,'¦¦. ¦ : YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY CITY HALL OF CHINATOWN. NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN AN HISTORICAL PRESENTATION OF ITS PEOPLE AND PLACES. BY LOUIS J. BECK. '•The Chinese are here by the order of Providence, the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and the provisions of treaty, and here they are sure to stay until better reasons for their expulsion can be shown than any which have yet appeared."— M. C. Briggs, oi California. FULLY ILLUSTRATED FROM LIFE. NEW YORK : Bohemia Publishing Company, i2i Pulitzer Building. Entered According to Act of Congress, in the Year 1898, BY LOUIS J. BECK, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. ILLUSTRATIONS. Chinatown's City Hall Map of Chinatown Summons to Chong Wah Gong Shaw Interior of a Store Swanpan or Abacus . A Domestic Scene In a Second Class Restaurant Scene in a Laundry A Chinese Band Pig Roasting Oven An Actor and His Family Chinese Barber at Work Barber's Outfit . Products of Chinese Garden Fan-Tan Players and Utensils A l/ottery Ticket . Big and Small Footed Women A Slave Girl .... A Celestial Beauty. Chief of the Low Gui Gow Initiating a Highbinder An Opium Smoking Lay-out Scene in a Chinatown " Joint" . Scene in a West Forty-sixth Street Smoking a Water Pipe Curious Tobacco Pipes A Registered Laborer • In the Joss House •' Shall I Buy the Laundry ? " . A Chinese Funeral A Scene in Evergreen Cemetery FRONTISPIECE PAGE 5 14 27 31 37 59 66 7173 81 Joint " 102 109 111 117119 131 148 157171i77 179 205211 217 223 227 (v) PORTRAITS. PAGE. The Author xii- Leung Ding Shin . . -75 Lo Ping and Jo Sung ... .... 76 Kwong and Loong . . . 79 Patrolman Michael Kehoe i89 Jung Lee — A Registered Laborer 205 Moy Jin Kee 235 George Appo ¦ 251 Chu Fong 263 Mrs. Chu Fong 265 Dr. Jin Fuey Moy 267 Dek Foon . 270 Chin You 271 Sue Chung Chew and Family 273 Mrs. Lumina Chew .... ... 274 Chin Sing 276 Mrs. Thom Jock and Children 277 Mrs. Mon Lee and Child 278 Mon Ngee 279 Madame Luk Por 280 Dang Fey 282 Chu Jin 283 Charley Tong Sing 285 Yan Phou Lee 287 Lucien Adkins 295 Wm. E. S. Fales 298 Elbert Rappleye . . 302 Wm. W Young 307 Isaac D. White 312 Horatio Jennings Ward 316 Ed. E. Pidgeon 3Uf Police Inspector Brooks 323 Moses H. Grossman . . ... . 330 (Vi) CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN— Its location, origin and de velopment — The first Chinese immigrant and the pioneer mercantile establishment— Number of Chinese now resi dent in Chinatown and throughout Greater New York . 7 CHAPTER II. CHINATOWN AND ITS GOVERNMENT— An authority more respected by the Chinese than the legally constituted city government — Its organization and how it exercises its assumed powers . . .... 13 CHAPTER III. CHINATOWN AS IT IS— A run through its streets and a peep into its dark corners — The varied occupations of its people , . . . 23 CHAPTER IV. DOMESTIC LIFE— The wife is always kept in seclusion— Her inferiority in all things— Birth of a child and its treat ment — The married people of Chinatown — Some are mar ried by proxy -33 CHAPTER V. WITHOUT HOMES— The great body of Celestial immi grants are single men — How they live— The gaudy restaur ants of Chinatown — Their bills of fare— Some cookery recipes 45 (vii) CHAPTER VI. CHINESE LAUNDRYMEN— Their organization and strict union regulations — Prices fixed by the unions, and disci pline of those who cut rates— What the laundries are and how they are conducted ... ... 57 CHAPTER VII. PECULIAR INDUSTRIES— The many vocations of China town — Their variance from American methods and ideas — The good and the bad inextricably mixed — The useful and the superstitious alike recognized as legitimate and proper ......... 63 CHAPTER VIII. TONSORIAL ARTISTS— A necessary calling among the Chinese — Universality of head shaving — How the barbers work — The peculiar tools they use — Prices charged . 80 CHAPTER IX. TILLERS OF THE SOIL— The "Farmers" who provide Chinatown with its peculiar vegetables — Where they work and how they live — An industrious body of Mongolians . 85 CHAPTER X. CHINESE THEATRE— The only pleasure resort of China town—Singularities of the Chinese drama— The company now occupying the boards there . . . gi CHAPTER XI. CHINESE GAMBLING— The passion of the Celestials for games of chance— Descriptions of some of their games— Fan-tan— Lotteries— The Riddle Game— They are all "officially" recognized 95 CONTENTS. IX CHAPTER XII. PROSTITUTION— Traffic in Chinese women— The dens of infamy of Chinatown — The depth of degradation — The Low Gui Gow 107 CHAPTER XIII. HIP SING TONG— Organization of the villains of China town — Professional blackmailers, dealers in female slaves and protectors of crime 122 CHAPTER XIV. OTHER CHINESE SOCIETIES— Fondness for organiza tions illustrated —Some typical minor associations . 134 CHAPTER XV. THE OPIUM VICE— Its introduction and spread in New York — Chinamen not the only users of opium, nor China town the only locality where it is used — What the drug is, its use and effects ........ 138 CHAPTER XVI. OPIUM SMOKING—" Hitting the pipe "—The vice as prac ticed in Chinatown — How the drug is smoked, and the places where the habit may be indulged— The " Lay-out " described . 146 CHAPTER XVII. IN AN OPIUM DEN— Scenes and observations within a joint in Chinatown as related by a visitor— The average of the dens of vice in that locality . . . . 153 CHAPTER XVIII. A TENDERLOIN JOINT— Where "Mellican" men and women practice the vice — More pretentious apartments, but the same wretchedness — Gamblers and thieves, women and boys mixed together like bait in a box .. 167 x CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIX. TOBACCO SMOKING— The Chinese are inveterate smokers of the weed -The queer pipes they use— They smoke but little at a time, but often *76 CHAPTER XX. JOHN .BEFORE THE CAMERA— His suspicious nature displayed— Striking a bargain— Humorous incidents illus trative of his character 181 CHAPTER XXI. SUNDRY OBSERVATIONS— Business integrity of the Chinese — Official testimony regarding them — Less crime in Chinatown than when it was not one quarter so popu lous — Chinese oaths — Manner of administering them . 186 CHAPTER XXII. THE CHINESE NEW YEAR— The great festival of the year — The time for settling accounts and beginning anew — Observance of the occasion — Its continuance for twenty days • . 192 CHAPTER XXIII. CHINESE CITIZENSHIP— Can a Chinaman become an American citizen ? — The question often asked, but not understood — Naturalization of the Mongolians . . 197 CHAPTER XXIV. THROUGH CLOSED DOORS— Origin of the hostility to Chinese immigration— Efforts of Congress to debar Chi nese from the country — How the law is evaded . . 201 CHAPTER XXV. CHINESE WORSHIP— The religions of the Orient— Confu cianism, Buddhism and Taouism— The worship of Joss a fraud, not a form of religion — Some of its repulsive fea tures . . . 207 CHAPTER XXVI. RESTLESS BONES— An illustration of Chinese superstition — Why the remains of dead Chinamen must be returned to the Celestial empire — How the work of their recovery and shipment is performed 221 CHAPTER XXVII. MISSIONARY WORK AMONG THE CHINESE— Efforts made to convert the heathen to Christianity — Various missions established among them — What is being accom plished in this direction ... . 