The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-02-10
IMPERIAL. NEW YEAR
GORGEOUS ROBES AND DUE CERE-
MONY AT CONSUL's.
Reception Was Well Attended by
Chinese and American Dignitares
Saturday Morning.

The Imperial New Years celebration
was held by Consul Yang Wei Pin and
the vice-cOnsuls, Goo Kim Ful and
Wong kwat at the Chinese Imperial
consulate on Beretania street Saturday
morning, although the actual reception
practically lasted al. day.
The rooms were open at ten a. m
and We're speedily filled with high Chr
nese dignitaries coming to pay their
New Years call. There were no es-
pecial decorations visible. with the ex-
ceptiOn of the Imperial dragon which
tloated proudly from the flagstaff The
Consul received with Goo Kim In the
regular reception room to the left of
the entrance Of the residence. The con-
suIs secretary stood at the entrance.
presumably keeping a look out for any
malcOntents or Bow WOngs who might
be impudent enough TO come to the re-
ception.
1t is beneath an Imperial consul's dig
nifty also to shake hands with those or
Inferior rank or at least below a GER
tain status in life so the ready secre-
tary was on hand to avoid any such
contretemps. The Chinese ceremonial it.
self however consists general In the
parties themselves shaking, not each
others, but rather their own hands so
that any little awkardness of this kind
is done away with.
In marked difference to the reception
United Chinese Society, where regula-
ton Americanodress or only the pIain-
est of Chinese blOuses were worn the
consular party and most of the visiting
Chinese were dressed in ceremonial
robe and buttons according to their va
rlOus degrees as a merchant of the first
| second or third class. These broCaded
robes gave an exceedingly picturesque
! touch to the proceedings as the bright
| sunshine came in through the window
and lit up the gorgeous vermiIliOns.
DlueS, oranges, vivid greens and golden
stitched embroidery of the mandarin.
AS far as the haoles were concerned.
/ the Consul and the vice consul greeted
! them with cordial handshake at the
uoor OF the room simply furnished with
/ teak chairs, cOuches and tables, a few
vases and lilies on the latter and a few
| painted panels on the walls Cham
! payne and cigars We're handed round
| ana the West and the East, MOngoI and
| American wished each other "A Happy
New Year Cards We're left by most
of the visitors
! The consuls' retinue made the neigh
| borhood lively with a continual dis
| charge of fire crackers that ratified nm
ceaslngly from morning until nightfal
and were continued TO some extent yes
| terday. They too had their callers and
! although they sampled the more com
] a
| payne and smoked pipes rather than
| cigars they seemed to enjoy their Kong
nee as much as the folks over in the biz
| pagOda.
If the firing Of crackers held anv spe-
clal virtue, the wicked devils Of last
! year must have had a hard time of it I'm
their attempts to get into this years
calendar All over the city the LETTING
on OF fire creckers was kept up without
! lntermission for hours at a time. the
! distant discharge sounding like a heavy
| storm of rain.
Most Of the Chinese help in the citv
| nave returned to their domestic and
other duties today and overworked
| housewives may once more direct opera
! lions instead of carrying them out The
stores are all open for business except
/ where some Of the more enthusiastic
/ spirits are stiu keeping Konghee I'm theh
/ dreams, and sleeping Off the general ef-
. feCts,