New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-07
A BIRTHDAY IN CHINATOWN.
NEW LIGHT SHED on THE LIFE OF The
CELESTIAL COLONY By Do

Persons who wander into Chinatown under the
guidance OF a detective and those whose notions
OF that section OF the city taken from highly
colored fiction. have come 20 look upon IL as re-
gion OF iniquty where the tnselled shops are Only
so many blinds for unseen vice Give a dog a bad
name" Is an old proverb that finds truth in mod
ern times. Not long ago there was proiec; on
foot to wipe out large portion Of Pel and Doyers
SITS for the ostensibe purpose OF widening the
streets II was argued the time that the effect
OF the move would be 10 lessen crime. Nothing has
been heard Of the project lately.
The merchants OF Chinatown, when approached
on the subject. nonchalantly shook their heads
and mute. They astute. these Cinnamon.
and their seeming Indifference was probably bss~d
upon an understanding Of the slow moving OF city
machinery. Doyers-st and pell-st still remain as
they were: New-Yorkets in search OF excitement
may still go looking for the vice they seldom see.
and the shops are open invitingiy. with arrays OF
gimcracks which may be bought for about three
times what they are worth
But there is another side 10 the life In Chinatown
which the visitor rarely sees The casual 'droppsr
IN" whose eyes open for something other than
the seany side OF life. is times fortunate.
Such one wandered into Pell-st last night The
stores wide open. The squeak OF fiddle
waited into the from a balcony where
brilliant lights and much gliding indicated .
Chinese restaurant The usual element was abroad.
liable shadows on wan faces OF unfortunate won-
In the shops the merchants smoked their pipes
silently or conversed in low tones and disconnected
sentences. Every now and then sightseer We ia
stop TO price some article only 10 be met with the
question, You wanna buy him. For the Chinese
merchant is not verbose and he disllkes unneces-
sary talk II you business he is all attention.
Convince him OF that fact first, however he VIII
give scant attention
There merchant In Chinatown last night
who not attending business Moy Tong had
a weightier affair his mind than buying and
selling And that the affair OF a pleasant
nature might be easily guessed by glance into
the shining yellow face. Moy longs shop was
crowded. The neghbors squeezed themselves into
the little place In iminent danger OF losing their
queues; for though slow 20 anger, the Celestial
is abundant in wrath and methods OF revenge
little given TO much talk. welcomed them all with
an unctuous smile. He was happy. FOR little Moy
Chinese gods and had been spared 70 have a birth
day This was what caused the excitement in
is so gaudlly pictured there but a simple domes-
tic incident-little Moy Tong's first birthday The
little Moy was gorgeous In new -alment II was
the blue OF the skies. and the eggings were
embroidered in silver He wore red turban
which. falling of as the proud father raised him
above the crowd. displayed closely cropped head
OF ebony hair.
his footgear-patent eather shoes. American made
the first that have ever been worn by a child 81
What II some Of the older men did shake their
heads obviously. suggesting that It Was bad be-
ginning for little Chinsman? Moy Tong was
satisfied he had prospered; the gods had spared
his boy 10 be one year old. and after burning
many sticks OF punk before the big idol in tho
temple: he had gone forth 10 buy shoes Ike tho
little Mclean
There was great cake. too. shaped like bird.
with candle. Moy knows baker in the Bow
cry. and 10 him he had conhded that little Moy
10 have a birthday Moy's neghbors eyed tho
cake and the shoes suspicousy. and shook their
heads some more. There is some talk OF ostraciz.
ing the Chnamau who tempted fate and placed
MS only son in Jeopardy OF the wrath OF the gods
But as big Moy closed his shop his face beamed
complscently and little Moy. sleeping on his arm,
seemed 10 have no fear OF evil spirits