230 CHAPTER XXVIII. GEORGE APPO— BORN TO CRIME— The son of a mur derer, after spending half his life in prison follows in the footsteps of his father to a cell for the insane . . 250 CHAPTER XXIX. TYPICAL CHINESE— Brief sketches of representative residents of Chinatown, male and female, young and old, honest and otherwise . ... 262 APPENDIX. EXPERT OPINIONS— Views of some of those most familiar with Chinatown and its people . . . 291 PREFACE. The presence of Chinese in the United States has been a fruitful topic of angry political discussion, of legisla tive investigation, of congressional legislation and of judi cial inquiry for twenty years past. But still they remain with us, and apparently continue to now in upon us. Why they should come to this country, or why they should not come, are still open questions. To aid in the solution of the vexed problem is the chief purpose of this book. Its aim is to portray the everyday life of those Chinamen who have made the heart of New York City their home — their business occupations, social habits, amusements, religious observances and whatever else is peculiar to them as a race; drawing the pictures from actual life, uninfluenced by favor or prejudice ; exagger ating in no particular; concealing no faults; omitting no feature of profitable study; to the end that the reader will be enabled to reach a fair and just conclusion on the questions involved. That there is the most radical difference between the civilization of the Orient and that of Western nations needs no affirmation. It is manifest at a glance. These people have been born and educated under that form of civilization which has prevailed in the Chinese empire for thousands of years. Our civilization is the outgrowth PREFACE. of a few centuries. Theirs is the most ancient form of any surviving nation on earth; ours the most modern. Here in Chinatown the former is exemplified. It amazes, shocks, startles us. What we esteem criminal is by these people looked upon, if not as being meritorious, at least as innocent. Thus they buy their wives and treat them as drudges. But so did their ancestors from time immemorial; therefore, they ask you, how can it be wrong? They gamble, but gambling is sanctioned by the laws of their native land, and those .laws are more venerable than ours which forbid such practices; there fore, how can they be inferior? They smoke opium; but so do other people; then why blame them alone? More over, the opium was forced upon them by the leading nation of the West against their most earnest protest, and why should they now be held responsible for the evil it produces? For the rest, it will be found that these Chinamen are a frugal, industrious, docile, honest class of people, prac ticing many virtues which should commend them and which might be well emulated by their detractors. There is one feature of life in Chinatown which can not fail to attract the attention of every reader. It will be observed that every trade, profession or calling, how ever exalted or lowly, is governed by a union of its own members. With them the trades union idea is carried to a greater or more perfect extent than with us. With us these unions are only open to the elect — those who may be admitted by the suffrages of those who are already members. With the Chinese any man pursuing a par ticular vocation may join his union by paying the initia tion fee. There is no power to keep him out. And as these unions assume to regulate absolutely the affairs of PREFACE. their particular guilds, the superiority in the matter of fairness and justice of their system over the unions the whites maintain will be manifest. Nor is this the only instance in which western civilization can profit by a study of Oriental customs. No Chinaman can sell out his business, pocket the proceeds, clear out and leave his creditors in the lurch. Through their union system this is rendered absolutely impossible, and every Chinaman must pay his debts. But we need not enlarge here on these peculiarities. Read the book and be instructed; and then determine if these Chinamen are wholly objectionable and undesira ble residents. In giving this volume to the public the author lays no claim to literary excellence, and merely assumes to portray the habits, manners and customs of the Chinese race in the queer quarter they inhabit and as he has there found them; existing in the very center of the great city of New York, a small Chinese empire, with subjects of this dominion scattered all over its suburbs by the thousands, all of whom give allegiance to the cen tral authority which resides in Chinatown, to which they repair for business or pleasure at short intervals. The language of these people is incomprehensible. Their dress excites curiosity. Their religion is a mystery. Their morals are questionable, viewed by our code. Their pursuits are various; their amusements novel. These in teresting things are all described in this work. The mer chant will be seen here as in his store; the gambler in his' den; the devotee of opium enjoying his deadly pipe; the devout ones kneeling before their "Joss;" the soulless parent selling his offspring to social slavery; the plod ding farmer at work in his field; the reckless highbinder 4 PREFACE. trafficking in the worst of crimes; the pedler, the jeweler, the barber, the artist, the doctor, the fortune teller, and all other trades and craftsmen at their several vocations. Their manner of working and style of living are here portrayed, with their mode of preparing the peculiar food in which they delight. The aim has been to give a panorama of living pictures illustrative of the daily life of these strange people who inhabit this queer China town and make it doubly interesting to Americans by reason of the ever recurring hodge-podge of virtue and vice, industry and idleness, prosperity and squalor, honor and shame, which make the locality and its inhabitants so much a mystery and curiosity — rather than a serial romance of questionable veracity. Above all it has been the aim of the writer to present the Chinaman and his "Chinatown" as they are seen through the glass of the news gatherer in that quaint section of the great Metropolis. New York, May, 1898. NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. CHAPTER I. NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. ITS LOCATION, ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT— THE FIRST CHINESE IMMIGRANT AND THE PIONEER MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENT— NUMBER OF CHINESE NOW RESIDENT IN CHINATOWN AND THROUGHOUT GREATER NEW YORK. RIENTAL life, its manners, customs, business pursuits, social relations and the everyday intercourse of those so widely differing from us in all respects as do the Chinese, is ever an interest ing study to the intelligent American. New Yorkers have the opportunity •of observing all this without the necessity of travelling to the Antipodes. China and the Chinese are brought to this great cosmopolitan center for their investigation and study. The Chinese differ so essentially from the people of the Western world in all respects — in language no more -than in dress — business occupations, social relations and 8 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. general manners of life — in their religion and moral standards; in their extreme clannishness; in