The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-04-30
Miss Long Writes
on Chinese New
Year Celebration
Daughter OF Rev. L. X. Long Of
Calumet Describes Unique
Event.

about seven o'clock and as we went
we could hear the noise Of the crowd
drums. horns. and the cheers OF thu
crowd. \ banker had invited us q
come 90 his shop and watch from there
so we made our way towards tho place
ON the side streets we did not see
many people. but as soon as we struck
the Big Street" (main ST., we had
To hang ON To each other to keep to-
gether. The narrow street was just
packed with men, women and children.
and il was case OF follow the
crowd" or be swamped. Fortunately
the bank was not far away ana the
crowd in front made way so we could
stoop down and get under the beam
which was placed across the entrance
To keep the people but. The front wall
Of all the shops is a series Of part!-
tons that are taken down i'm the day
time and closed 1T night; on this night
the front was open and we sat in the
chairs they had fixed there for US
around table. The women belonging
10 the men of the shop were sitting Oh
Il sort OF shelf that ran across one side
and other friends and neighbors we're
| gathered around We had the center
Of the stage and there was an atten-
tive crowd all the time watching To see
what the animals" would do next. |
forgot To say that from roof To roof
across the street are poles on top 90
| which mats are put to keep Off the
| sun; this night they had the mats
| across also, perhaps TO make it warm
| er. II made the street look like one
| big building and To add to the effect,
in front OF every shop was big Ian
| tern. the frame of wood and the sides
covered with painted silk. Such at
tractive lanterns as they were and
how pretty tho street did look, The
chief attraction on this occasion is the
procession of people doing various
stunts and when these came along. we
were told to stand on our table SO that
we could see better. We did this and
got good view OF the performers
They came in detached groups and
between whites We sat down and
came some men on stills which were
fastened to their feet brincing them
up above the peoples heads They had
no part of the stills under the arms.
rs we used To, but just walked along
through the crowd as if it was the
easiest thing in the world To do Lat
or some came along on one foot with |
lao, 9th it,lt
lind. | cannot figure how they keep
their balance ON those very uneven |
streets, where we always have To keep |
watch so that we do not stumble. Sew
cral of these performers were dressed |
as women which is a favorite stunt in /
this land. whore all the parts Of wC- !
men I'm plays are taken by men. Then |
man came along i'm an arrangement |
like boat and was dressed as "A bride
The little bound feet were i'm front of |
him, but his real feet were making the |
1oat go. There was a sort OF drum |
corps that did a serenade stunt IN |
front of us and the production was a
work of art, all right. The principle
part was taken by the drums and they
VIZ o'illt ldlfA luIllS WITH the u'uDl-
sticks which were very interesting To
watch, though we got little weary
before they finished Several times
men came along carrying a fierce tig-
crS head and every once in Il while
they would stop and give a realistic
exhibition. one man would put the
head over his ana another would get
"a. 81,
through various motions which seem
cd to please tho assembled multitude.
Last of all came the blg dragon. "a
creature with great head with lam
terms for eyes and quite a long body.
The man at the head would swing this
head around and the mem at the other
places along the body would swing in
a different direction and get quite a
fcarsome effect The crowd would JUS.
surge behind each one of these shows
and everyone had to go that way, ..
least for a time. Between these per-
ioImances the men of the bank served
us with tea and sweets, consisting of
melon seeds roasted, peanuts, and
candy. There seemed TO he a guest
that she was provided with everything;
she wanted When we came she was
"A watcr-pipc and that amused
her for long time; then the men
brought around cigarets and offered
them To us and then they were passed
10 this woman, who smoked them and
seemed to enjoy them. II Is pity to
see these people. especially the wo-
man. smoking so and thinking thatl
this is TO make them like the foreign
crs and approved of by them. Mrs.
Eastman talked To the women and
round that number OF them lad been
here TO the hospital and been treated
by Dr. Talmon. They are anxlods
Tor her to como back so that they can
come again. The Chinese DR.. i'm charge
Of the hospital now is man ana
therefor the women viii not come to
him. We rope that before long they
will learn that there is nothing to be
feared from man who has studied
and is capable, and that in the case Of
4 doctor, it is always perfectly prop
lr for man to advise "a woman.
| must finish may tale of the cele-
bration and say that we got home