The blood
less feasts are upon the table, and the
roast pork, fatted in China on nuts and
herps, is being drawn from the oven.
Nevertheless he will escort you to all these
glories for IS. You agree, pay him 81 in
advance and start off.
All who visit Chinatown have two
places in mind, the Joss House and the
opium dens. The one is wide open to ev-
erybody. The other is tight shut-to near
ly everybody. But the guide is one of the
exceptions.
The Joss House, he explains. as you
reach Mott street and enter one of the
first buildings, is now decorated for the
guest Nothing will be changed until he
leaves the country.
You pass up a stairway and enter a
square room with a platform at one end
Here sits the image Of goss and along each
side of the room are other "haythen." The
room is hung with tapestries so beautiful
that you step up to admire them They are
the fete apestries-wonderful stuffs en-
broidered in gold and silver, in precious
threads and on finest CLOTH There are no
chairs in the room and you are sorry, for
the incense is burning and hundreds of
small, dark sticks send their smoke into
the air, sweet and suffocating. Incense al
ways burns here, but to-day the air is
heavy with sacred Oil as a lilac grove
nauSeatlng In its sweetness
The Orientals" said the guide, regard
this visit of Ia Hung Chang as a message
from their gods and ancestors There
has been stigma in China upon any
family that allowed its sons to come to
America or go to any foreign country. For
this reason the Chinese have taken false
names as soon as they arrived in San
Francisco. But this visit of their most
honored statesman, Ii Hung Chang. AL
ters II all. They consider themselves rein
stated in public esteem. and when they 20
home wealthy as all do in ten years. thew
will be received as honored travellers who
have met with good fortune abroad"
While the guide was speaking China
men were entering the room kneeling in
front of the images, where they remain
ed mouonless In prayer. There are wor-
shippers now in the Joss House" said the
guide, because the trade in Chinese
goods has been greatly stimulated since
Ii Hung Chang's arrival, and the Chin
amen come here to thank the gods.
Chinaman never goes to church when he
is out OF work. He has nothing to he
thankful for. He puts in all his time look
ing for employment. But AS soon as he
gets work he comes TO the Joss House and
praye. Since the increase Of trade in
small Chinese goods the Joss House has
never been without worshippers. These
lights, this heavy incense. and the fruits
you see laid at the foot Of the idols tes-