the patri- archial system which prevails with them, binding fam ilies so close together, and in all the essential features of everyday life— that they naturally, when thrown into strange countries and communities, establish centers where they may congregate and enjoy the pleasures and customs of their native land. There are between 12,000 and 13,000 Chinese in and immediately about New York, a community sufficiently large in itself to populate a good sized town, and quite competent to support the peculiar features of life which prevail in the Flowery Kingdom. Thus a Chinatown has grown up in the very heart of New York City, where Buddha is worshipped and Con fucius preached, the morals and manners of the oldest nation in existence are displayed and the civilization of that ancient empire prevails. The pioneer Chinese resident of New York was Quimbo Appo, a man of great intelligence, gifted with a mind whose keenness startled all white men who came in contact with him. He was born in Chu Fi, in the interior of China, seventy-seven years ago, and fled from his native town to escape punishment for some crime he is said to have committed. He landed in California in 1844; went into the tea business; made considerable money and suddenly disappeared. It became known aft erwards that he had sailed as a cook on the United States Ship "Valencia," which brought him to this city. Upon arriving in New York xVppo entered the tea trade again, and soon had established a profitable business for himself. He was a man of interesting personality and made many friends. Those who associated with him were charmed with his winning manner, and there was QUIMB0 APPO. 9 no greater pleasure in those clays, when Chinamen were still but rarely seen on our streets, than to meet Quimbo Appo in a genial mood and listen to the endless stories he had to relate. He drank, however, and Quimbo Appo drunk was a veritable Caliban, dead to all human emo tions. At such times he was transformed into a fiend, Avith an insatiable craving for blood. Woe to the man who crossed the path of Quimbo Appo drunk. Unfortunately nothing is known in this country of his parents. Whether his moral deformity was a heritage from his ancestors, or merely a spontaneous, accidental tendency to crime, it is impossible to say. There were, however, two Quimbo Appos — or rather a Jekyl and Hyde Appo — one the shrewd, entertaining merchant, full of interesting reminiscences, bright eyed and smil ing; the other an inhuman monster, delighting in the worst of crimes. Quimbo Appo married a woman of the slums, and, in a fit of rage, cut her throat. For this he was sentenced to be hanged, but, by pleading justification for his act, and by allowing' himself to be converted to "Tombs Christianity," as the prison conversions are called, he succeeded in obtaining a new trial. He was convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. In 1863 he was pardoned, through the influence of his Christian friends. He returned to his old life a trifle shabbier and more careless, but in most respects the same old Quimbo Appo. Within a year he quarrelled with a Pole and killed him. For this he served five years in prison. Upon his release he married again. His second wife was an Irish woman whose name is remembered only as "Cork Mag." The couple had many 10 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. traits in common. Like her husband the woman was exceedingly agreeable in her sober moments, but under the influence of liquor, lost all control of herself. Many stories are told in Doyers Street of how "Cork Mag" stole all her husband's money and distributed it among several families that were on the verge of starvation. For that she was thrown headlong down a flight of stairs by her liege lord. One day they were both drunk. They met in the kitchen and after a few words "Mag" threw her husband upon a hot stove. Crazed with pain and rage, he drew from his pocket a keen knife and thrust it, clear to the hilt, into the woman's body. She survived the terrible wound and Appo served a year imprisonment for inflict ing it. Of this union George Appo was born. In 1875 Quimbo Appo was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for manslaughter in the second degree for the killing of Mrs. Fletcher, a neighbor. After serving three years his mind gave way and the prison physicians declared him to be hopelessly insane.. He was trans ferred to the State Hospital for the Criminal Insane at Matteawan, and there he lives to this day, seemingly for gotten by all the world. He is an old man now, and the residents of Chinatown would probably not recognize him; but, as a matter of fact, he has not changed very much. To all appearances he is perfectly rational, and for hours he will entertain you with stories of the old days in China and California. He speaks excellent English, and in his sane moments impresses you as being a thorough man of the world. But — bad as he is — and this is pitiful — when the Albany night boat passes Matteawan Appo points to the big search light that flashes in her bow and says proudly : EARLY SETTLERS. 11 "That is rny diamond. They bring it to me every night." His delusion is that he is a thousand years old, and upon this matter he will talk seriously for hours. When he is in bad temper they have to confine him in a cell. Such is Quimbo Appo. He will not live much longer and he will never recover his reason. The second Chinaman who came to New York and re mained was a sailor named Lou Hoy Sing, ¦who left his ship in this harbor in 1862 and took up his residence in Cherry Street. Finding himself lonesome in a great community, he gave himself to the study of the art of love, and soon became so proficient that before the year was ended he captured the heart of an Irish maiden and married her. They lived happily together, contributing two sons to the city's population. One of them later became a policeman, and the other an industrious truck man. Lou Hoy Sing is still living and in good health at the age of Y8. Wo Kee was the title of the first purely Chinese mer cantile establishment in the city, which opened about twenty years ago in Oliver near Cherry Street. About it naturally gathered the few Chinese then in the city. The store was moved soon afterwards to Park Street, the growing colony following it. Park Street gave it shelter but a short time, and then it was moved to 8 Mott Street where it still remains, the center, as it was the founda tion, of the Chinatown of to-day. The lower end of Mott Street very quickly filled with Chinese, its former white tenants giving way to the new comers. Gradually the colony increased and spread into Doyers Street, until now the entire triangular space bounded by' Mott, Pell and Doyers Streets and Chatham 12 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. Square is given to the exclusive occupancy of these Ori entals, and they are fast acquiring possession of Bayard Street. This territory furnishes within its borders shel ter for 4,000 yellow-skinned traders, artisans, gamblers, amusement caterers and prostitutes, who minister to the wants and entertainment of the 13,000 of their more industrious countrymen who are scattered throughout the metropolitan area. Here the Chinese language is spoken exclusively. Here all manner of Chinese goods, wares and