Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-26
YELLOW BOY SINGS YANKEE DOODLE;
FATHERS OBSERVE THEIR HOLIDAY

that the place was closed TO all visit
tors. At the temple of the Gong Jue
the same thing occurred and the joss
house was closed for the night.
Chinese restaurant near the Ala
media entrance was raided by the vis-
itors. who broke in the doors. scat
tered the tea ables about and stole
the tea bowls and ladies'.
But the mob of white rufflans with
out had little effect upon the Chinese
within and the various families talked
and played fan tan In their homes
while heavy padlocked doors kept them
safe.
Down on Marchessaut street the
house of Kee Yu proved one of the
most popular places OF entertainment
I'm the town. Celestial after Celestial
stole down dark passage ways and
through easements and entered the
opium house. Hundreds Of tourists
were passing the outside door taking
in the sights but none ever entered
the house of Kee Yu and no white man
Is ever permitted to enter there unless
he is absolutely safe with the manage
ment.
Kee did rushing business last night
and the good United States coin tinkled
i'm his fingers as he made change for
the patrons. The place was not at
tractive, with low ceiling, so low that
the patrons were compelled to stoop to
enter. Around the walls we're ar
ranged wide boards, about the width
of an ordinary bed, and these were
covered with mating. About a foot
above the bed proper came the head
rest, just narrow strip Of wood ex-
tending six inches from the wall.
Aroma Of Poppy Juice
But the surroundings had little ef-
feet upon the visitors. They were
there for another purpose and the
sitting aroma of the poppy juice
circled and floated through the smoke
ladened atmosphere.
There We're a score of Celestials
smoking, some with delicate inlaid
pearl pipes, imported at high expense
and kept at the opium shop like the
American shaving mug at a barber
shop, for the private use of the owner.
The chief interest. however, rested in
the smoking of the pill.
A fat little Celestial called for more
opium and Kee, ever light-footed and
careful, lifted small portion of the
priceless gum from its resting place
| and weighed it carefully on a hair
scale.
| With a grunt Of satisfaction the
yellow man trotted back to his place
on the mat. Kicking off his slippers
he Struggled up in a bunch. lying OH his
left side his eyes became dreamy as he
carefully picked UP the long bamboo
| pipe and caressed the bowl
From the little copper thimble he
drew the needle carrying a fair sized
crystal and then the art of smoking
| began. Holding the needle so that the
| opium simmered just above the tip of
the lamp, the Celestial worked away
with the fragrant gum until he had 1t
| properly fried, but all during the per-
| Torrance he raised the stuff to his
nostrils and took good smells of it.
Finally it was properly cooked and
the smoker leaned far over holding
the bowl of the pipe with his left hand
while he shaped the pill into the form
of button with the needle. Then he
placed the opium just over the opening
in the bowl, pierced the gum with the
needle and he was ready for the smoke.
The real smoking required but little
time, and the Celestial, placing the pill
close to the flame of the lamp, drew in
one deep draught of smoke while the
pipe coughed and sighed and the pill
sputtered. Two more inhalationS, a
sigh of infinite contentment from the
smoker and the performance was over.
But on New Years the Celestial goes
through several such performances
each night in order to properly. cele-
| brate.
Today and tomorrow will be the
closing of the years festivities and the
Chinese will give their white friends
another chance today by opening the
joss house and some of the tong halls
. IN 1yicitOrc