The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-07-19

N Life must be respected. mo one 10 pei
mitted to kill, eat or sell pork, tow! O
'1 fish until seasonable rains nave Ialien
- AUIrestaurantS and hotels must be cleared
r of all flesh food. The situation is seri
> Gus. It is hoped that by strictly ObServ'
/ ing this fast the offended idols will be
appeased and the showers will be forth
coming.
Flags. all sizes, colors and shapes, are
in evidence everywhere. They float
from trees. bamboo poles. clothes lines
and boat masts. AS one wends his way
through the narrow winding streets OF
the city his eye is attracted by the more
elaborate kind which have been draped
from the shop signs by the weather.
merchants. Homage is. being paid the
dragon, it being supposed that he has the
power to give or withhold the rains.
RumorS spread like forest fire. 1t is
proclaimed abroad that the idols are
Withholding the rains as punishment
] upon the people for their inattention and
neglect of religious order. Reparation
must precede SupplicatiOn. Farmer and
merchant, common iaborer and skilled
mechanic unite in one grand scheme of
penance. A freewill offering is sub
scribed. Mr. Lee, 50 cents, Kao. one
dollar, Mr.. Wang, ten dollars Mr.. Yang,
twenty dollars. Several tens of dollars
are in hand. The names of subscribers
are listed on a large sheet of yellow pa
per and posted on billboard erected for
the purpose in the court of the city tenn
pie. Messrs. Wang and Yang are par
takers of veritable glory. Their deeds
of charity are being praised by the mul-
titudes which throng this court. OF
course these gentlemen are abaSed to
have their deeds of charity published
abroad. But since it happens to be Gus
of hho iS
embarrassmentC0 Recipieuts of public
charity in China are fortunate if the first
expenditure of fund is not used to erect
a stone memorial tablet eulogizing the
donOrS.)
The city temple is the scene of much
activity. Scores of carpenters, with saw
and hammer in hand are busy repairing |
broken down frame work, chairs, tables |
and affairs. Artisans are putting forth |
their best skill redecorating the huge |
and hideous idols which fill the temple. |
From one cause and another some are
manned and halt. Some sre eyeless, Or |
have lost uose or an ear. Much time
is required 10 restore them to their orig
inal beautyG). Heather priests are en-.
gagged in reading religious prayers and
offering up incense. There is commo-
ton in the temple. A priest announces
that he has received message from the
God of Fire. A threat is made. The
city will be destroyed by fire if this idol
is not specially included in the big re
vival now under way. A VOW is made.
He is promised an outing as soon as time
and circumstances will permit.
In yOnder city square hundreds of men
are hard at work. A large platform is
being erected. A theatrical troupe of
more than one hundred players will per-
form here. Reed mattin9S are used as
coverings for large sheds which have
been erected. Here hundreds of men
and women will find shelter from the
sun while they watch the performance
of this dramatic exhibition. Tea shops
are erected near by. Here the Steaming
cup of tea may be bought for the small
sum of ten cash. (LesS than one-half
stands, hundreds of them line the great
which leads up to the plat.
form. Everything is being orderly ar
ranged. A noted theatrical troupe from
a distant city is due TO arrive in few
days. By these celebrated performers it
is expected that all idols, the God of
Fire included, Will be appeased and the
long expected rains will come.
Directly in front of and about two hun
dred yards from the platform. carpenters
are putting the finishing touches OH a
rather peculiar building. Please may /
ask the service Of this building? The
God of Fire will occupy this. He is to
be the guest of honor at this "HSi. -
Theatrical play.)
All things are now ready. Hours be-
fore dawn one is awakened by the noise
of exploding fire crackers, shouts, cries
and hurrahs. The hour has struck. The
have begun. Men and wo-
men dress hurriedly and pour into the
city square. Excited dogs rush hither
and thither growing and barking furi-
ouSly. A few hours later and hundreds
of men and women thrOng the exhibi-
ton grounds.
The missionary provides himself with
gospels, Che four gospels are printed
in small booklet form and are sold for
less than the price of cup of Steanaing
teal, and religious tracts and is off. He
is soon one among hundreds of human
beings who is being swayed back and
forth by this moving mass of human
flesh, AS he passes up the great thor
oughfare there is much to attract atteu-
ton. Here, confectionery stand where
all kinds of Chinese pastry, candy aud
There, booth where all kinds of fancy
apparel is being displayed. Here
sits small, flat nosed man. Before him
is set table. On the table is rice bowl
and four dice. He is waiting to instrect
some mothers son in the first principles
of gambling. A few. Steps forward and
one is reminded that American manu-
facturers are not so slow in putting the ir
products on the foreign market as some
would indicate. Cigarettes, American.
made cigarettes, trays tull of them, are
on sale.
The fakir is here too. Gambling flour
ishes at such places. The unsuspecting
farmer is in town. He is very cautious:
But he is not aware that he is from Tire
country where he enjoys freedom and
has all things in common with his fell
low farmers. He is the victim of these