The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-10
CHINATOWN is A C0RKER
It Is Burning Up in Oriental
LONELINESS.
HAVING A HOT OLD TIME
Copper Colored Damsels Flirt With the
Dudes-Night Brings on Weird
and Fantastic Night
mare of Joy.

Chinatown is respondent in its ORR
entail loneliness, punk is burning on ev-
cry corner in every niche and with a
glare of defiance and a luster equalled
only by the almond orbits of the cop
per colored damsels who sit in the Win
dows and firt with the dudes who go
down there to see strange things.
Butte Chinatown is a corker, it's a
dream, a little Frisco with many of
the charms Of a nightmare. These
nights it presents weird and fantas-
tic appearance. 1t is not large in area,
but great when one stops to study all
the things he sees 1t is a prosperous
quarter of Butte. You hear of no
bankruptcy proceedings. Business is
business, and it is done on a cash basis.
If you haven't a quarter with which
John puts his trust in the dollar and
nothing else. He is a man of few
words, pays as he gees along and
doesn't stop to collect bad debts, for
he has none Of them. Therefore, it is
a happy new year with the Cinnamon
of Butte. The population of China
town will probably not exceed 400.
There is not pauper or hobo in the
camp. There is no sickness of conse-
quence, no hospitals to maintain. no
police force to watch, no politics or no
elections, no drunlSards or murderers.
1t is an unruffled, placid sea of unalloy-
ed bliss from one end of the year to the
other. The visitor hears nothing of the
discussions down there which ring in
his ears during the hours of associa-
ton with his fellow men. He is in
a new sphere when he strikes China
town. He goes into public house and
greets the boss" with
Hello, John. happy new year"
"All Ii. You sabe new year,"
The host is assured that the visitor
knows all about it. and then the con-
versation drifts about aimlessly.
What do you do on new years day,
john"
"Oh, shoot fireclacker, talk to fell
lows some time take dink, maybe
cigar, you know Oh, don't do moch"
How about JOSS. up there don't
you brush him up little?'
oh, Joss, he alleady fix up-fowers,
candles, wine. music, evely ting. You
see 'em yet?"
Yes, but tell Us something about
Joss and your new year festival"
This is more than John bargains for,
anu, WITCH II SOHltS u thpldIIlIlS any
thing he makes no effort to conceal his
Ignorance. There oare some Cinnamon
in Butte with a. fair business educa-
ton and who are equipped with all
that is necessary for the safe conduct
of their business affairs, but it is prob
ably impossible to find one among them
who is capable of reciting historical
facts regarding their race and customs.
They are "out for the, Stuff and they
know that they can't get it by going
into the educational business. There
may be exceptions, however.
All day yesterday and last night
there was hilarity in the alley. The
streets are covered with a wreckage of
crackers. Huge Chinese lanterns swing
In front of the Joss house and over
every entrance to the private and bust
ness houses depends a globe lantern.
the smoke issuing from them would
make smelter fumes sick. Great heaps
of rice cakes and bowls of noodle soup
stand in the Way.fzNisitors are at lib
erty to take a cake. Some cigars are
handed out, but they are not the pop
ular brand, and many of them find
their way into third hands. The wine
is not White Seal or Red Top, but John
likes it, and doesn't understand why
all white men don't like it as well. But
as stated before, there are many things
which are beyond the limited scope of
his apprehension.
The feast of Joss will hold the boards
for six days with matinee each day
to boot