Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-29
CHINESE PROGRESS
SIGNS OF IT SHOWN BY CHARITY
FOR SUFFERING JEWS.
Celestials in New York Who Have
Abandoned Oriental Customs
Western Ideas.


The announcement of benefit perform
| ance for the Russian Jews to be given in
| a Chinese theater in New York city the
other day caused great establishment In
some quarters.
What! The Chinese giving to charityT'
1.-The idea of an unselfish Chinaman!
"Chinamen helping Jews How funny!
These were some of the CALCULATIONS OF
New Workers unfamiliar with the inner life
Of the modern Mott street Chinaman. To
casual observer the almond-eyed denfzens
Of the Chinese colony seem just as stOlid
and sordid and selfish as ever. A few more
may have cut Off their queues and donned
American dress, but the average New York
citizen is likely to interpret this trans
formation as superficial, made for mercen-
airy purposes, ard liable to give way later
to the old-time blouse and wooden shoes
of the true native returning at last to
China with a fortune.
Closer study of the better class Of New
York Cinnamon, however, shows that they
have caught the spirit Of progress from
their new home. Whatever may have been
the type Of celestia! portrayed by San
Francisco labor agitators quarter OF
century ago. there Is a goodly portion OF
the 10000 natives of the flowery kingdom
in this city who have successfully assimi-
lated many American customs and adopted
principles altogether foreign to their own
dHClcul ClVluZduOH. Ills DTOducHluS VI
the oriental mind has not occurred In
few days. The evolution Of the Chinaman
from his old-time bigotry and self-suf-
ficiency to higher plane, where he sees
his failures and wants. and, in Yankee par
lance. to get there" has been the result of
years. John Chinaman in this city is in
deed awakening from that dreamy mar
cotic lethargy which once seemed the
curse of his race.
Offer Of Help.
When the news of the massacres at Kish-
ineff reached the Jews Of this city, and a
general appeal for charity was made, there
were two Cinnamon who responded II
their own people had been afflicted. Joseph
H. Singleton, president of the local organi-
cation Of the powerful Chinese Empire Re
form Association, and Guy Maine (pro-
nounced Ming), head Of the Chinese mission
Of St Bartholomew Church met the Jew
ish relief committee and Mr.. Singleton
said:
I'VE want to help you. We believe in lib
erty and want to aid those who suffer from
bigotry.'
"The Chinese will give benefit perform
ance for the Russian Jews" said Mr..
Maine. I'VE ought to raise several hun
dred dollars for you"
Jim Ling stage manager and boss OF
the Chinese theater at No. Doyers street,
shook his head at first.
II no KNOW" he said Il likee help, but
t'ink performance not muchee good. No
clowd. No monee-"
Contrary to Jim Lings expectations, the
theater was thronged on. the night of the
benefit. The forty actors who do not draw
salaries, but divide the gate receipts" be-
tween them, offered their services for moth
ing, and played their parts with particular
vivacity. 1t was tragedy of the times Of
the bloody Tartars, when the Chinese were
first made to wear the queue by their saw
age conquerors as token of subsection
Fow Chung the Booth of Doyers street,
had record number of curtain calls, and
the box office receipts turned over to the
Jewish committee amounted to $3.50.
Permanent Burial in America.
This evidence of Chinese charity, In con-
tradiction of the old-time belief that John
Chinaman is only for John Chinaman,' is
only one Illustration. At the time of the
Jacksonville disaster the Cinnamon of this
city, through the efforts of the Rev. HUE
Kin, who is in charge of the Presbyterian
mission In Mott street, raised nearly 500
for the relief Of sufferers.
1t has been the Chinese custom for I'M
migrants to foreign shores to ship back
the bones of their dead to their native
land. At Hong Kong there is great clear
ing house for skeletons, where all that Is
left of the wandering celestial at last re-
turns for a final resting place. Here rela-
tives of the dead may come and for the
sum of $40, to cover shipping and storage,
they may obtain the coveted box and Its
rafting contents. In the Chinese cemetery
on Long Island the body is only allowed to
lie for about four years. Then comes the
grewsome task of digging it up, pulling the
bones apart and cleaning them. packing
the gaunt cargo in Uncovered box about
the size of an infants coffin, and shipping
1t to Hong Kong.
The more advanced Chinese. however,
have revolted against this uncanny Gus
TOM They now want their bones to rest
in the land of their adoption. They have
bought a plot of land at Kensico, and Or
ganized what is known as the Christian
Chinese Burial Association. Among their
bylaws is this significant sentence: mo
heather rite or ceremony shall be allowed
at any time at the burial or on the grave
of deceased