Year: 1875

in Chinese soil For this reason, the
bodies of all who die here are taken back
home for interment. For this reason,
very few of them brought their wives.
There are a great many Chinese women
here, but they were picked up on the
streets of the Chinese cities, and brought
here for the vilest purposes. A few have
their wives and daughters with them,


but the great majority of them are the
lowest of the low. l am glad to say
that the number of those who have lost
their superstition and propose to make
this country their permanent home is in
ereasing very rapidly, and these send for
their families, and, to a considerable de-
gree, adopt civilized habits


THE CHURCHES


are making the Chinese the especial OBJ
jeets of their labors. They have a
number of Chinese converts, who labor
among their eountrymen, and with n fair
degree of success. One Methodist
Church in the city has a class of converts
that numbers three hundred, and it is
increasing daily. And a Chinaman
when he becomes Christian, is a good
one. He lives up to his profession quite
as well as the Mclean man, and don't
know but better. He is naturally good
sort of fellow, with excellent impulses
and desire to do right, and although
his nature is an excellent foundation on
which to build. And there is one singu-
lar thing about the Chinese. In their
own language there is nothing more hOr-
ribly diseordant than their music. 1t is
fearful. The filing OF saws or the sereech
of unoiled axles is heavenly in cOmpar-
ison. In China they seem to have no
comprehension of time, tune, or sweet
sounds. But then some Chinese will
sing the Church or Sunday-sehOol music
of the day as sweet as so many nightin-
gales. Their voices are really sweet, and
when they have been in training a little
while they do good work with them
Last Sunday night heard three hundred
OF them singing ''When we Gather at
the River" "HOmeward Bound" and
other music of the kind, and they did it
with a nicely that any Sunday-schOol
might be proud of The converts are
very punctual in attendance and very
anxious to learn.


RELIGION AND AMUSEMENTS.


There are several very large joss
houses here, that is churches or temples
in charge of their priests, and the at
tendance upon them is very large and
regular. In addition to these, every
house has its religious apparatus, though
1 defy any American to ever get at the
meaning of the ceremonies. l tried it,
and failed, IamentabIy. They seem to
understand it, though.


They are fond OF theatrieals, and sup
port two large theaters and several minor
ones, and queer places they are. play
requires three months for its represen-
tation. The play begins with the birth
of the hero, and is continued till his
death, and not unfrequently it is con
tinued with his children. The music
heaven save the mark lis the most ter
rible that ever shocked human ears, and
the horror of it is that they keep it up
all the evening. But the Celestials en-
joy it, and as it is for their amusement,
/ do not know that any one has any
right to complain. One can get out at
any time. Twenty minutes was enough
for me.


THE FUTURE OF THE CHINESE IN AMERICA
is not difiieHlt 20 foresee. They are an
acute, thinking people, and all Of them
educated to some extent. They are
gradually getting rid of their supersti-
tions, and are taking our ideas and Gus
toms, and even our dress. / don't like
the idea of this adopting our dress, for /
had much rather we should adopt theirs.
A very large number of those who still
hold their religion are modifying it to
suit their changed condition. In short,
thousands Of them have made up their
minds to stay, and when they do that
they begin to be Americans, and they
progress rapidly when they get started.


The Chinese will stay and will become
n permanent element in the population
OF the Pacific coast. They will bring
:heir families, they will become citizens
and property-holders, and will mix and
amalgamate. They will make their mark
upon the people, and don't know that
there can be any objection to it. They
aIe quiet, industrious, orderly, honest,
patient and persevering. Such qualities
are not only not to be despised, but in a
country that is yet to be made are Of in
ealculable Importance. Ionly wish that
more OF them would come, and that
more Of thenI'could be induced to cross
the mountains. PIETRO.