The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-02-03
CHINESE NEW YEAR.
Continued from Page ID

and beyond, and on all the cross streets
Kingdom, who make their homes in
Honolulu, have their abiding place.
There had been a. subdued note Of
preparation all through the quarter in
the earlier hours of the evening. The
streets were thronged with well-dress-
ed Chinese, who moved about with an
air of men who are getting ready. The
stores were swept as clean as clean,
and hung all about with long red BAN
ners upon which We're cabalistic in
scriptions. Large red and white Ian
terms, larger red and white lanterns
than can be seen anywhere outside of
China, swung in the wind before the
shops and stores, and as night came
down these were seen to hold twink
| ling electric lights. What would they
say, in China, to electric lights in Chi
nese paper lanterns? The club houses
showed gorgeous effects in white and
colored incandescent globes, and noise
less servants-and even these in gala
dress-moved about with that same air
of mysterious preparation.
mo can tell anything" one of these
said, to an early evening caller. you
come back midnight, look see!'
Every household in town that has a
Chinese servant prepared itself to rus
tie for it's meals during the three days
that will be devoted to the celebration.
Chinese household servants who are
priced are priced sufficiently to make
the household subject itself to this an
nual discomfort while he celebrates. AL
so, he will bring back to the people of
the household strange and valuable
presents of silk, and CONNECTIONS that
will cause the young of the white men
to dream of fiery dragons and all sorts
of uncouth monsters when 1t is taken
into the insides of them.
! At midnight the visitor returned to
the club house to look see!" but really
| 1t was not necessary to tell him that
was the hour fixed for the opening of
the celebraticn-not after 1t was
opened.
When the, whistles blew, every Chi
naman in town who was true to the
traditions of his fatherland, and every
one who had the price, seemed to be
engaged in setting off strings of fire
crackers that were punctuated at nerve
racking intervals with bombs. The
truer he was to his traditions, the more
often he started the fiery strings to
writing, and the more money he had
the more and larger were the bombs
| h. nF f,l,s
nese stores kept the thing UP for hours,
| filling the night with splitting fire and
the atmosphere with a most Internal
smell of sulphur and burned powder.
AS a noisy celebration 1t opened most
successfully, and as smelly one 1t left
nothing to be desired. The club houses,
which had been the quietest and the
lightest places in town ten minutes be-
fore the time set for the celebration,
became at once the noisest; and many
club men in silken robes stood there
to welcome the friends, Chinese and
American and natives, who poured in
upon them from midnight on and Of
fered their congratulations and best
wishes. The New Year is a season
when Chinaman pays his debts and
feels at peace with all the world, and
when nothing that he has or can buy
Is too good for his friends. There were
elaborate spreads at the clubs. liquid
and other refreshments, and cigars for
all, and all who came were made well
come.
Today, the merchants of the city will
receive their friends, and pay their own
New Year call, and there will be gen.
eral suspension OF all but the most
necessary business in the Chinese
stores. There will be numerous re-
ceptions held In various parts of Chi
natown.
At II a. m. the Quon On Society will
hold a reception to which the public
is invited.
The Chinese Consul Mr.. Chang Tso
Fan, will not hold his official reception
at the Consulate until Saturday, be-
ginning at noon on that day
The celebration will conclude on Sun
day night. OF
Open house will be kept by the Yee
Kee Tong occupying the big clubhouse
at the corner of Maunakea and Hotel
streets. A general invitation is ex-
tended to the public between ~ and 1.