Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-02-24
THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.
Queer Way Of Observing the Day In
Chinatown.

Queer Way OF Observing the Day In
Chinatown.
Sounds, incense and sights surround
ing the Plaza recently reminded ali who
strolled that way that 1t was tie first
day Of the Chinese New Year. 1t was
ushered in by characteristic festivities
that will remain in full force for a
week, suffer lull for a time and re-
vive for a second seven days Of hill
arity that will come to a grand finale
on February 16.
Exhortations Of street preachers
were punctuated by the explosion of
firecrackers in punches that sounded
like the bursting of a million grains of
giant popcorn. Chinese mothers lul-
labys, aeons old, waited out from be-
hind indoor screens to blend not inhar-
mon!ously with Gospel hymns, chanted
by latter-day zealots on the opposite
curb.
Everywhere was babble of tongues,
in which dominant notes, often clash
ing with harsh effect and sometimes
making music, were the cultured sort
of Queens English, a down. to date
brand Of that great American hobo's
slang; Chinese dialects, that sound
from the lips about as they look on pa
per, and the ever present Mexican in
depreciation Of the almost obsolete
classic Latin.
Sacred incense from temple and
hearthstone mixed with fumes from
the dens where Chinese whisky and
gins are favorite beverages. Tobacco
smoke from pipe or cigar in nearly ev-
cry Celestial's mouth curled upward In
the warm, still air. From one doorway
came the appetizing odor Of savory
dishes, highly seasoned with divers i'm
ported herbs, and from the next a
stencil oozing from a decoction to be
tasted only after the requirement Of a
long trained appetite.
There was, too, the penetrating and
pervading presence Of pungent paint,
fresh for the holidays on all the more
pretentious buildings, sweet perfume Of
Chinese lilies, and everywhere the
smoke from the firecrackers.
The sights, though, are the whole
show. No blind man could even learn
through his other senses what manner
of celebration is the Chinese New Year.
The story Is best told by the camera.
Society, from up on the hills, heavily
bediamoned and lightly befurred, rub
ber elbows. with Oriental tradespeople
whose ambitions are measured in pen-
MES.
Typical tourists from sections effete
and frozen carried their coats on their
arms and perspired, as they jostled
and bumped from wall to curbstone
among pedestrians from dozen other
lands.
Mud -clogged carts made way in mar
row alleys for high-horse power auto
mobiles, and silken skirts brushed the
feet of maudlin tramps, half asleep
at hallway thresholds.
Seasonable decorations are every
where in evidence, the yellow dragon
banner nearly always surmounting
brilliant arrangements Of hue in paint
and bunting on shops and homes. All
the Chinese clubs have their gala en-
signs on display, and fantastic freaks
in multi-colored paper are suspended
from the windows and balconies.
All this scene Of festivity lies cut
spread in the shadow Of the historic
old edifice of Christian worship, the
Church of the Mother Of Angels, erect
ed by the Spaniards.
Crowds of Chinese who blocked the
pavements of their colonial district
Yesterday included few women, the
Celestial matron abhorring publicity
and stunning the gaze Of the idly Gu
rious, more particularly on this OPEN
ing day of the New Years fortnight
Los Angeles Times.