Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-23

l
boy. He occupies place Of honor over
the altar and is thought to be the media.
tor between mortals and the supreme be-
Ing, as to whose identity none OF the Chi.
nese seem to have the least idea save
That he is in the form OF a great dragon.
In a rock on one side of the room. were
| lot Of the Roman legions; they were Of
ebony. with brass figures on top and are
, used as the standards OF the Chinese fra
ternal societies-the Masons, the Odd-Fel-
| lows, and Knights of Pythias.
| The inner sanctuary was well-nigh sa-
cred against the foreigner and none save
those OF the faith were admitted except
on the positive command of some China
| man high in authority. On the walls
hung some twenty large embroidered and
painted tapestries, picturing number of
angels and deities-the gods of war, Of
youth, of thunder and lightning, and 9th
| ers. These tapestries are donated by rich
| people, much as we give stained glass Win
dows TO our churches.
Besides keeping up an almost ceaseless
service in the sanctuary, the priests came
| out on the second day and dedicate
shrine in the street, maintaining the
while quick ragtime-like chant; after
that a short service of respect was paid
to an insignificant little figure outside the
joss house door, that of the most benef-
one seemed to know what his good deeds
were and his looks were certainly against
him, for he had most devilish face.
The altar boys did not seem greatly i'm
pressed with the seriousness of their dll-
ties. for they have been to American
schools, where they had learned to look
down upon the religion of their fathers.
They acted mechanically and scornfully,
showing no reverence for the priests and
! ~ F~ - y, t,S
nese consider the priests at all sacred:
when asked about their relation of the
common people, Prizes no better IAN
| am; jus learn UNI trade allie same learn
makum Shoes" and this seemed to be the
feeling OF all.
The final day of the festival was by all
odds the most important. During the
morning alEwas prepare ton for the grand
parade to be held in the afternoon. Every
Celestial who could possibly leave his
work was helping to unpack and arrange
the many rich and costly flags and ban
ners so pleasing to tho gods. while fifty
picked men were privileged to set up the
great dragon. Shortly after noon he was
brought out into the square, before the
temple to be honored by the priests. Be-
fore him was placed table, set with
,, many choice refreshments-tea candied
bacon. watermelon seeds and AL sorts of
COnlGCtlO1S. l. nc I'VE priests lliiSu dp Will
their backs to the dragon. while their
Chief read praises from yellow book,
the others joining in an oft-repeated re-
frain.
| When this little service was over the
procession formed and began its march
round and round the plaza. First gor-
geous blue banner. with dragon embroi-
dered in gold Then little girl in rich
robes and golden wings, seated on an
intellectual looking horse, who seemed to
| be trying to solve the mysterious motive
OF all this rumpus Then Il red banner,
hung from board aoout four feet in di-
ameter, swiftly rotated by its bearer;
this was followed by a little fourwheeler,
propelled by man at each end-a Chi
nese band wagon-tne floor of which was
about as high as a table and held the
gongs and wooden drums too heavy to
carry. Beside the wagon walked a player
with a huge pair of brazen cynbals and
another with the heart rending and nerve
racking Chinese cornet.
After this came several more little wag-
ons carrying as many little children.
standing. without apparent effort, on
small horizontal wooden rods about as
thick a. bro0mstcls On the same wag-
ons were other children, with their own
legs concealed and artificial ones round
their neclss or tied in knots. to the great
wonder of all beholders.
And then clash of cymbals! The
Dragon.! Before him ran a gayly dressed
fellow carrying long pole, with a round
carved top: this was flOurished madden
ingly in the face of the great god, teas
ing him into lUrching and swapping at the
bait The beasts head weighs several
hundred pounds and six sturdy men took
turns in carrying it few minutes at
time. The long writing, twisting body
stretched, in an uncomfortable, snake
like manner, for several hundred feet;
each scale. heavily embroidered, is the
product of many weeks of Skilled labor.
! The body was borne by one hundred men
at time, while the unruly tail demanded
the utmost efforts of the strongest man in
Chinatown.
Following the object OF their deyotions
came the five priests, unconcernedly chat
teri!:g and laughing, now and then raising
their fans to ward off the ever-present
camera fend When asked, through an
interpreter why the Chinese are so averse
to having their pictures taken, the chief
priest said that their belief is. that if
one dies while any photograph, save
regularly taken portrait is extant, his
sou! will not rest. Chinese mothers cry
out in terror when a kodaker approaches.
and uncerenloniously jerk their children
within doors.
Because he had come to the rescue of
the temple doorkeeper, in dealing with
some unruly Americans the curious writ
er was voluntarily rewarded by being al
lowed to enter the holy Of holes, where
few, save those of the faith. ever pene-
tTate. Soon the priests came in from the
parade, supposedly to pray until time for
| a service in the outer temple-instead, one
of them drew a teapot from a cupboard
and made tea while the rest lit their pipes
! and enjoyed q good smoke. Meanwhile
the worshippers outside waited patiently
for them to finish their devotions
On this day all work was suspended
the lauaries closed, vegetable peddlers de-
serted their places and even the fortune
tellers astrologers and scribes. who had