davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
WESTINGHOUSE CHINATOWN CENTER-
AROUND 4 u ST. AND PENN 5YLvANIA AVE.

day the real preparations are begun.
Every house must be made clean.
Spotlessly SO. And that does not only
mean that the house must be ''tidied up, "
but that a thorough "spring cleaning
must be administered. And more than
that, too, for new mattings must cover
the "kangs" or hunks whereon the
Chinaman takes his rest. Then the
stores must be set in order.
This accomplished, the next thought
of each celestial is for himself or his
family Into the shops of Lee Moy,
Charles Hong, Lee Seng, Lee Quong
and Charlie Lee 500, as we'll as into the
emporiums of many others, troop the
jewellers of Chinatown. New clothes is
their desire, for the reason that the New
Year must see them clothed in new
garments. Their best clothes will
not suffice. nor the wearing of "some-
thing new. as with many Americans.
New Year day must see them CARRIED in
an entire new outfit from head to foot,
and from the head of the family to the
tiniest little oriental that belongs to the
family. 1t is absolutely necessary that
the clothing has never before been on
mans back.
Then the markets receive their share
of attention. Days ago all the young
pigs available disappeared into the base
ments of Chinatown, there to be roast
ed to a delicate brown, to be in readi-
ness for the feast today.
Cinnamon are not vastly different from
their American neighbors when 1t comes
to preparing their New Year feast Just
what will be set on the teakwood tables
with their inlaid designs in mother-of-
pearl, depends largely upon just how
much the Chinaman has to spend. The
menu may run the gamut of edlbles. from
the tabled shark fin and bird s-nest soup
of the mandarin to The frugal bowl of
rice, roast chicken and cup of sam
shu," the cheapest of rice wine. of which
the poor man will partake
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

probable cost Of the monument at $780,
600. although the design, as afterward
adopted. called for an expenditure Of
about $1.O0O,0OO. Lyon. however. worked
out a simple method for raising the
money, and had the citizens responded
there would probably now be a towering
shaft as a memorial to Washington with
in a block or so of the Normal College
building.
"A correct census of the city," ex-
planned Lyon, would probably exhibit
a population of 10000 souls, one-fourth,
at least, of whom would be able to con-
tribute something toward such noble
work. Suppose that 100000 of our popu-
lation should agree to contribute 81 a
year toward defraying the expenses. AT
the end of five years we should present
the country with a monumental structure
to the memory of Washington such as no
of its most distinguished benefactor.
''Only let the word go forth that the
Washington monument shall be built. and
there is not a seamstress or apprentice
boy in the city but would willingly con-
tribute their dollar year toward the &C.
complishment of such an object
Encouraged by such q patriotic appeal
and by the influence Of the trustees Of the
Washington Monument Association.
became governor of the state in 1S4S: Ed
ward X. Collins. head of the New York
and Liverpool steamship line; William c.
H. Waddell, whose town house on the
present site of the Brick Presbyterian
Church on 9Th avenue was one Of the
show places Of the city: Sheppard Knapp,
Elias c. Drake. John Leveridge, Gen.
Henry Storms, and Thompson Price,
about $4,000 was quickly raised
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