merchandise generally are exposed for sale. Theatre, Joss Houses and restaurants conducted in Chi nese fashion are found here. Gamblers and prostitutes abound, inviting the patronage of the industrious, who labor elsewhere, but resort to this center at night and on holidays for their amusements or to transact business. Here the laundrymen from Brooklyn or Jersey or other suburban localities Avithin a radius of fifty miles, meet their "cousins" from Harlem or Hoboken for recreation or business. And here also resides all the authority these peculiar people recognize, and to Avhich they bow with unquestioning obedience. ITS QUEER GOVERNMENT. Ill CHAPTER II. CHINATOWN AND ITS GOVERNMENT. AX AUTHORITY MORE RESPECTED BY THE CHINESE THAN THE LEGALLY CONSTITUTED CITY GOVERNMENT— ITS ORGANIZATION AND HOAV IT EXERCISES ITS ASSUMED POWERS. HINATOWN has a mayor — an officer not recognized by the laAvs of the land — but still more absolute in his usurped authority and more respected by his felloAv countrymen than is the actual chief magistrate of the city of New York. The present incumbent of the office is Ng Shung. He succeeded Chung Yuk Chin and Avas chosen on Sunday night, April 3, 1898. This deference is paid to the mayor of Chinatown by all Chinamen, Avhether resident in the immediate locality or elseAvhere, and ills authority extends throughout the circuit of thirty miles or more from the Mott Street Temple. Not one in a hundred of the Chinese people 14 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. have any voice in the selection of this "Mayor." Though an elective officer, the electorate is confined to the leading merchants of Mott, Pell and Doyers Streets, who arrogate to themselves the right to make laws and regulations governing the entire Chinese community in all its ramifications, though, of course, subject to the general municipal laAvs, theoretically if not practically. Nor is this electorate body elective. It is called Chong Wah Gong ShaAV, but has no roll of members nor any ex pressed title of membership. It has no by-laws or plan of organization. It is a sort of free and easy gathering of the merchants, who pay an initiation fee of $10, and afterward contribute to the common fund as may be needed and as they can severally afford, for the privilege or honor of participating in its deliberations. When for any reason a meeting is desired the mayor issues a number of bottle-shaped pieces of card board, the upper, or head por tion, red, and the lower yellow, which the sexton or janitor of the Joss House distributes. These notices contain the name of the member, the time of meeting and an intimation that a fine of $1.00 wi'il be imposed for failure to attend. At the time of meeting these notices are returned to the sexton and serve as cer- STJMMONS TO CHONG WAH GONG SHAW. THE GOVERNING BODY. 15 tificates of attendance. Those avIio assemble in response to the call or invitation proceed to business Avithout roll call or other ceremony, and usually without any shoAV of order. All talk at once ; and Avhen the confusion reaches a point only short of a riot the mayor announces a result, to AA'hich all submit without question. In the vernacu- lar, 'Svhat the mayor says goes," and is a laAv for China men as binding as that of the ancient Medes and Persians. In the selection of a mayor the practice is substantially the same. The incumbent's term expiring, or a vacancy in the office occurring, the Chong Wah Gong Shaw is assembled, and those present proceed to nominate their seA^eral candidates. Each candidate will probably have a number of supporters. Then ensues r. generally dis orderly discussion of the merits and fitness of the several candidates, eA'erybody present talking at once, seemingly seeking to droAA'n the voices of the others Avith superior ity of lung poAver. The Avrangling goes on for hours, and usually until all are Avell tired out Avith the physical exertion put forth, Avhen the candidate of the longest- winded and most noisy is declared elected, and the ex hausted ones submit Avithout protest. No ballot is ever taken. It is a mere contest of brute force and endurance, and the successful candidate so chosen enters upon the duties of his office Avithout let or hindrance from any quarter. The mayor thus chosen, and the Chong Wah Gong ShaAV thus queerly composed, exercise absolute author ity over ChinafoAvn not only, but over the bntire Chinese population of tiie metropolitan district. Of course both they and their submissiA'e people are subject to the laAvs of the city and state; but of those laAvs the people them selves knoAV but little or nothing, and care less. When IG NEAV YORK'S CHINATOWN. apprehended for any violation of them they submit to the judgments imposed with stolid indifference, accept ing any punishment that may be meted out to them with that fatalistic philosophy which is a part of their educa tion and religion, and characteristic of their race. But the decrees of the Chong Wah Gong Shaw are promptly made known to them all and command immediate and universal respect. Every new law or regulation adopted by this queer authority is at once placarded on the official bulletin board in front of the Joss House, Avhich is daily studied by all coiners. Whatever is put upon ChinatoAvn's offi cial bill board goes, unless rescinded by a counter notice in similar manner alongside of it. This official bulletin board is a great institution. It ansAvers the purpose of a published official organ or City Record. As it is kept under the official eye of the sexton or janitor no unauthorized notice can find place upon it. Bnt all the regulations of the Chong Wah Gong Shaw and of the mayor are hereon published and command the attention of the entire community. That publication is "official," and the regulation so posted must be respected and obeyed. Besides these official notices the bill board carries others of a private nature, as the sale or purchase of a laundry or other similar business concern, transfers of chattels, property for- sale, men seeking business en gagements, and similar adA^ertisements, all Avritten in Chinese characters, and of course unintelligible to the American visitor. Here is a single illustration of the character of the adArertisements which find place upon it. It is the announcement of a reformed highbinder, or one who assumes that character. The notice, somewhat freely translated, runs as folloAvs: LOOKING AFTER JOSS. 17 "I give notice that I am no longer a member of the Hip Sing Tong. I was hypnotized and fooled and taught to blackmail by that society, but noAv wish to retain the good AA'ill and confidence of the Chinese public. Quong Len, Petitioner." All bulletins placed upon this board are supposed to be authorized by the mayor, but any individual can post a notice that is of any interest to the Chinese people. An important feature of the business committed to the Chong Wah Gong Shaw is the maintenance of a Joss House and the proper use of it by the devotees of idolatry. For "church" and state go hand in hand Avith these fel lows. Though they gamble on the slightest provocation, sell their offspring into prostitution, maintain a large colony of dissolute women, and practice all manner of vice, they are strictly devout in their allegiance to the peculiar forms of belief they profess. Thus the Joss House