Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-12-03

out Of breath, pulling cues, stealing
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
500 laughing men joined in the
fun, and finally administered good-na-
tured justice to the perpetrator Of the
Joke. At another time on Sunday
afternoon heard a sudden cutlery and
scuffle overhead, and the running Of
scores Of feet. ran into the hall,
fearing that the building was on fire,
and with sickening dread at my heart
for the Italian children in Bethany
Sunday school, which was then in ses-
sion in the Mission rooms. / saw a
man coming downstairs, and asked him
what was the matter. With a shrug Of
lRfinite disdain, he remarked: "0h,
my people to muchee laugh" and
passed on his way. 1t was only a
school-boy joke played by one group
Of men on another, followed by gem
eral melee, in which shouts and laugh
ter, and the incessant chatter 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 sallies
I have heard have fallen from the lips
Of Cinnamon in lower New York. we'll
remember the amused and contemp-
tuous look with which a Chinaman
once said; "Melican man savee (under-
stand Chinaman alice same number
one fool. Chinaman savee Mclean
man alice same. Chinaman every time
gettee top side Mclean man"-which
does not contain q reference to pugil-
ism, but merely means that in battle
Of wits the Chinaman "sees through"
the American man, and will come out
on the top side" They are quick at
repartee, and their black eyes will
sparkle with amusement and fun IL you
Jest with them, or when they start the
ball rolling among themselves.
They dwell together for years in the
same apartments, happy and comfort
able. 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 a
relative assume the support of the fam
lily Of the dead man when he Is gone.
These people-these much derided peo-
ple-spend hours together in one an
others apartments, conversing to-
gether, eating together, sometimes
smoking the long water-pipe, always
with pot Of steaming tea between
them. In two years have seen thou
sands Of such groups, but never yet
have 1 found these men drinking
liquor together. 1 have found them
playing games-sometimes, but not al
ways, gambling; have found them
playing their musical instruments,
which are harmonious to them, how
ever much they may lack of melody to
other ears; or have found them read
ing 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
intoxicants.
The Chinaman celebrates his we'd
ding, not by drunken carousal, but by
the finest feast that his pocket book
can command, to which not only his
immediate relatives are invited, but all
who have the slightest claim of friend
ship upon him. A Chinaman who was
recently married in Mott street gave
three large feasts in as many restaur-
ants, entertaining several hundred peo-
pie 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 celebrated with a feast, the
wife entertaining her friends in the
family home, while her husband enter
tains his friends at his place Of bust