New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-05
WHAT WORRIES CHINATOWN.
CRATE GRAVESP-FUNERAL Gus
TOMS HERE

general in China will come home 10 the
Chinese people OF this city in many ways, especial
~ II II spreads into the Province OF Canton. The
fathers and mothers, whom the Chinese respect
to greater degree than do sons Of other nations,
viii be in danger. Thousands Of dollars by
careful attention business in Chinatown and sent
home for investment may be lost But worse than
all this is the chance that the armies OF the Powers
may desecrate the burying grounds OF the Chinese
dead They can bear the financial loss, and fathers
and mothers can probably take Of themselves,
but who viii look ont for the sacred graves If a
half dozen armies trail blood and fire across the
Empire?
VIII the armies tear UP the graves OF our rela-
tives?" is a question that is often asked IN China
town these days. The Chinese fear this will be
done, because they would probably DO something
OF the kind If they wished TO humiiate nation.
They consider the burial places Of their dead more
sacred than the holy temples, and their uprooting
would cause the Chinese more heart pangs than
anything else that the Powers could do.
All Of the well TO do Chinese who have died in
this city since the Chinese came here in numbers
are now resting in dignihed graves near the last
resting places of their ancestors Their bodies
carefully sealed IN alright copper collins,
Slipped the by rail, transferred to
a Pacific liner and finally landed the sacred
soil OF China. A Chinese often receives much more
attention after death than his lot during life
He knows that this will be the case if he saves
enough money and 1t makes life worth living.
When Chinese dies in this city there is much
ton IN life the more excitement there IS The
body is reluctantly turned over 10 the undertaken
after long prayers have been said over II and
many joss sticks burned around H. Carriages are
provided for all OF his friends and the best cook
that be secured IS kept busy all night providing
dainty morsels OF food which are to be buried
with the body. In the morning the procession
starts for the Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn
The carriages are decorated in silken flags and the
unourners are attired their best. The dead
mans best friend OF nearest relative goes ahead
Of the procession TO throw away strips Of red
Daper which contain many holes. They believe
that the particular devil which chasing the spirit
R 81 ee IF hey c S get s body baried before
devil catches up the question OF me oee9 man 81
these papers and there is Chinese who is not
saved if the funeral is conducted at all as 1t
Baskets OF food are lowered into the grave with
me 6oGg ms PFoNiSl n on+1ay H6 the 1h,ase
heaven. In some cases roasted pigs and other
grave This is done still further 10 delay the devil
who is supposed to be unable 70 resist the tempJa-
ton Of stopping 10 devour them AS soon the
M tbg -Sbb 81 and the Chinese on their retnrn
~ ILS L-hI-L@Li' -c1 ~ q -
and consider II a sign that their dead friend has
once each year usually in May. the bodies are
carefully taken up for shipment TO China The
shipment Is made under the direction OF the six
Companies. which concern also has charge of the
portion OF the cemetery given over 10 Chinese The
cofhns are usIaIly ACCOMPANIED py some 5hinese
who is going home He sees that tie bodies are
The relatives usually remove the body and place
it in the logike coffin which Chinese usages de-
maud Some of these are deliberately carved As
there practically no graveyards in China the
dig big grave in the shape OF horseshoe. Care
~ taken 10 select plSe ~nlch Is ouJ OF the Teach
may find q resting place in the family tomb in
stead Of the horseshoe shaped grave. Although
is supposed TO mourn as bitterly as when the news
first reached them The mourning is rather agonized
than sincere, however.