The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-06-13

the deceased's favorite deity, all of his
smaller idols being ranged upon brack-
ats above the casket. Of course there
Is no priest or minister to deliver an
oration, so the mourners form a circle
around the room, all upon their hands
and knees and facing the center, the
center space being occupied by the
in number-one has
tom-tom drum and the other fiddle
with one string. The music starts, and
every heather in that room begins to
chant the most weird and mOurnful
dirge that ever smOte Christians ear,
and if by chance there be Christian
present, I'll guarantee inside of sixty
seconds his flesh is quivering like that
of a jellyfsh. This chant is continued
for two solid hours without an inter-
mission. Then the mourners all arise
and the pallbearers lift the casket from
the bier, carry it to the hearse, aid the
funeral cortege begins to wend Its
way toward Calvary Cemetery, six
miles distant. In a Chinese funeral
procession the hearse is always in the
van, next come the pallbearers-not at
each side of the hearse, but behind
they walk two abreast. the first two
carrying lighted joss sticks, while the
others are busy scattering little bright
slips of paper on the roadway. These
little bits of paper are red and yellow
in color, about four inches square,
and are covered with Chinese charac-
ters. The yellow ones bear final in
vocation to his idols, while the red
ones are messages of warning to the
evil spirit. You can imagine a China
mans patience anG~perseverance when
1 tell you that everyone of these little
messages-snd there are many thou
sands of them used at each funeral
are hand painted. (You see China
man doesn't use either pen or pencil.
but does all of his writing with paint
pot and brush.) Of course they have
printing presses, but for some reason
or other these little funeral messages
are all done by hand.
Next in line following the pallbear-
ers comes the sacrifice wagon" then
next is an open carriage containing
the musicians, (the same two you saw
in the Joss-house, with the same in
struments and rendering the same
kind of music). The next carriage OF
two following contain the chief mourn
ers, each bearing lighted joss stick
in his hand. AS to- the rest of the line
it is much the same as in any funeral
procession. Arriving at the cemetery
the mourners form circle about the
grave and while the casket is being low
cred and the grave filled. chant the same
mourntul dirge as heard in the Joss
house. Now when the grave is finally
filled and the earth heaped upon the
mound, instead of covering the same
with floral offerings, why the sacrifice
wagon backs up, from which is takeI
a roast goose, stuffed with rice, then {
generous platter of "chop suey," next {
large bowl of "yokee MEN," then comes
assorted cakes, nuts, dates, figs, ant
sweetmeats. This feast is spread up
on the grave to appease the evil spirit
Having performed she last sad rite
, over the remains of their late comrad'
the mourners betake themselves bacl
to town, but before the rear guard is wei
in the roadway that feast upon tn
grave has been devoared, for Calvar
Cemetery is infested and overrun wit
tramp dogs. Some of the old-timer
can smell that sacrifice wagon comin
before it reaches the Clark St. bridge
CHINESE HOSPITALITY.
Social life in Chinatown is not yer
attractive. John very seldom enter
tains, but when he does it is always i
a lavish manner. Dnring the Chimes
: New Year holidays shich occur i
September and lastvfWo weeks, ever
prominent merchant 10 Chinatow
: hold an informal reception, with th
q public as his guests. All business
!. suspended during that period, and hi
= store is gaily decorated with blue an
: yellow bunting. Masic is furnishe
i by the regulation orchestra, the ton
= tom drum and singular fiddle (sing,