Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-06

Washington is It's Chinatown.
This colony of Mongolians is stu
" ated on that section o. Pennsyl-
vania avenue which forms part
of what is known as Washington's
'BOwery," lying between LIST street and
John Marshall place. Az street To the
casua, observer passing along the south
side of this thoroughfare going east, after
leaving az street. it would appear that
small section of Canton or Hongkong had
been transported to the capital city and To-
Gated under the very shadows of the great
white dome of the house of Congress.
The sidewalks. especially on Sundays
are lined with Cinnamon. some in up-to-
date American gaTb and others in the pic
turesQue flowing costumes of the orient
Besides the merchants. keepers of yet
otto mein tyokamee) Joints, gamblers,
druggists, runners and others engaged
In business in that locality, Chinese
laundrymen from all part of the Dis
trlct flock to Chinatown on the Sabbath
day. 1t is their day of rest and recreation
and they go there to gossip; to hear the
latest news from the far east, to drink tea;
10 play "fan-tan," and last but not least to
hit the opium pipe and have their minds
drift away under the influence of the Sc
ductive drug to scenes Of celestial mag
nificence of Chinese dreamland
washingtons Chinatown has largely IN
past few years Originally it extended
around on Az street between Pennsylvania
and Missouri avenues in the row of little
brick dwellings with high frame porches
the west side of the street. These build
ings II appears, were not sufficiently pre-
tentious for the Cinnamon, and they
cured a majority of the larger and more
businesslike structures on the south side
of Pennsylvania avenue between Sd and 41a
streets and three imposing edifices on the
north side.
The landlords of Washington have no
objection to Chinese tenants. They say
the Mongolians are prompt in the pay
ment of their rent, that they are clearly
and orderly and therefore desirable as
renters
The local Chinatown is not motley. i'll
assorted colony of celestials like that in
Mott street New York. but an orderly
and well-regulated community. Law
Iessness and disorder by Cinnamon are
unknown quantities there, and the po-
lice therefore rarely, indeed, have occa-
sion to invade its quaint precincts for the
purpose of arresting some offender. The
brawls and drunken revelries or the dis
cordant alcoholic war WhOOps which
arouse the midnight echoes in some
other sections of the city are never in
dulged in by the denizens of Washing
tons Chinatown.
A tour Of this colony made re-
Gently by a reporter for The Star. Away
back from the hustle and hustle of the
busy avenue there scenes that are
unusual to American eyes. The most i'm
portant structure in Chinatown. appar-
emily is a handsome three story build
ing on the south side Of the avenue num-
bered 314. Along the lower ledge of the
front balcony extends a signboard which
announces in the brightest Of golden let
tiers the name of company of Chinese
importers Above and below this long sign
board are number of swinging signs in
black and gold. the inscriptions ON which
are a lot of Chinese hieroglyphiCR. The
large show windows of the establishment
are fJled with delicate chinaware, fancl-
ful ChopstiCks and the like.
Entering the store and leaving behind
t. SresEgNls BonSs OF tire e'eetric cars and
other noises of the street, the reporter
found seated about the place on chairs. tea
bales and boxes a half score of Cinnamon.
Many of them were smoking Chinese to-
bacco' in American pipes, and as the
curls Of smoke assembled. forming fantas-
tic air pictures in blue and gray, the ce-
lestials chartered like many magpies.
They We're discussing phases of the Jap
anese- Russian. war, talking shop and re-
citing the latest news from China FAR
away on the other side of the globe. The
conversation ceased as the reporter en-
tered and he was greeted by one or the