Crawford avalanche., 1896-11-19
CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS.
oNcoLIANs IN NEW YORK ARE FUN.
LOVING PEOPLE.

ASvtNA VGSTIIs
Always Joking and Playing Franks With
One Anothsr---AIl Of Them Are Very
Fond Of companionship.
The Chinese, writes Helen II. Clark
ln Century article on ''rhe Chinese
OF New York'D are fun-loving people.
Iu spite OF their general air of indif-
ference In the presence OF strangers.
They race up and down stairs, or some-
times through the streets. on frolic,
every man laughing until he is out of
breath, pulling cues, stealing hats and
playing all manner OF practical jokes
oh one another. recently heard
great conmotion in Doyers street on Il
hot Sunday afternoon. when the street
was crowded with Chinese, and, fearing
trouble, hurried hastily to the place,
only TO find one man the butt OF an
other mans joke trying TO get away
from his pursuer, while about five hun
dred laughing men joined In the fun,
and finally administered good-natured
Justice 10 the perpetrator of the joke.
AT another time on Sunday afternoon
l heard Il sudden outcry and scuffle
overhead, and the running of scores OF
feet. l ran into the hall, fearing that
the building was on fire, and with a
sickening dread in my heart for the
Italian children in Bethany Sunday
school, which was then in session in
the Mission rooms. i saw man COM
ing down stairs, and asked him what
was tile matter. Witrh a shrug of in
finite disdain, he remarked: "Oh, my
people too muchee laugh" and passed
on his way. 1t was only school-boy
joke played by one group of men on
another, followed by n general melee,
in which shouts and laughter, and the
incessant clatter OF wooden soles on
board floors made us think OF ''pande-
iaoIium let locsc.''
Some of the keenest and purest
humor and some of the wittiest sallies
have heard have fallen from the
lips OF Cinnamon in lower New York.
l we'll remember the amused and con-
temptuous look with which China
man once said. "NIelican nTn savee
(understand) Chinaman allie same num-
ebr one fool. Chinaman savee Meli-
can man alice same. Chinaman every
time gette top side Mclean man
which does not contain reference TO
pusilism, burt merely means that in a
battle Of wits the Chinaman 'sees
through" the American man, and will
come out on the top side" They are
very 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 relative or neighbor
when dead without calling on public
charities for help, and in the case of n
relative assume the support of the fam
lily of the dead man when he Is gone.
These people--thesc much dcrided peo-
plc--spend hours together in one an
others apartments, conversing togeth
or. eating together, sometimes smoking
the long water pipe, always with a pot
OF steaming tea between them. In two
years l have seen thousands of such
groups, but never yet have / found
these men drinking liquor together.
have found them playing games-some-
times, but no, always. gambling; have
found them playing their musical in
striiments, which are harmonious to
them. however much they may lack OF
melody To- other sars; or have found
tsem reading or discussing the last
Hong Kong or Shanghai daily; but l
repeat have never found them drink
ing liquor, or in any degree under the
influence Of intoxicants
The Chnaman celebrates his we'd
ding, not by drunken carousal, but
lDy the finest feast that his pocketbook
can command. 10 which not only his
Immediate relatives are invited. but al,
who have the slightest claim OF friend
ship upon him. \ ChinIman who was
recently married in Mott street gave
three large feasts i'm as many restau-
RANTS, entertaining lseveIal hundred
people Mt each before he had gone the
round of his acq,,aintances and friends.
Yet this man was not one of the most
prosperous ones. 4 child's birthday
is likewise celebrated with feast, the
wife entertaining her friends in the
family home. while the husband en-
tertains his friends at his place Of bust
ness OF in a public restaurant.