must be maintained and kept open for the devo tions of all comers. Next in order of importance the Chong Wah Gong ShaAV is charged with the duty of seeing that the bones of all dead Chinamen Avho ha\re been buried six or more years are sent back to the nearest relatives in the town from whence they came. To all Chinamen the Flowery Kingdom is the gateway to Paradise. Through its por tals alone can access be had to a happy and peaceful here after. No Chinaman will, therefore, leaA^e his native land unless assured that, should he die while abroad, his bones will be returned for final burial in the sacred soil of the land of his birth; and thus it becomes a sacred duty with those residing in any part of the world to see to it that the remains of any of their fellow countrymen who may from any cause, natural or Otherwise, be overtaken by 18 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. death AA-hile with them, are sent home for burial. Other wise the poor fellow's spirit is supposed to be doomed to wander, troubled, anxious and without rest, throughout the ages of eternity. And herein lies the secret of the Chong Wah Gong ShaAv's power over the thousands of ignorant and superstitious people who so submissively yield to its authority. If one of their number should be convicted before the Chinatown mayor of an offense against any of the laws or regulations of the governing society, and the mayor should sentence him to a forfeit ure of his right to have his remains sent home for burial, the culprit really believes that he is doomed to be an out cast devil in the world of the future. Another considerable occupation of the Chong Wah Gong Shaw is the settlement of disputes and accounts between Chinamen. It is a court of both civil and crim inal jurisdiction, and both nisi prius, appellate and final in its authority. Disputed accounts are laid before the mayor for adjustment. The mayor, if the matter is of any importance, summonses the Chong Wah Gong ShaAV to hear the matter. The usual noisy wrangle occurs, pending which the mayor announces a result to Avhich all submit, and the "court" adjourns. Nobody ever as sumes to question the absolute correctness of the judg ment thus rendered, and as there is no appeal from it "kicking" would be useless. Indeed, should anyone question the decision or presume to refuse submission to it, he would simply be served with a written document, signed by the mayor, forbidding the return of his bones to China in case of death, and that settles it at once. No further resistance is ever offered. The regulation of fan-tan is another of the functions of the Chong Wah Gong Shaw. Of this interesting AN INFUSION OF BARBARISM. 19 game a full account is given in another chapter. Almost eA-ery Chinaman is a natural gambler, and fan-tan is the great national game. Hence it is universally played in Chinatown, and though ^interdicted by American laws and municipal ordinances of this city, it is fully recog nized by the laAv-makers' of ChinatOAvn and duly regu lated by them in all its details. It alsO yields a revenue to the mayor, Avhich is scrupulously gathered. From the foregoing something of the general authority and great poAver exercised by the Mayor of ChinatOAvn and the Chong Wah Gong Shaw may be inferred. It is AAdiolly unauthorized power, not in any manner recog nized by the duly constituted authorities of the city, and has no legal status under American or any other laAv. Yet it is absolute in its SAvay and commands the respect and obedience of eArery Celestial resident, even though no regard eA^er be paid to American laAvs or the ordi nances of the municipality. It is an infusion of barbarism into the Arery heart of this great city Avhich boasts its modern civilization. It regulates business affairs, religion, gambling, prostitu tion, labor and all other interests of these queer people, and rules them Avith a tyrant's hand. All complaints of Chinese people to their Consul in this city, the Chinese minister at Washington or eA'en to the Imperial govern ment at Pekin are made through this society, Avhich thus has full recognition by the highest Chinese authority. The mayor of ChinatOAvn is elected annually in March, the term lasting but one year. Civil service regulations are appplied to this office, though not in a competitive form. But no one is qualified for the office aat1io is not familiar Avith Chinese literature; has faith in Joss, is obedient to the teachings of Confucius; is an adept at 20 NEAY YORK'S CHINATOAVN. counting, and is possessed of fluency of speech. By tacit understanding the mayor is ineligible for a second term, though there is no law or regulation to that effect. Yet it remains that in the whole history of this queer organ ization no mayor has ever been re-elected, and the lead ing Chinamen assert that no one ever will be. This is probably clue to the intense jealousy which is a leading element in the Chinese character. The salary of the mayor is $1,000. His office is in the Chong Wah Gong ShaAv's building, otherwise the Joss House, at 16 Mott Street. He collects all dues and voluntary contributions, Avhich amount to about $150 a month; the regular in come from dues and other sources of the Chong Wah Gong Shaw, about $325 a month; the rentals of the Chong Wah Gong ShaAv's property, $175 a month, and the tax on Avorshippers at the Joss House — 50 cents for each deA'otional visit — AA'hich amounts to about $1,000 a year. Thus the total income of the mayor's office is between $8,000 and $9,000 a year. The mayor's office or chamber is in the rear of the top floor of the building, and is fitted up and furnished in true Oriental style, the furniture and ornamentation be ing all of Celestial design and manufacture. The municipal officiary of Chinatown is completed with the sexton or janitor of the temple, Joss House or Chong Wah Gong Shaw's building at 16 Mott Street. This is a position of considerable importance and author ity, the incumbent being the mayor's right hand man and executive officer. He serves all papers sent out by tlie mayor; collects all money due and not voluntarily paid in, and has charge of the building. The position is let annually at public auction, or on proposals, to the highest bidder, usually yielding about $800. That is, AN OFFICER WHO TAYS FOR HIS JOB. 21 the successful bidder pays that amount for tho privilege of discharging the duties of the office. He gets his re muneration from fees he is permitted to exact from the worshippers at the shrine of Joss. These fees are fixed by the Chong Wah Gong Shaw. Each worshipper is required to pay fifty cents for offering incense. This is furnished by the janitor and costs but tAvo or three cents for the quantity used by the Avorshipper. Then he is alloAved to exact a fee of tAventy-five cents for explaining the text . of the prayer turned out by the praying ma chine. The income from these sources easily runs up into thousands of dollars, making the position lucrative, notAvithstanding the $800 paid for it. The headquarters of Chinatown, as already noticed, is at 16 Mott Street, in the building variously knoAvn as the "ChinatOAvn Temple," the "Joss House," the Chong Wah Gong ShaAV Building, and derisiArely called the "China- tOAvn City Hall." The basement of this building is rented to the Fan-tan Syndicate, and is used as head