The Arizona sentinel., 1897-10-23
TALKS OF THINGS SINCALIFORNIA,
MOngOlians in the Every Day Walks
 of Life.

And now 1 must tell the reader!
 of the SENTINEL something abou
 the Chinese in California. They
 are to be seen on every hand. w,
 did not pass through single towr
 that there were not dozens, perhaps
 hundreds of celestials somewhere
 in sight. It is indeed funny to see
 them "cut up" during their holiday
 season. Work is entirely suspend
 ed. They think it a sin to labor
 during their new year season, They
 make great preparations for this
 event, and the principal point-with
 them seems to make as big a noise
 as possible. Two or three weeks
 before this event take place they
 are making preparations. The
 laborers ask for & 'lay-off," the drivers of vegetable wagons, and
 there are many of them, arrange
 with their customers to procure their vegetables elsewhere, or else
 lay in supply sufficient to tide them over the holidy season, and then they make preparations to enjoy the event to the fullest ex- tent. Their houses are put in order for once, and their yards picked up and swept and every man, woman and child dons their finest gar ments. They are ready for the jubilee, and the celebration begins! The day is opened by making calls. And one of the strange things is you never see Chinese woman calling. formed an acquaintance with 8 Chinese interpreter a short time before the China New Year and on February 1st the opening day, I called upon the gentlemen explaining to him that I was anxi- ous to know how they celebrated the event and if he had no objection I would be pleased to sit in his office awhile. He raised no protest and l watched the antics of a dozen or more callers who came to pay their respects. They were dressed in loose fitting pants, blouse-like coat, wore small black or blue caps with button or tassel for an orna- ment, and their feet were encased in felt mocasSins. Their queues reached the floor. Each person was shaved closely. In fact never noticed but one Chinaman of all the thousands whom I saw, that wore beard.
 1 was given chair near the door and had not long to wait before my was gratified. Two mid dle-aged men knocked. A servant opened the door the two were ushered in. They were welcomed most royalty, the host raising hIs closed hands before him and bow ing three or four time very low, bringing his hands down in front of his head. The courtesying met with ready response from the visit ors. Tea was then served Tn very small cups, and was drank without milk or sugar. During this cere- mony all the participants engaged in a spirited conversation, and danced about the room laughing and jabbering enthusiastically. The cali did not last more than five minutes. Upon retiring both host and guests bowed and smiled and courtesyed but never did they once touch hands. The Chinese never shake hands and are total strangers to kissing. Before departing each guest was presented with some simple gilt Others came and the same performance was repeated Upon departing innumerable gifts such as Chinese candies, nuts, punk and fire crackers were showered upon me. In fact I had my arms full and hardly knew how I would carry them. Much of the Chinese candy is fruit and nuts and sliced cocoanut boiled in syrup. It seems to be contaminated with smoke. The Chinese are habitual smokers. They are always st 1t and their stores and offices are permeated with the foul Odor.
 There are said to Ee 50,O00 Chinese in San Francisco, 2,500 of whom