New-York tribune., 1896-11-29

the picture os sewing and cutting Cinnamon,
who work along silently hour after hour with
barely a grunt and without a sign OF expression
m their faces as they plod along at their task.
Chinatown is awake and up and doing later
IN the dav than any other part OF New YORK
II is 10 o'clock at least before the three streets
Of The little quarter are astir. and an hour later
before business gets fairly started in the estab-
ljshrnents OF the six great companies and their
fatalities The Chinese tailor has the same mode
~ NE Noon has come before the merchant
tailoring establishments OF the "Chinks are
weIl under way for the day and the hard driven
assistants are settled down TO their hours OF
,ou After that. however. there is no respite
The hours Of g. Z, & finds the machines going. the
cinnamon stitching. and the master tailor hard
at A. cutting. measuring, marking. planning
and using his big needle vigorously between
whiles taking stitches so small 80 1rm ana
v,h such speed that even the most expert
ssamstress I'm New-York would become Jealous
of him - she only knew. 1t IL not until the
hour OF midnight Is near that the work Is foioed
up and laid away. and masters and helpers seek
rsno.s nm a hunk Of hard wood in some dark
room at the back or perhaps even on the counter
Itself
Tailoring la Chinois Is a simple matter in
MANY yays COMPARED with that OF the Occi-
dental world The tailor Of Chinatown is little
troubled with questions Of ft and actual measure.
Wrinkles do not bother him at all; deft padding
there Is none: he is obliged 10 learn an exact
science Of cutting nor do the patterns vary from
wear 20 year Chinese garments are few ana
they are slmpe. IN cut there Is hardly the dif-
ference of pin. and the fashions that were In
vogue a thousand years ago are the dress OF TO-
dav Nor when a customer comes In. has ne 70
measure him precisely and acknowledgement
chest arms and legs
II is an Interesting sight. indeed. to see the
order for a custom suit Of clothes given ana the
Chinaman make his plans for a correct chinese
AZ" With his eye he takes the measure or MS
patron the grth of waist and the length or leg
and arm He inquiries particularly as 10 the III
In the neck He brings out his samples OF cio'h
and braid and the two chatter volubly togetner
While making a selection. That Is the entire
process What the tailor has to make for com
vlete outfit is an inner coat. an outer coat ana
the trousers-ln pigeon English, the "ptIahts
He has observed how near his customer comes 70
aeertain size. and the whole work now Is to take
4 suit Of that size out OF one OF his cupboards
and 10 measure off and cut the cloth chosen on
precisely the same dimensions
Both the inner coat and the outer coat hans
loosely from the shoulders almost In straigh'
line though there Is a slight shaping al 'he
waist The trousers are cut straight as Ole
and without any attempt at symmetry lhe'
are made considerably shorter than American Oh
European trousers, and instead OF being buttoneo
at the waist are secured by a narrow band OF
sash. with fringed ends. that the wearer ties
tightly. Under these garments the conservative
"Chink" wears absolutely no undercothmg
When the weather is cold he has a suit OF heavier
material. a Chinese-fet fabric Of fine quality
smooth and beautiful TO the touch. For house
wear the merchants and those that are fairly
Well-to-do. all above the rank Of the common