Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-13
Some Peculiar characteristics.


According to the custom Of the Chinese. q
Chinaman who was born yesterday is q
year older today than he was yesterday. OF
two years of age. and the birthday cele-
bration is known as pie show" It Is
therefore the custom for practically every
Chinaman to celebrate his birthday today:
but this additional celebration does not
necessarily mean that he is to get pres
ents. The Chinaman who Is a benedict
fares much better today than does his
single brother. for on this day his wifes
parents are In duty bound to send him
presents Of clothing and articles of food,
but with his own parents 1t Is mere mat
ter Of desire. They may send him presents
II they SO desire. and they may not trouble
themselves about him. Young John China
man has the time of his life on the first day
Of the New Year, for he then does his best
wearing apparel and goes with his father
to call upon his relatives and friends. The
young ones were out this morning in all
their glory, walking with their fathers and
showing themselves as feeling the weighty
responsibilities Of life. In reality they were
wondering what amounts Of cash they were
going to get In the cards that were used
to wrap coins to be distributed to the little
ones.
AS the children walked from place to
place in chinatown" they attracted the at
tention Of pedestrians and won the admira-
liOu OI the natives OF emma. VINO looked
upon them as prospective rulers Of China
when the members Of the Chinese Empire
Reform Association shall have accom-
plished Its work. "Kung- hei-fat ts'oi" was
upon the tongues of the little ones as well
as upon those of the older celestiais mean
ing. substantially. Happy New Year" 1t
was interesting in Chinatown this morn
ing to witness the Chinese youths bowling
and scraping and shaking their own hands.
as Of they had been trained by their pa
rents
But" Chinese merchant said, their
parents don't train them. They come by
It naturally. and they understand it when
they are almost too young to talk"
While the red Chinese paper, visiting and
other cards, were displayed in and outside
the homes and business places Of the Chi
nese this morning, there was also a gener-
Gus display Of flowers about the rooms in
which the guests were received and enter
tanned. Yesterday was the day for settling
accounts. but money matters were not con-
sidered today. 1t was the desire Of every
resident of Chinatown and those who are
scattered about the city to give up the day
to feasting and having a good time, and
there was not Chinaman in the whole city
who did not enjoy himself In the rooms
where the Chinese received and entertained
their friends there were no seats provided
the custom being for the caller to partake
of the refreshments and go his way
All Callers Accept Hospitality.
cup Of tea or a glass of wine or
whisky is partaken Of by most Of the call
ers. no caller ever paying a visit and de-
parting without accepting the hospitality of
the host. He may eat only Chinese rice
cake, a piece Of candy or some fruit, but
he is sure to take something to show his
appreciation OF the efforts of the friend
upon whom he has called. He never saws
he is just from the dinner table or that
he is full or sick. but he helps himself.
sometimes generously and at other times
sparingly, gauging the quantity by the
number of prior calls. The children. In
addition to getting coin wrapped In
red visiting card. were given small pack
ages of good things to take home with
them.
Hardly had the children reached the side.
walk, after being presented with the coins
before they eagerly sought the denomination
of the coin. The amount of money wranned
in the cards varied. those who were plenti-
fully supplied with this worlds goods Civ
ing the children quarters. halves and dol
lars. while others felt that nickeis, dimes
and quarters were about as much as thew
could afford. The children seemed 70
know where they might expect the largest
sums OF money and such places were visited
prosperous Cinnamon being visited later
Having settled their accounts with their
feilowman and feeling that they had for
given and been forgiven for any wronos
perpetrated during the past wear. fhe
Cinnamon viii be ready at midnight to visit
joss and make their peace. They were aIso
anxious to shake the joss-sticks and learn
something of the good that is In store for
them during the coming year. Incense was
burned at a furious rate this morning in
the joss-house as we'll as in some of the
other establishments In Chinatown. hut
there was no outward showing of the dense
volumes of smoke, the windows and doors
being kept closed to prevent its escape.
There are some Cinnamon In this country
who always celebrate the holiday a day
ahead of time, and they started the cele-
bration yesterday. but the more lively times
were witnessed In Chinatown this morning.
Some OF the Cinnamon viii do but little
work for week, but most Of them win