The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-11
CHINESE PROGRESS.
Signs of IL shown by Charity for
Suffering Jews.


From the New York Tribune.
The announcement of a benefit per-
Torrance for the Russian Jews to be
given in Chinese theater in New York
city the other day caused great as
constituent in some quarters.
What! The Chinese giving to char
ity?'
The idea of an unselfish Chinaman!"
"Chinamen helping Jews! How
funnyl"
These were some of the ejacula tons
of New Workers unfamiliar with the
inner life of the modern Mott street
Chinaman. To a casual observer the
Acknowledged denizens 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
transformation as superficial, made for
mercenary purposes, and liable to give
way later TO the old-time blouse and
wooden shoes of the true native return
ing 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. What
ever may have been the type of ce-
lestial portrayed by San Francisco
labor agitators a quarter of a century
ago, there is a goodly portion of the
10000 natives of the fowery kingdom
in this city who have successfully as
simulated many American customs and
adopted principles altogether foreign
to their own ancient civilization. This
broadening of the Oriental mind has
not occurred in a few days. The evo-
luton of the Chinaman from his old
time bigotry and self sufficiency to a
higher plane. where he sees his fail
ures and wants. and, in Yankee par
lance, to get there" has been the re-
suit of years. John Chinaman in this
city is indeed awakening from that
dreamy narcotic lethargy which once
seemed the curse of his race.
When the news of the massacres al
Kishineff reached the Jews of this
city. and general appeal for charity
was made. there were two Chinamer
who responded as IL their own people
had been afflicted Joseph H. Single
ton, president of the local organiza-
ton of the powerful Chinese Empire
Reform Association, and Guy Maine
pronounced Ming, head of the Chin
csc mission of st. Bartholomew
Church, met the Jewish Relief Com
mite, and Mr.. Singleton said:
I'VE want to help you. We believe
In liberty and want to aid those who
suffer from bigotry."
THE Chinese will give a benefit per-
Torrance for the Russian Jews" said
Mr.. Maine. I'VE ought to raise several
hundred dollars for you"
Jim Ling, stage manager and boss
of the Chinese theater at No. 5 DoyeTs
street, shook his head at first.
II no know" he said. Il likee help
but I t'ink performance not muchee
good. No clowd. No monee."
Contrary toSJim Ling's expectations
the theater was thronged on the night
of the benefit. The forty actors who
do not draw salaries, but divide the
gate receipts" between them, offered
their services for nothing, and played
their parts with particular vivacity. II
was a tragedy Of the times of the
bloody Tartars, when the Chinese were
first made to wear the queue by their
savage conquerors as token of sub
lection. Fow Chung, the Booth of Doy-
ers street, had a record number of cur
tain calls, and the box office receipts
turned over to the Jewish committee
amounted to $3.50.
This evidence OF Chinese charity, in
contradiction of the old-time belief
that John Chinaman is only for Johr
Chinaman," is only one illustration. A.
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
immigrants to foreign shores to shir
back the bones of their dead to their
native land. At Hong Kong there Is
a great clearing house for skeletons
where all that is left of the wandering
celestial at last returns for final
resting place. Here relatives 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 Gem
etery on Long Island the body is only
allowed to lie for about four years.
Then comes the grewsome task of dig
ging it up, pulling the bones apart and
cleaning them. packing the gaunt car
go in a Uncovered box about the size
of an infants coffin. and shipping II
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 Kensi-
co, and organized what is known as
the Christian Chinese Burial Associa-
ton. 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 a
deceased"