quarters, and the game is also played there when the observation of the city police can be avoided. The first floor is occupied as a mercantile establishment by the Quong Ying Lung Company. The second floor is used as a restaurant, and is one of the largest in Chinatown. On the third floor is the meeting room of the Mee Shing Gong ShaAA', where also every Sunday afternoon at 5, o'clock a Confucian missionary holds forth, as elsewhere mentioned, expounding the tenets of that philosophy and exhorting his hearers to perseverance in the faith. The rear rooms of this floor are occupied by the Chinese Laundrymen's Union. The mayor has his office in the rear apartments' of the top or fourth floor. The front of that floor is devoted to the Avorship of Joss. The par- 22 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. ticular Joss here enshrined is known as (Juan Koug, who is recognized as the god of ChinatOAvn. More familiarly he is called Duke Quan. Quan was supposed to be a man of great strength, like the Hebrew Sampson. Quan is the surname of a particular Chinese family, yet every family worships and honors his effigy as here installed, because, traditionally, he was a man of the greatest phys ical development and strength. The Avorshippers believe that this god is able to bestOAV upon them a portion of his great physical powers. It is the only hall of Avorship in Chinatown open to the general public. IIS VARIED SMKLLS. 23 CHAPTER III. CHINATOWN AS IT IS. A RUN THROUGH ITS STREETS AND A PEEP INTO ITS DARK CORNERS— THE A'ARIED OCCUPATIONS OF ITS PEOPLE. EV. OTIS GIBSON, the well-known RI^OI missionary, formerly stationed in |'v|jjr China but Avho for the past twenty #$ffl years or more has labored among the Rll|j Chinese of San Francisco, proving ''*L&* himself the friend and champion of the race, tells of the peculiar odors which characterize Chinese settlements and which is pop ularly supposed to be due to their use of opium. But all Chinamen do not smoke opium any more than do all Ger mans drink beer, or all Irishmen whisky. Yet the pecu liar odor is CA'er apparent in the immediate vicinity of a 24 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. Chinese residence or a company of those people. Mr. Gibson, who is a good authority on that subject, says: "All countries have their peculiar smell. The very dogs of a country distinguish, at a great distance, the smell of a foreigner from the smell of a native. The Frenchman smells of garlic; the Irishman smells of whisky and tobacco; the German smells of sourkraut and lager; the American smells of corncake and pork and beans; the Englishman smells of roast beef and 'arf and 'arf. The Chinese smell is a mixture and a puzzle; a marvel and a wonder; a mystery and a disgust; but nev- theless a palpable fact. The smell of opium, raw and cooked and in the process of cooking, mixed with the smell of cigars and tobacco leaves, wet and dry, dried fish and vegetables, and a thousand other indescribable ingredients; all these toned to a certain degree of what might be called a shippy smell, produce a sensation upon the olfactory nerves of the average American, which once experienced will never be forgotten." This pronounced odor will be apparent to the visitor even before he comes in sight of Chinatown, and will prove a sure guide to that locality. It increases in strength as one approaches, while its offensiveness, if it possesses that characteristic, decreases with its density or greater prevalence, until one is finally in the heart of the locality when it quite ceases to be noticed at all. Chinatown in New York is merely an acquired or ap propriated portion of the city. In China the streets are narrow, without sidewalks, and usually without pave ments. The buildings are low, flimsy structures of wood, commonly frail bamboo covered with matting. But in New York the streets Avere opened and improved and the buildings erected before the advent of the Chinese, ITS GAUDY ADORNMENT. 2E and are therefore not dissimilar to those in other portions of the city. But in all other respects the visitor finds himself in a veritable wonderland when he enters the locality. He is struck at first with the great number of Orientals he sees in the streets; their constant moving about; their indifference as to whether they use the side walk or the roadway; the almost entire absence of females; the incessant jargon with which his ears are assailed, and the tireless bustle and activity manifested on every hand. Attention is next attracted to the universal decoration and fantastic painting of the buildings. Banners of vari ous designs; paper lanterns of every imaginable shape, size and color; effigies of all manner of repulsive beasts and reptiles, and signs of indescribable design conveying suggestions which are intelligible only to the Chinaman, cover the fronts of the three and four-story buildings, which are themselves painted in red, green, and yellow, and profusely ornamented with gilt and tinsel. Every thing is glitter and show. Gaudiness prevails on every hand. Each building rivals its neighbor in its efforts at display and attractiveness. While this be wildering show rivets your attention at first, you Avill soon observe that the residents pay no attention what ever to it, nor to you either, but jog along in tent on their ordinary business or avocations with per fect unconcern regarding all else, though continually pouring out their native language with tireless energy. Who they are talking to, or Avho is doing the talking, is alike a mystery to you. They do not move along as dc Americans or Europeans, in couples, side by side, but string along one after another, carrying on their conver sation with their companions who may be in front 01 26 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. behind, though proximity of companions is not indicated by any turning of the head or looking toward each other. It is all a riddle to the uninitiated observer, suggestive of what must have been the experience when the confu sion of tongues occurred at the tower of Babel. If you are accompanied by one who is capable of trans lating to you the many signs that adorn the places of business you will be struck by the grandiloquent lan guage invariably employed. Here for instance is a small shop filled with various roots and herbs unknown to the American farmer or druggist, over the door to which is displayed in Chinese characters the words: "The Temple of Heavenly Harmonies." It is merely an apothecary's shop, the stock in trade being kept for the healing of the sick. And in this connection the popularity of this word or idea "harmonies" is as remarkable as its use is general. The dealer in meats announces his business as : "A Thousand Harmonies." The barber even announces "Everlasting Harmonies" as the product of his tonsorial skill, while the wholesale merchant deals in "Everlasting Harmony Produce." The name of the firm or company is rarely, if ever, given as composed of individuals. Some supposedly lucky phrase is chosen instead, as in the case of the first mercantile concern established here under the title of "Wo Kee," as already noticed. This is not the name of an individual, but another form of "harmony," as indi cated by the word -Ijfa which means harmony. While the Chinese met in the streets seem to be in nernetual motion and driven by their several occupations, A CHINESE STORE. 