Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-13
CHINESE new YEAR
CELEBRATED TODAY
BY INDOOR SPORTS
Weird Music and Sounds Of
Revelry Heard From
Chinatown's Back Par
lors- Joss House Deserted

Gongs changed at brief intervals and
Chinese musicians dlscoursed strange
sounds in Chlnatown's back pariors today,
while the punk sticks that the enlightened
use to drive away mosquitoes fumed
| thickiy before joss gods-all to celebrate
the Chinese New Year. which reached
here yesterday and won't stop until mid
night tonight II is the fourth year OF
/ the Chinese Republic. and the b1s2d Of
the ancient dynasties. whichever you
choose. though most of the inhabitants
OF Chinatown like to think of the new
republic designation as the proper one.
Chinese New Years cards that can
hardly be distinguished from your laundry
tickets were delivered by the postmen
his morning. Tea. chicken yokamine.
Nhee ang (Chinese sausage) and many
other things Chinese eat began disappears
ing almost as soon as the colony looked
out the windows and saw what sort OF
weather the New Year had brought.
From 9th street TO 10th on Race business
has ceased. All the way from On Longs
delicatessen store near the corner OF 9th
street, UP TO the King wo Company's
china and bric-a-brac emporium. shut
tered doors proclaim a holiday. But the
holiday is largely kept indoors. The last
time there was anything lively on the
streets of Chinatown during New Years
parties band of Tongs from New York
fired off Roman candles and a revolver or
two into a parade marching under the
old yellow and black dragon flag. So now
they stay inside on New Years.
PASSING OF JOSS HOUSE.
This year the joss House will have
very little part in the celebration, ac-
cording to LIang Chow. of the Chinese
Merchants Association. He says the
! old religion went out with the new Re-
public and that now Chinese has no
religion. unless he's Christian. LIang
Chow Is not one. The Joss House. II
appears has descended to rather COM
| mercial level II is at 934 Race street
| up on the fourth floor. Since its religion
went out of fashion with the coming of
the new Republic, the Joss House hung
out sign to attract visitors: This
| way to the Chinese Temple" In the old
| days admission was difficult for the white
man
Four flights up is a narrow passage
| leading to front room. A middle-aged
| Mongolian wearing red sweater and
| cap came from front room and waited
| eNpectantly. Overhead was a sign, Five
| Cents to See" He took the money CRATE
| fully and you followed him into the
front room. 1t was lined with gaudy
chairs facing large fiat table, behind
| which, in deep recess, hung the picture
| u
In the red sweater and cap pays no at
tentlon to visitors. Having got your adj
mission. he goes through the business
with dispatch.
woRSHIPING IN TEMPLE.
on the fiat table. ornately carved lay
chicken. red berry in its beak. The
worshiper lifted cup of water from
beside the chicken and poured stream
i on the floor. Then he hitched up his
trousers and ltnelt on a red pillow pre-
viously placed, bowling five times to the
floor. Rising. he reached out his hands
\ toward the joss and bobbed his head.
A large gong hung beside the window,
around the corner from the fiat table. He
walked around, struck It heavily with
| mallet for two minutes and then sat IN
chair and pointed at a sign overhead
1t read: "Notlce-Bracelets incense, tea
and li-chestnut are blessed by the Joss
| and are called lucky charms"
Today few of the older Chinese are
celebrating in the Joss House. To the
| faithful admission Is free.