occasion; the governor Of the state, the
mayor of the city, and a host Of lesser
lights and officials were in attendance
Backed by an organization known as the
Washington Monument Association, In
corporated by the legislature, and in
Guiding among it's trustees many of the
wealthiest merchants Of the city, the
patriotic citizens looked forward to the
completion of monument costing at
least $1,W0.tO0 1t promised that 1t
would rise to such height on the high
Land of Hamilton Square as to make 1t
visible to mariners fifty miles at sea.
The history of the Washington monu-
ment movement. which reached its eli
max October ~, 1S47. and then suddenly
lapsed into oblivion, dates from 1888.
when, headed by Gov. Morgan Lewis,
large number of influential citizens deter
mined that New York should erect to the
memory of George Washington the grand
est monument in the country. They were
Incorporated by the legislature as the
Washington Monument Association.
No serious effort appears to have been
made to raise money. In 1S&, the project
was renewed. but this met with no better
success. Spurred on by the efforts or
Isaac >. Lyon, one of the noteworthy
characters of the time. whose occupation
association under the same name was an
corporated in March, 1877 and this was
the only one that showed any genuine
activity Lyons efforts for the cause
wrote and widely circulated, entitled
The Washington Monument, Shall 1t Be
Built" an address which he dedicated to
tho citizens of New York in 1876.
let II be such a monument as earth
never saw before, he said, for 1t will be
Dedicated to the memory of earth's par
agon of human gentleness. Let its foun-
dalton be laid deep in the solid earth.
and let its summit tower high above all
surrounding objects-the delight and adj
miration of every beholder-beautifui in
the sunshine majestic in the storm, the
last object that shall linger on the gaze
of the wanderer as he Steams down our
noble bay. and the first that shall break
upon his enraptured vision when he re-
turns
The humble cartmau estimated The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

while over all floats the subtle incense OF
the punk stick and the sweet odor of the
New Year lilies.
So much for the homes.
Up three flights of creaking stairs from
the street door, where black characters
crawl across red banners telling of the
New Year which has come. a, priest of the
faith of Confucius is before the altar in
the only josshouse in Washington, at 31s
Pennsylvania avenue 90
X
Before today is over every Chinaman
in all Chinatown and all those China
men who do not go to the Christian
churches will have padded up the three
flights Of stairs and watched the priest
scatter the paper prayers before Guam
Gung Chang, the big green joss, half
hidden by the myriad spirals of incense
smoke. And all this time old Lee the
good gray prayer keeper of the joss,
stands by.
Guam Gung Chang. the joss. is. after
the fashion of most oriental gods, an
apotheoSiZed deity. The Cantonese sought
something more tangible and nearer their
ideas of the perfect human, and so when.
SEQ years ago, revolt sprang up in one
Of the southern provinces and there
arose a leader mighty with the two
handed sword they called him the Lord
Of the Great Army, and when he died he
became at nrSt a tutelary deity and
later the symbol of all that is to be
desired in man. And the majority of
Cinnamon in Washington are Cantonese.
They believe that Guam Gung Chang had
neither father nor mother, and they tell
of how he was picked up in the streets
of Canton and reared by a poor man and
woman. That is the joss which they are
worshipinG in Washington's Chinatown
today.
Preparing for a Chinese New Year 10
not the simple affair as it is to those
who celebrate it January /, but g. task
which means much work, some Of it
reaching back many weeks. Long be-
fore the New Year day arrives each
Chinaman plants his New Year lilies
These, placed in their shallow glass
they water and tend carefully day by
day. For, be it known, New Year day
without the lilies in full bloom bespeaks
a luckless year indeed to come for their
owner.
About week previous to New Year
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
Yor Monument Washington Was Have Cost Million Dollar

also that Of his father, the humble cart
man said:
Though but a mere boy at the time.
still recollect with pride the high gratifi-
cation I enjoyed in shaking the hand OF
your honored father when last in this
country, nearly a quarter Of century
ago."
What became Of the famous Washing
ton monument corner stone is not known.
Nothing more was ever heard OF tho
plan, SO auspiciOusly begun siSty-five
years ago, except a few newspaper adj
vertisements which appeared infrequent-
ly asking for subscriptions. The monu-
ment association gradually ceased to ex-
ist, the million-dollar monument was for
gotten. and no record remains. when the
ground once known as Hamilton Square
was cut up and the streets run through,
as to what was done with the corner
stone and it's leaden box filled with me-
MORALS of the city in 1S47.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
WASHING TONS ONLY JOSS House
315 PENNSYLVANIA AVE TOP TLOOR

