The Louisiana populist., 1897-01-01
CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS,
MONCOllANS IN NEW YORK ARE FUN.
LOVING PEOPLE.

MoNGolIANs IN NEW YORK ARE FUN.
LOVING PEOPLE.
Always Joking and PLAYING Franks With
One snother...AIl of Them Are Very
Fond )! companonship.
The Chinese. writes Helen +. Clark
IL a Century article Oh 'The Chinese
Of New York; are 4 fuEloying peeps,
in spite of their general air OF indlf-
ference in the presence Of strangers.
They race up ana down stairs. or some
times through the streets, on Il frolic.
every man laughing until he is out OF
breath, pulling cues, stealing hats ara
playing all manner OF practical jokes
OH one another recently heard Il
great commotion in Doycrs stret on Il
hot Sunday afternoon. when the street
was crowded With Chinese. and, fearing
trouble, hurried hastily to the place,
only to lind 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 to the perpetrator Of the joke.
AT another time on Sunday AFTERNOON
l heard sudden outcry and Scufhe
overhead. and the running OF scores OF
feet | ran into the hall, fearing that
the building was on fire, and with 4
sickening dread in my heart for the
Italian children in Bethany Sunday
school, which was then in session III
the Mission rooms. l saw man COM
ing down stairs. and asked him what
was the matter. Witrh shrug Of in
finite disdain, he remarked: "Oh, my
people too muchee laugh" and passed
OH his way. 1t was only school-boy
joke played by one group Of men on
another, followed by a general melee,
in which shouts and laughter, and the
incessant clatter Of wooden sOles on
board floors made us think Of ''pande-
monium let loose"
Some Of the keenest and purest
hum0r and some OF the wittiest sallies
l have heard have fallen from the
lips of Cinnamon in lower New York.
| we'll remember the amused and con-
temptuous look with which China
man once said. "Melican man savee
(understand) Chinaman ale same mum.
ebr one fool. Chinaman savee Nell.
can man alice same. Chinaman every
time gette top side Mclean man.
which does not contain a reference to
pugilism. 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
very quick at repaGtee, and their black
eyes will sparkle with amusement and
fun If 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 II
sickness, bury relative or neighbol
when dead without calling on public
charities for help. and in the case OF q
relative assume lie support of the fam
lily Of the dead man when he is gone
These people--lhese much deriletl peo'
ple--spend hours together in one an
| others apartments, conyersing toseth
er. eating together, sometimes smoking
the long water pipe, always with poi
| Of steaming tea between them. In twt
years have seen thousands Of such
groups, but never yet have l found
these men drinking liquor together.
have found them playing games--some
times, but not always, gambling; have
found them playing their musical in'
struments, which arc harmonious to
them, however much they may lack OF
melody to other sars; or have found
them reading or discussing the last
Hong Kong OF Shanghai daily; but
repeat | have never found them drink.
ing Liquor, or in any degree under the
influence OF intoSicants,
The Cbinaman celebrates his we'd
ding. hot by drunken carousal, hut
| by the finest feast that his pocketbook
can command. to which not only bis
immediate relatives are invited. but al
who have the slightest claim of friend
ship upon him. a Cbinaman who was
recently married in Mott street gave
three large feasts in as many restau.
rants, entertaining several hundred
people at each before he had gone the
round Of his acquaintance and friends.
Yet this man was not one OF the mos;
prosperous dnes. IA child's birthday
is likewise celebrated with a feast, the
wife entertaining her friends in the
family home; while the husband en-
tertains his friends at his place Of bust