The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-28
BURN INCENSE
TO HIGH JOSS
Cinnamon Began Celebration of
New Year at Midnight.
SIRED STRINGS OF CRACKERS
PANDEMoNIUM IN PLUM ALLEY
FOR A DOZEN DAYS.

Incense is burning in Chinatown A
broad grin overspreads the coun-
tendance of the great joss who looks
down from his pedestal in q dingy
room in Plum alley upon the suppliant
Celestials who worship his craven
image. Towering columns of perfumed
smoke rise in clouds from the affairs
which stand before the idol.
At u o'clock last night Chinatown
awoke. From every quarter almond
eyed Chinks, appareled in the latest
styles of Oriental pajamas, swarmed
from their novels and greeted each
other in shril jabberings. Soon the
alley was in an uproar. Lines of fire.
crackers which had been stretched high
in the air were lighted and an inces-
SAINT rattle ran quickly down the line.
Tom-toms added to the babel, dogs
howled, and the stray drunks who hap
pened in Commercial street at the time
Joined in with lusty shouts for the
Chinese New Year.
Lit up at IL P. NJ.
Promptly at midnight a taper ignited
the incense on the altar in the joss
house. Wah Sing, the oldest resident
of Chinatown, is keeper of the joss, and
to him was given the honor of starting
the flames. A new coating of paint
adorns the face and features of the
great and good joss in honor of the Oc-
casion. yellow and red are the most
prominent of the daubs which streak
across his countenance. In front of
the altar have been placed huge piles
of gifts by Celestials who pray for
plenty during the coming year.
Elaborate patterns of silk, imported
for the occasion from the Orient BAN
boo canes. shawls of immense value
from merchants in far Cathay, have
been brought 10 Chinatown by the de-
vout to appease the wrath of the joss
and implore his blessings for the year.
All are heaped in a cOnglOmerate mass
in front Of the altar.
Only One Unfortunate.
Every debt and obligation which ex-
listed during the past year has been
paid by the citizens of Chinatown. Only
enc, who has been unfortunate in bust
ness and could not make good his
agreements, is barred from the New
Years festivities. He remained in Sc
clusion last night and will not be seen
until after the twelve days of merri-
ment are past.
In the absence of Chin @. Chan. may
or Of the Chinese settlement. no other
of the Chinks assumed leadership Con-
sequently no arranged. programme has
been prepared for the entertainment of
visitors and strangers who visit the
alley. But this years celebration will
be in it's native form without the en-
bellishments suggested by the am
bilious and initiative mind of the
merchant mayor.
Laundries Suspend Business.
For twelve days Chinatown will be
ablaze, and shops and laundries will
suspend business. Like mimic war
fare. firecrackers will rattle continu-
Ously each night and other Chinese
noises viii add to the pandemonium.
Every visitor who has a friend among
the Chinks will receive a present when
he visits the alley during the New Year.
A silk handkerchief or a drink of Chi
nese whisky is always proffered and
seldom refused. Permission has been
granted by the police for the celebra-
tion, and they have also agreed to pro-
tect the CeleStials from the gang of
rOwdyiSh youngsters who like to dis