27 a different impression is created on entering their places of business. Visit one of their more pretentious stores — a wholesale establishment, if you please. Its cleanliness and perfect order will strike you. The merchant and his assistants are perfectly neat and clean in their per- INTERIOR OF A STORE. sons and attire. They will also be found polite and well behaved. They manifest no curiosity at your visit, though they will receive you with the utmost courtesy and respect. ' If you intimate a desire to make purchases you will not be hurried. On the contrary, if a known 28 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. customer, you will Arery likely be inAated to take a seat, aud refreshments — usually tea Avith probably a cracker or a bit of Chinese pastry; and possibly a cigar — will be offered. There is no semblance of hurry or anxiety to sell. The conversation runs on the state of the Aveather, the latest Avar news, the condition of finances or any sim ilar general topic. The real business is brought in as an incident of the call; but then shrewdness and business sagacity will be manifested, though in a cautious and diplomatic way. The motley throng who inhabit these narroAV precincts comprise but a fraction (possibly less than one-fourth) of the Chinese of the Metropolitan district. Yet all alike recognize this as their headquarters and submit to the authority emanating from it. The colony which makes ChinatOAvn proper its permanent dwelling place is all busily occupied in some pursuit that ministers to the comfort, pleasure, or passions of the greater number dependent upon it for those things which are peculiar to the Chinese race. The following classification of the occupations of these thousands of strange dAvellers, iso lated in this great city, is perfectly accurate though not complete : Candy makers 3 Apothecaries (Chinese doctors) 50 Doctors (Chinese graduates of American colleges) 2 Cigar makers 75 Laundrymen (within 30-mile radius) . . . 8,000 Operators on sewing machines 30 Manufacturers of clothes AA'ringers and laundry supplies 4 Merchants, traders and clerks 175 VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS. 29 Sign painters 4 Artists 7 Interpreters 15 Silver and gold smiths 2 Women of respectable families 40 Women — slaves and prostitutes* 3 Young female slaves 12 Vegetable pedlers 12 Transient residents, agents, officers of Ara- rious associations, loafers and outlaAvs. 150 Highbinders , 450 Gamblers 700 Bakers 3 Restaurant keepers and pastry makers. . 45 Farmers and A^ege table groAvers 75 The Chinese, Avhile exceedingly clannish, are also as markedly jealous and suspicious of each other. They prefer to trade and deal with their own people, and for this purpose will travel many miles; but Avhen so dealing Avill haggle over prices and watch with the closest atten tion the measurements, insisting upon full weight pr measure, eAren to excess, in every instance. Their stand ard table of weights has a "candareen" for its unit, which is one one-hundredth of a tael. The tael equals in weight one and three-quarters ounces avoirdupois. The table runs as folloAvs: 10 Candareens make 1 Mace. 10 Mace make 1 Tael. 16 Taels make 1 Caddy. 100 Caddies make. ............... 1 Pecul. ?Note.— There are but few Chinese prostitutes here, but their places are filled by white women of the most degraded class, hundreds of whom occupy apartments in Chinatown and minister exclusively to the passions of the Chinese. ¦M NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. When a Chinaman goes into a shop to buy any thing- he is not satisfied with having his purchase weighed out to him on American scales, because he wants good, even ovenveight. This he thinks he secures when the Chinese instrument is used, Avhich is a sort of beam scale or steel yard. When the customer sees the beam of the scale point ing Avell upAA'ard he fancies that he is securing good Aveight. But his equally crafty countryman knows what he is about. He understands this grasping disposition of his customer, and has his instrument arranged accord ingly. Thus if it purported to mark pounds, when a pound is purchased, its arrangement would send the long arm flying upAA^ards when say but 14^ ounces of goods were placed on the other end. So he can give even oA^er- Aveight, according to his scales, and thus satisfy and please his customer, while really cheating him out of an ounce or more of his purchase. It is but another illus tration of the truthfulness of the American poet's apt couplet: "For Avays that are dark and tricks that are vain, The Heathen Chinee is peculiar." But for all this the Chinese farmer of Long Island, the laundryman of Hoboken, the pedler of Harlem or the house servant of Brooklyn prefers to go to ChinatOAvn to do his trading, where at the same time he can dispose of any surplus money he may have to spare, which lie generally leaAres behind him in the gambling shops, cv upon the Avomen, and incidentally pay a Adsit to the Joss House and offer up a prayer to his departed ancestors. And so ChinatOAvn is the Mecca of all Chinamen within reach, and is a lnAre of industry and money getting. WhoeA-er has had occasion to Adsit a Chinese store of any pretentions has not failed to notice the bookkeeper, THE CHINESE SWANPA.v. 31 cashier or other employe deftly toying with a lot of but tons strung on wires in a wooden frame Avhich looks like the following illustration: SWANPAN, OR ABACUS. This is commonly called a Chinese counting board, probably because it is never seen in use by other than Chinese. It is called "sAvanpan" by the Chinese them selves, but it is properly an abacus, a mechanical con trivance used for performing or assisting in arithmetical operations. Its use dates very far back in the musty ages of antiquity, eA'en prior to any records Ave possess of the Chinese nation. It Avas invented before the intro duction of figures. It only came into use in China in the fourteenth century. The Chinese SAvanpan pictured above is a modification of the original abacus. It is divided into tAvo compartments, the buttons in the upper compart ment representing five times the value of those in the loAver section. Unlike Chinese writing, the abacus or SAvanpan is read from the left to the right as in the Eng lish system. Thus in the illustration the position of the buttons represents 123,456,789,000,000. One button pushed up against the middle bar and standing alone 32 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. represents simply the figure 1 . A button pulled down in the upper section to meet it would make the representa tion 6. Nine is represented by four buttons in the lower section and one aboATe. The Chinese use this contrivance for Avorking out addition, division, subtraction and mul tiplication, calculating interest and all other mathemat ical work. They use it A-ery rapidly. Further observation of this unique colony may better be given in the form of descriptions of the various occu pations and pursuits, Avhich engage the attention and occupy the time of the earnest, industrious and thrifty ones, and the callings of the vicious and the dissolute. For, as among all communities and people of all nation alities, the evil goes vrith the good. Some of the more