celebrate the coming of the new year
according to our calendar system.
China has always reckoned time accord
ing to the lunar system. at the same time
numbering the years themselves accord
ing to the reign of the incumbent of the
throne. According to the lunar system.
the year is divided into twelve lunar
months, the year containing but 2o4 days.
This evening there will be a new moon,
thus marking the beginning of a new
month, and in this instance. new lunar
year. According to this reckoning. how
ever, there are eleven days less III
the year of the Chinese than In that
by which we reckon. So, if this sys-
TEN were followed without mOdifica-
ton. the result after a few years would
be the loss of several complete months,
which would sometimes bring what cor:
responds to our February in the middle
of summer thus upsetting the seasons.
Consequently, in order to reconcile the
periods of the moon with the seasons, the
necessary extra days are added IN the
form of an extra month at stated periods,
which brings the beginning of each year
at approximately the same time, and
thereby preserves the seasons.
Numbering the years according TO the
reign of an emperor does not mean that
a new year was begun with the beginning
of each new reign. For example, If a
new emperor assembled the throne within
a few days of the end of their calendar
wear it was called the first year of his
reign. and with the beginning of the new
year it would be said to be the year
of the reign.
There is another interesting point in
connection with the celebration of this
new year from the standpoint of time
In reality, the Chinese LIST of January
falls on the 18th of February, today. But
because there is difference in time be-
tween China and the United States, many
of the Cinnamon in the local Chinatown
really began their celebration yesterday,
so that they would be observing, stimuli
taneously, the day with their kin-folk in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

surmounted by star. Tho canopy waa
Of draped United States flags topped with
the figure Of an American eagle.
''The day was uncommonly fine" said
one account. soft, sunny October wealth
err while the other spoke Of 1t as IAN
Italian summer morning, joy-inspiring,
smile-creating, spirit-infusing.'
The exercises consisted of a short
milye. pastor of the old Middle Dutch
Church on Nassau street, afterward used
as the post Office. Gov. Young then laid
the corner stone. Morris ode was then
sung by the Musical Institute and other
societies and addresses were made by
Chief Justice Samuel Jones, George
Washington Park Gusts. stepson of
George Washington, and Col. Joseph C.
Hart. Mr.. Morris ode consisted of six
stanzas, as follows:
A monument to Washington.
tablet craven with his name!
Green be the mound 1t stands upon
And everlasting as his fame.
His glory fills the land. the plain
The moor, the mountain. and the mart;
More firm than column, urn, or fame,
His monument-the human heart.
The Christian, patriot, hero sage,
The chief that Heaven in mercy sent,
His deeds are written the age
His country is his monument
1.-The sword of Gideon and the Lord
Was mighty in his mighty hand;
The God who gufdeQ ne ad0red
And with His blessing freed the land.
The first in war, the first In peace.
The first in the hearts that freemen own,
Unparalleled till time shall cease,
He lives, immortal and alone
Yet like the rock hewn tower arise
High to the archway of the sun
And speak, in the approving skies,
Our gratitude to Washington.
The inscription on the stone read:
This cornerstone of the monument to the mem
DRY OF George Washington was laid with ap-
propriate ceremonies on the 10th day of October,
wallis to Gen. Washington at Yorktown, AID.
1851, under the auspices and direction Of the
Washington Monument Association Of the City
Of New York.
The corner stone was a remarkable slab
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

Jacob Hays, the redoubtable high con-
stable OF the city, was a striking figure,
wearing all the gorgeous insignia OF his
Office. but the most popular feature of
the parade was a magnificent car repre-
senting the Temple of Liberty and drawn
by six white horses furnished by the ia
nous stage coach proprietors. Klipp &
Brown. In the center Of the car was a
bust of Washington surrounded by thir-
teen girls dressed in white with liberty
caps on their heads and bearing wands
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
The Modern STAGE.

