The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-12-30


The Japanese read in the most insignih-
cant natural objects some striking signif-
canoe, and there Is a meaning attached
to almost every decoration or ornament in
the house. The outsides and gardens of
the house are also beautifully decorated,
to say nothing Of the streets, which pre-
sent a most interesting and animated
spectacle at this time.
On New Years Eve the streets and
stores, which at this time display their
most attractive goods, are thronged with
people intent on buying the requisites for
the coming year. At night the streets are
beautifully Illuminated with lines OF big
lanterns, family cTess, flags. shop-signs,
etc, hung from every store. On this eve
many Of the people remain up all night,
and watch the old year out and the new
year in, though a few old-fashioned ones
prefer the custom of rising very early
in the morning to worship the first rising
sun OF the new year.
The New Years festival of the Chinese
said to be the most complete holiday sea-
son kept by any nation of the earth, is
celebrated wherever a single Chinaman
is found, whether in Pekin or New
Z--Ef
"Woman's Home Companion discussing
New Years customs in the Orient. IT
IS a movable FESTIVAL, falling on any date
between January u and February -.
preparations for the great holiday begin
weeks pelorenanu. The accumulated dirt
Of many months disappears as II by
magic Even the chlnaman himself passes
through the cleaning process, wading
MS Clothes and hafninR his ne9c0p-fEa
latter pelng a great event in the lives Of
a rev. since II occurs but onee a year!
sBuildings OF every description are elab-
orateiy DECORATED. Flowers are u great
demand the Iavorite being the Chinese
narelssus. the prospect Of happiness for
the rear = believed 70 be in proportion to
from a single buip.
During the closing days of the old year
Chinese streets present a busy and ami
mated scene. Shops are thronged with
customers eagerly laying in large quanti-
ties Of food, clothing and New Years
gifts. Debtors ard creditors arc seen hur-
rying % and fro, --ehdeavGring to settle
their accounts. for according to a most
commensurate custom all debts must be
paid or settled in some satisfactory man
4% r-fC <t4 "a LIZ ~ tHCCt
these liabilities shopkeepers offer their
goods at unheard of prices, and families
frequently part with odd bits of bric-a-
brac, curious relics and valua5le orra-
ments for a sum p~itifully small. No dis
grace is eaua to being found on New
Years morning with an unpaid debt. On
enc other nara the creditor who fails TO
collect MS debts at this time may not
press them again for many months He
therefore pursues MS debtor far into the
night, continuing MS search into the New
Years Gay II necessary. This he may do
II ne carries a Aghted lantern to indicate
rhat ne Is still engdseu IL last nights
business ana mas NOT discovered that the
DAY mas daWneai
Z Apse psopre - iye - - t"ei-
en- century WI pe NE rienuly isiaiu-
eis' = eise ua'eTiile' az = inay y calieu'
nes ~ ehe fae..ic ocean JUS 70 me ease
- .psAi 1912 :. Tliss s4nn n'seAl
of ..Where the Next Century win Really
Begin cat that time, although it viii
be already Tuesday to them, all the rest
Of the world viii be enjoying some phase
Of Monday. the last day Of the nine
teeuth century necember 81 1900. At
Melbourne the people will be going to
he'd for It will be nearly ten o'clock; at
Manila it will be two hours earlier In
tbe evening: at Calcutta the English rest
dents Will be sitting at their Monday
afternoon dinner. for il viii be about six
O'clock: and in London. Big Ben in the
tawar If the Ho,se az Commons. will
be striking the hour of noon. In Bos-
i IL -