South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-20
ATLANTA CHINESE
MUCH PUZZLED
Wondering What They Must
Do Now Since Nation is
Empire Once More.

ATLANTA. Ca, Dee 2O.-Half a
hundred members Of the Atlanta
Chinese colony. having extricated
themselves three years ago from a
predicament. now find themselves
In a dilemma When Dr. Sun Vat
Sen took the helm as president Of
the new republic ne ordered his
legal subjects on the two continents
70 embrace the Christian religion,
10 cease embracing their joss god.
and 10 cut all queues close to the
head But what MOVE
All these things the Atlanta
Chinese did with an alacrity that
had not always characterized the
race. and as for the joss they had
worshiped so many years. they tore
him down and burned his body 10 a
fine crisp. Atlanta's Chinatown took
on an entirely new aspect, and a
number OF Cinnamon joined the
churches and offered up their sup
plicatiOns I'm the regular American
way.
They even quit the Chinese cere-
monials at Chinese funerals. IL was
customary for a leader 10 sit on
the hearse and throw small bits of
paper into the wind These papers
had holes in them, and the Chinese
believed that evil spirits must wrig-
gle through each hole before they
could reach the body. Ere the last
piece had been tossed to winward
the corpse was laid safely away.
In other words, these changes
from ancient custom came with the
republican form OF government in
China and DR. Sun Vat Sen; and.
now taat Yuan Shi Kai has made
the republic and DR.. sun look like
last years bird nest. Atlanta
Cinnamon want 10 know If there is
any obligation to return 10 Con-
fucianism. joss gods and queues.
The answer must be recorded in
the negative, as far as the rank and
file are concerned. for a more I'M
popular official than Yuan, tbs said,
never existed That is TO say, he
was unpopular as Il president and
his influence did not carry much
farther than he could hunch jim
riksha unass.sted up a 45-degree
hill Members Of the local colony
did not fail TO express their dis
plC sure at the thought that their
DIR. sun had cen endorsed by such
an unrepresentative individual as
Yuan Shi Kai. The Chinese blood
boiled at mention cs the new presi-
dents name. and a lumber predict
ed that somebody before long would
slip a knife between his floating
ribs or rough-on-rats into his chop
suey.
one OF the worst charges Yuan
faced from this side of the globe
was that ne ate his chow mien out
of a golden bowl. and his chop suey
sticks were of the glittering metal
He also shut himself up in the royal
palace and refused TO receive call
ers. which did not look 20 most of
the laymen Chinese like a very dem
.ocratic thing To do.
Now China by some political trick,
is a monarchy again. and thoughts
are very Confucian and of confusion
OOEc AildL auADLliAAI4lN ltrl0lt TIC
old customs so dear 90 their fore
fathers. or must each Chinaman de-
eide for himself? The Chinese
boarding house at No. 50 T. Hunter
ST. is a place OF warm debates. Of
acrimonious discussions, of very pos
tive declarations that the situation
is one OF the seven perfect anOma-
lies Of the world
Almost 20 n man the Atlanta
Chinese have been contributing to a
fund intended 10 set Or. sun once
more up in business. so to speak
and .heir other inConsOlable sorrow
is the continued absence of their
former tong treasurer. Kock Sam
who left one nigbt without saying
goodbye at the same time hat So
500 Of American money also dis
appeared.
Mum Chong. secretary, now claims
20 have heard from kock sam. 81.
follows. according TO an American
friend, who claims 10 know an.
"Greetings and best wishes, ]
have spent our money ON my farm
near Canton. In not a great while
7 hope 10 send you teas and spices
not 30 mention paying "a visit 90 my
kind CCuntrymen. who Will ul
doubt. be looking for my RETURN"