GORGE AIDE, at an after theater
- supper in Chicago, gave a witty
synopsis Of the modern drama.
Modern drama" he said, may be
divided into two parasitic farce COM
edy and the problem play.
In farce comedy the hero deceives
his wife and denies it, and in the prob
lem play he deceives her and con-
fesses."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

ornamental rooters of the soil. But the
Chinaman is also fond of ducks, geese
and chickens.
Then. too, the Chinese chef puts the
American expert cook far in the rear
when it comes to devising tasty methods
of cooking fowls. There are the 1ichee
nuts, the water root tree Of China, which
he uses in dressing fowls, succulent rice
sprouts and bean shoots, to say nothing
of the long, delicious strips OF edible
bamboo.
The seeker after knowledge culinary
in Chinese kitchens cannot take menu
card from a. ''chop suey" emporium and
feel satisfied that all of the dishes there
on appear on some one of the many ia
bles spread for Chinese New Year. Such
connections as tey-quo-main, chow
Chinese treatments of combinations of
meats grains and vegetables which have
the qualities appealing to American pal
ates. The meal that the Chinaman eats
is vastly different.
There will be at least two definite styles
of food prepared for the tables today.
The south Cinnamon, or Cantonese and
the Cinnamon who come from the north
ernmost provinces base their respective
culinary arts on almost Numerically OPP
posed principles. The south Chinaman
likes salt. He spreads sauces over most
of his food: one made from the fermented
juice of the soy bean, and another made
from the liver of geese. The north China
flavor of blended sour and sweet. For
instance. the Cum quat" is his favorite
confection, while he holds the big white
cherry in no less favor
X X
This same difference in taste can be
found in the matter Of wines. These.
covering wide range and consisting of
a vast number, are found to be different,
according to the part of the country the
Chinaman is a native of. What the grape
is to continental Europe and this country
rice is to the Chinese. They will not
raise anything available only for drink
ing purposes, and consequently, they
raise no grapes. but use rice, their staple
product.
The best quality Of rice wine is called
mandarin" This Is not only so costly
that only the wealthy can afford it, but
is also very intoxicating A special species
Of rice Is required for its making,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
Equally Entertaining.

NTHEY often say that there's more
fun in watching the House pro-
ceedings,' said Senator Brown the other
day, ''but occasionally l find some one
who is interested in the Senate.
"A lady who is entertaining some out
of-town guests told me the other day that
ii was the easiest thing in the world for
her to show them a good time. / asked
her how she managed IL.
"'AI 1 have to do" she replied, SIS TO
take them to either the Senate or the
Zoo. They say they can't decide which
they find the more entertaining'"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

the land on the Yellow sea. But the real
observances begin today, and it will be
two days more before Chinatown. settles
back into its usual routine. This is why
members of the Chinese embassy give
January IS as the Chinese new year.
while the Chinatown dwellers steadfastly
insist that it really begins on January IL.
In order to change from the lunar sys-
the present time would mean the loss of
more than month and half. 1t would
mean upsetting all the Chnaman's sea-
sons for nearly a year to come. 1t would
mean that he would not know just when
to plant his crops unless careful study
were made, or do any other things with
out first making a laborious count in or
der to reconcile the two systems.
One reason for the celebration of the
New Year today, the day on which it
has been celebrated by the Chinese en-
pre, is that the republic was not .estab-
lished when our New Year day fell. But
there is another reason, too, and this
may safely be said to be the reason why
the old and new was blended for this one
time into one occasion. Far back, far
Their than any man Of western race can
realize-far back in the years when the
great wall of China was built, and long
before the Manchus came down with con-
quering hordes and cast the south Chi
nese, the men of Canton, into bondage.
there were certain customs written into
the lives and hearts of the men of China
customs which cannot be rudely thrown
away all at once And chief among their
multitudinous customs is the one which
makes it necessary to pay all debts be-
fore the dawning of a new year.
X 4
That is why today, although the begin
ming of the fourth year, according to
those who still reckon by the count Of the
empire, is the beginning of the year 1909
for republcanized China.
All debts must be paid before the New
Year day dawns!
1t is part OF a Chinaman's religion Of
fair dealing never to enter the New Year
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

years
ago the chief topic
of interest among
[ n e citizens of
New York, apart
from the Mexican
war, which was
then in progress,
W a S I II c great
W d s hin gton
monument which
ii was proposed to
erect in Hamilton
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

