The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-19

In Chinatown last night fatirons were
laid aside. washboards We're dry. and the
sound of the rubbing Of clothes end
spIashing OF water in the Iaundries was
hushed- Instead there was the elatter of
tea cups, the tinkling OF small .-mo-ke'
glasses. and the incessant chatter Of
many voices. Yesterday was the Chinese
New Year and it was more generally OBJ
served by Washington's colony Of CeIes-
tails than it has ever been before Bright
coIored papers bearing curious hyroglyph-
les we're visible on all the doors Of Chi
nese laundries and stores on the south
side Of Pennsylvania Avenue between
Sixth and Second Streets. These trans
lated into English babe visitors welcome
and expressed the wish for year of pros
Derity and happiness for all.
Chinatown" is decidedly the Fifth Ave
nue. Of the Chinese colony OF the National
Capital Here it is that the richest and
most influential members of the race live
above the Chinese stores. while the best
Chinese restaurants are located nearby
1t was in this neighborhood. where moves
the Celestial Four Hundred, that the Gay
WAS most royalty observed
Every store and laundry was wide open
to visitors last night The owners of the
establishments held receptions Visitors
were coming and going constantly, and
Gong he ia tot Happy New Year, was
the greeting on every tongue Many
places were more OF less deliberately dec
GRATED, and in many were displayed pic
z
tables large III the mind of the Aongo-
liam The representation OF Confucius
always occupied conspicuous place Ths
conspicuous place was. however. the best
proof that II really was picture OF the
great priest. for it is doubtful if any TWO
OF the portraits at all resembled each
other
As on the American Thanksgiving Day,
the dinner formed no uDimportIaI feat
ure OF the nights celebration. The Chi
nesc are. as rule, frugal liyers but
they indulge thmseIves to the limit
on their New Year night. Dishes of
which most people never heard are sery-
ed IN profusiOn, and delicacies shipped
direct from China are partaken of lber-
ally The teapot took the place Ct the
conyiriaI bowl Of eggnOg, which is
feature Of New Year Day on January /
while stronger beverages in the form of
only TO the Acknowledged aliens we're
served 10 all who desired 20 drink
For amusement cards were resorted TO
but such pastime can scarcely be termed
characteristic Of New Year Day The av-
erage Chinaman is an inveterate gambler
and takes TO cards as duck to water: but
MS propensities for a reckless Irritation
with chance were let cut to fullest extent
last night. and fantan games were going
full blast in many places
Among all the pleasure OF the day AID
night there cTept a little business. for
among other duties which the China
man observes faithfully on New Year
Day is the payment of debts This is usu-
ally the first thing accomplished. and Chi
natown early yesterday morning had the
appearance Of a miniature Wall Street
Groups OF Cinnamon. clad in all variety Of
costumes from the most gaudy of flowing
robes 10 the most modest OF ordinary
suits, were sQuaring up accounts in the
laUndries and stores and on the side
walks. This having been accomplished.
the remainder OF the day was given over
10 pleasure
the Chinese are q great people for cere-
mony and etiquette. Cards bearing the
name Of the visitor are an absolute re-
quisite to the proper observance of New
Year Day The children Of parents
whose houses were oft visited were doubt
less the luckiest=people in Chinatown yes
terday. It IS customary for the visitor
to present the children Of the household
with a card folded about a coin. These
cards contain coins ranging from > cents
to a s. gold piece. One yOungster whose
father IS q prominent merchant, is said
to have received nearly S50 in The course
of the day. The wives of Cinnamon are
little in evidence at any time and they
kept as close at home yesterday Some
times, however, they aided their husbands
il receiving guests