The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-06-04
Some Queer Chinese Customs.

Some interesting facts concerning the
life and customs of the Chinese, as they
live in their communities in Southern Cal
ifornia, are told by Miss M. c. Ponder IN
a Southern newspaper. The Chinese, as
they live in their towns in the northern
portions of Los Angeles especially, are
truly living parasites. They take all they
can get, buy little, and leave nothing. As
a race, they are low, cringing, Ignorant
people, although industrious in numerous
branches of remunerative labor. Although
there are nearly 5000 Chinese in Los An
geles. they rarely mix with the whites OF
the city, and when seen about the streets
they seem to shrink away, and to feel
that they belong to lower order of ere
alton than the human being. When their
own interests are concerned, they are IN
dustrious to the backbone, often working
day and night, Sunday and weekday, to
accomplish their desire. The sole ambl-
ton and fondest hope of their life is to
save up enough money to so back to China
and buy themselves wife, often paying
hundreds of dollars in American money
for her. Perhaps they have chosen her
before coming to this country, and, again,
perhaps some friend or far-of relative has
done so for him, and makes him aware of
the fact, and thereupon he begins to save
up enough money to buy her when he goes
home again.
We usually think Of the Chinese as
laundrymen only but that is far from the
case where they dwell The men garden
and peddle their vegetables about the city,
and they are good ones, too, and also
cheap Why, for 10 cents, you can get
good sample of all the growing vegetables
in that part of the country. Besides this,
they are experts in fancy work and en-
broidery, taking the wares that they make
in baskets, each on the end of pole across
their shoulders, and selling white ware well
made at ridiculously low figures.
\ half or more Of their quarter Is under
the ground, and sentinel is always kept
on guard, and at the slightest alarm or at
the approach of the police the signal Is
given. and within fifteen seconds not Il
Chinese in the city can be seen. They are
all underground with the trap doors and
secret passage ways we'll fastened. When
all is right, the signal is again given, and
heads and bodies begin to appear from all
directions and places and everything is as
quiet and orderly as though nothing had
ever happened.
Did you ever happen to think that you
have rarely, if ever, seen crippled
Chinese of either sex? Well, do you know
the reason? Whenever an accident oc
ours to IL Chinese serious enough to make
AN amputation of member or cripple of
the victim. he is taken under ground and
is never seen again. What becomes Of
him no one knows, although it is we'll
known that he does not live long after he
disappears into that hell of horrowS
Yes. they always kill their manned and
useless neiohbors, and thus it is that all
of the Chinese in this country, with very
few exceptions, are we'll and not crippled
in any way, shape or form.
The women never speak to the men "r
BOYS on the street under any circum-
stances. neither will the members of the
higher caste speak to women who even
watch men while on the street, or at gam
ing, which is their favorite pastime. Fan
tan is the great gambling game Of the Chi
nese. They are fond of the theatre, and
attend it every night in the year, with the
exception of one night, when they attend
church on their New Year Day They
also have lottery, in which the entire
race and city take prominent part.