On October 10. 1s47. the anniversary of
the surrender of CORVALLIS at Yorktown,
the corner stone Of the monument was
laid amid splendid ceremonies. The city
had previously given the association the
plot in Hamilton Square for the monu-
ment, and on July 4. 1S47 liberty pole
was erected on the site as preliminary
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

five feet square by four feet thick, and
within was placed 1eaden box contain
ing, with other things, the coins of the
country, the charter and bylaws of the
association, the manual Of the city for
1S4, the newspapers of the day, Isaac
Lyons address on the Monument, q sur
vey of the ground, the directory Of the
city. and a certificate Of membership in
the Society of the Cincinnati signed by
Washington.
A fatal accident marred the close of the
ceremonies. A pair of artillery horses
took fright on leaving the grounds, and,
running around the field. struck one of
the pupils of the Deaf and Dumb Insti-
died
The scene in returning from the
ground which was then virtually in the
suburbs of the city, was evidently spec
that every omnibus, carriage. hack. cab,
railroad car, farm wagon-in fact, every
thing in the shape of a wheeled vehicle
was filled, and thousands who were wea-
ried with the march were obliged to walk
to their homes. three to four and a hair
miles distant. and thus, it was hopefully
predicted, "ended the ceremony of laying
the corner stone of a monument to COM
memOrate for ages to come the virtues of
him who was first in peace, first in war
and first in the hearts Of his country
men,"
Jacob Hayes, who was the last high
constable of New York. an Office which.
in his time. was equivalent to that of
chief Of police, was for many years one
of the interesting characters of the city.
He headed the civic part of the parade,
carrying. we are told in the Commercial
Advertiser. 1.-The staff which was used in
the first inauguration and also at the
funeral ceremonies of Washington. Hayes
died in 1880, and with him died the an
cient office Of high constable.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

But between these two extremes there
is vast selection to be had. OF course.
roast pig has been the traditional New
Year dish for centuries. 1t dates back
to the time when Chinaman, touch
ing the body of a hog that had died
in a fire which destroyed a hut in one Of
the middle provinces, slapped his scorched
hand to his mouth and discovered that
pigs were something more than merely
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

lures at the base Of the monument to a
museum and portrait gallery. and in 1S4S
he wrote letters to all the crowned heads
Of Europe and other famous persons
throughout the world, asking them for
their autographs to be placed in the tro-
ply hall.
He received many valuable autographs,
which he retained until his death, soon
after 1870, and they were then sold to
dealer in old books. Lyon kept copies or
the letters he wrote asking for auto
graphs, and an extract from the one
which he sent to Jerome Bonaparte.
brother of the Emperor Napoleon. may
be interesting as throwing light on the
character of the projected monument,
and also revealing the enthusiastic type
of New York's most famous cartman.
The New York Washington monu-
ment." he says. when completed, will
be the noblest and grandest edifice of the
kind ever erected in this or any other
age or country. It will be useful as well
as ornamental. and will contain Ii
brary, a portrait gallery, trophy hall
and an autograph room. / am now en-
gagged in making a collection Of the auto
graphs Of the noted and distinguished
men of the present century, Of all coun-
tries and professions, and when the
post them within its walls for the bene-
fit and admiration Of posterity.
4
MY principal object, therefore. in
troubling you with this humble epistle
is most respectfully to solicit the favor
Of your own, and, should 1t be In your
power to furnish 1t, the autographs OF
your illustrious brother. the late Emperor
Napoleon. My collection already con-
tains list Of over 1000 names. embrac-
ing most of the noted men Of the United
States, and many OF the distinguished
men Of Europe. I have as yet few auto
graphs of the great men OF France and
of republican Frenchmen. not one"
In writing to George Washington La
fayette, the son of the Marquis de La
fayette, requesting his autograph, and