The Washington times., 1904-02-12
CeIeStiaLS to Observe
the Chinese NeW Year
"San Lin" Is Almost Here, and Therc'lI Be
Small Chance of Getting "Washee"
for Some Days.

San Lin is here, or hereabouts. Pei
Nein is upon us. Wa-Shun has been in
progress for several days. 'Hai-moon-
tai-kat" placards have already been pre-
pared, and. beginning Sunday. kung
no fab tsoi'' will be a common saluta-
ton. Lung Wong. Fung-fo-Hhin, Tten
How, and Shing Wong are about TO
come into their own.
However mysterious the foregoing
phrases may sound to the Caucasian
ear. TO the Chiuaman-whether in
Washington or in the far-away Celes-
tiai Empire-they mean that the Chi
nese New Year. the greatest OF all ma
tional festivities. is at hand.
A Day of Days.
Since the says of Confucius, and
probably antedating that profound phi
Iosopher, San Lin has been religiously
observed by the hordes Of the almond
eyed, from the Emperor on his dragon
throne TO Hop Sing. in his humble laun-
dry under the shadow Of the Capitol
here in Washington.
The Chinese New Year has been aptly
called a celestial bacchanalia. 1t eX-
tends over a period of from one TO three
weeks. and practically commences sew
eral days before the close of the old
year. Here. as in the F1owery King
dom. during these days. pleasure is the
goddess. and business must be Of a
pressing nature to receive any atten-
tion. one who is familiar with China
town customs becomes aware. as ne
strolls down Pennsylvania Avenue and
visits the habitations of the Chinese,
that something unusual is on
In front OF each laundry, grocery store,
and restaurant a Chinaman Will be seen
with pail OF water and cloth. buslly
polishing windows and door knobs. In
side others will be found with what cor
responds TO dustpan and brush, remov-
ing every vestige of dust and cobwebs
Still others are covering the antique
tables and chairs with flaming red cloth
embroidered with flowers. The swiftly
moving Orientals are decorating the
walls with fresh scrolls and quaint
charms. similar to those that will be
found in the shops and homes in the
great walled cities OF the Chinese en-
pire.
Strips of Red Paper.
BY New Year eve the Chinese col
ony in Washington will have assumed Z
bright. picturesque ana variegated as
pect. At the outer door of each mys
terious abode will be seen strips OF RED
paper bearing weird characters. These
scripts. as was explained to The Time.
reporter by one OF the prominent mem
bers of the Chinese colony. are sup.
posed to bring good luck. wealth, and
happiness to the jewellers within. He
also defined the significance of a Gus
tom that has been handed down by th'
royal rulers OF China for many cen
turtles. Wherever a Chinaman Of means
is found. at New Year time. portraits
Of two celebrated generals are eonspic
uously displayed on the outer wall II
the laundryman or merchant is too poor
TO afford this display. he hangs out 2
scroll bearing the names of these mill
tary heroes.
many thousands of years ago Chinese
Emperor was troubled with ilsomnia
and bad dreams He sent Tor his TIVE
most trusted generals and ordered then
to drive off the evil spirits that werl
making his nights a burden. After I
fierce encounter the generals succeeded
and peaceful slumbers returned to tn
royal couch. In recognition OF TIN
achievement. the Emperor ordered tina
during all coming time, at the New
Year. special honor should be paid &
the memory OF his faithful Officers
hence the custom Of exposing their por
traits.
Falls on Sunday.
Pei Ncin. as New Year Day is called
comes this year on Sunday next, Feb
ruary II. and is thus colncident with 81
Valentines Day. This Pei Nein mark
the beginning of the thirtieth year o
the Kuang Tsu dynasty. A few day
ago what is called the Tuen-Nin OF Wa
Shun took place in Pel1in, Canton an
all the abiding places of the Chinese
This is observed by all classes Thank
is given TO the tutelary deity OF tn
household. Afterward all the inmate
Joined in a banquet, which is still 4
progress. Saturday night. the last G
the old year. thousands upon thousand
of Chinese boys will roam the streets
crying, "Mi-Sow." Translated this mean
81 sell my folly i'm order that / may b
wiser next year"
For fully an hour on Saturday nigh
respectable Chinese will observe a super
stition called Keng-Ting. which mean
learning by the mirror. The person seek
ing the sign places a sieve upon a
empty stove. and upon the sieve a basi
of water and a looking glass. He the
steals out and listens attentively I
what the first passers-by are saying
Should the words be of good import. j
concludes that success viii be his 1e
the coming year.
The Last Day
Prostitution before ancestral altar.
long religious observances IN the ten
pies, and offerings there Of food an
paper money. also mark the last da,
At night the most gorgeous raimen
will be donned, and the streets an
temples filed with a deafening nois
and the sitting odor of exploding fire
crackers. This will go on until sun
rise OF Sunday. and many Chimes
agree that watching the New Year 4
for ten or twelve years viii insure on
a long life.
On Saturday night. not only I'm China
but wherever, in any part of the worlC
a Chinaman IS TO be found. there wi
be a casting UP Of accounts and a SET
ting Of old scores 20 the last farthing
for II Is a part of a Chinaman's rel
giOn to etart the New Year with
clean slate. This is one custom. q
least, worthy Of emulation by all Chris
tan races. Chinese beggars are a
loved wide latitude at this tim'
They Will be seen carrying baskets {
placards. Inscribed, "Hai-moon-tai
These words imply. May great goo
fortune flow into the house on IN
opening OF the door" On New Yea
morning the alert mendicants will r,
visit the houses they have plaearde
during the night and demand aims.
In Holiday Dress.
On Pei Nein. or New Year Dal
proper, holiday dress viii prevail, an
all business viii be suspended in tn
quaint old empire. Wealthy Celestial
will exchange visits in sedan chair