important Avocations are noticed in chapters by them selves; but glimpses at a few of the minor pursuits are gathered in one chapter. Before entering upon these industries some glances at the domestic life of this queer people Avill be more appropriate. DOMESTIC LIFE. 33 CHAPTER IV. DOMESTIC LIFE. THE WIFE IS ALWAYS KEPT IN SECLUSION— HER INFERIOR ITY IN ALL THINGS— BIRTH OF A CHILD AND ITS TREAT MENT—THE MARRIED PEOPLE OF CHINATOWN— SOME ARE MARRIED BY PROXY. HE great Christian "Apostle to the Gentiles," St. Paul, possibly imbibed some of his ultra anti-female ideas from reading the works of Confucius, whose writings were classical centu ries before St. Paul Avas born. Thus, when the apostle wrote the injunc tion, "Wives submit yourselves to your husbands as unto the Lord;" and again, "Let your women learn in silence with all subjection," and "Suffer not a woman to teach nor usurp authority over the man," he was but carrying out the Confucian idea of the inferiority of the female sex. The philosophers of China, from Confucius down, have all united in assigning the women an inferior place 34 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. to man, and the great master himself wrote, "Of all peo* pie women are the most difficult to manage. If you arc familiar with them they become forward, and if you keep them at a distance they become discontented." Hence it is that the Chinaman has no familiar social in tercourse with the other sex, but looks upon and treats her in all respects, as an inferior being. Thus the title of the Chinese husband — Jeung Foo — simply defines him as "lord of the house;" and such he is literally and truly. But it may be remarked that a man who has been accustomed since his youth to perform every little duty with a punctilious regard to the ceremonies proper to it, to regulate every motion of his body by fixed rules, and to consider every breach of the elaborate etiquette which surrounds his daily life, as a stain upon his character, is less likely to be actively cruel and violent than more ceremonious and warlike people; and Chinese wives doubtless benefit by the peaceful tendencies of those ob servances. Happiness is, after all, a relative term, and they are, as a rule, happy under conditions which are fortunately unknown in Europe or America. The visitor to Chinatown, seeing only men on the streets and an occasional disreputable looking and acting white Avoman, might infer that there is no real domestic life in that community. But he would be greatly mis taken. There are scores of Chinamen living there in peaceful and contented relations with families of whom they are proud and fond. But that pride and fondness is not manifested m a manner to be comprehended or ap preciated by "outside barbarians." In the first place no virtuous and respectable Chinese woman, whether mar ried or single, is ever permitted to show herself in public. Especially is the wife thus carefully excluded from view, THE SECLUSION OF WOMEN. 35 except to those of her OAvn sex; and if she has occasion to visit another woman every precaution must be taken to avoid observation. Usually a closed carriage is em ployed to convey her, even though the distance be less than a block away. Should she, by any accident or .design, show herself to any other male than her husband and sons, if she has any, she is disgraced, and has given her husband grounds for divorce under Chinese custom and law. Indeed, she may not shoAv herself to her hus band, even, Avhen others are present. The well-bred Chinaman Avould consider it scandalous for a "lord" or husband to even speak to his Avife in the presence of his friends, though guests at his house. So mindful is the Avife of this necessary seclusion — so habituated to it is she as a duty — that she herself studies it and is as careful to avoid being seen as the husband can well be to hide her. Yet despite all this the wife is the drudge of the house hold unless the family exchequer and the will of the lord permits of the employment of servants. She is required to procure the water in which her husband per forms his ablutions; brush his hat and other garments; clean his shoes, and see that he is in all respects in proper condition for his daily duties. But if she happens to follow him into the hall or passageAvay to give him an affectionate parting, and a male visitor should suddenly appear, she must hide her face lest the neighbors should call him a dishonored husband. Should she venture to flirt with or even speak to any other man on earth, or commit any unfaithful act, she would be liable to be sold as a common prostitute. She does the family cook ing, washing and general housework, and never gets a holiday. Having no outside friends, other than helpless to 36 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. slaves like herself, she has uo one to tell her troubles and sorrows to but the family joss. She may contract no bills whatever, the husbaod alone doing that, as well as tending to the marketing, sending home what may be required to eat, drink or wear. The wife must simply carry out the orders of her lord without questioning. She has no A^oice in the household matters and is not even permitted to eat her meals with her lord, but when he has finished his repast may regale herself on Avhat he may have left. This severity of discipline is only relaxed Avhen, by good fortune, the poor woman becomes the mother of a son. Then her condition undergoes a radical change. From being a slave and a mere drudge, a nobody and of no account, she is suddenly elevated to a position of honor and importance. She is honored as the mother of a male child, and becomes important by reason of the responsibility thrust upon her of rearing and training the son and heir. This is a position of very great honor, and henceforth the Avif e becomes the recipient of defer ence and respect, which folloAvs her through the remain der of her life. The husband treats her thus because she is the mother of his son — the greatest blessing that can come to a Chinaman — while the son reA'erences her as a filial duty, the performance of which is carefully instilled into him by his teachers throughout his whole course of education. But the Avoman is still regarded as too sacred a person for vulgar eyes to gaze upon, though she may now enjoy the society of both husband and sons, and has a measure of happiness that might well be envied by many white women. Bnt Avhile the Chinese woman is thus rigidly secluded from public observation, and is so commonly a mere SOME HAPPY HOMES. drudge, she is often indeed the pet of her lord, who heaps upon her every indulgence and pleasure compatible Avith Chinese etiquette. He provides her Avith pretty and at tractive clothing and delights in seeing her handsomely dressed. The Avife reciprocates this affectionate liberal ity by studying to make her appearance as attractive as possible. Especially is she careful in the dressing of her A DOMESTIC SCENE. hair. In this all Chinese women take peculiar care and pains. It is put up in various forms, usually in broad, flat plaits or braids, arranged in every concei\Table form about the head, thickly plastered and stiffened with a kind of bandoline Avhich holds it in shape for several days. The sides are adorned with a plentiful assortment of pins and ornaments. Flowers also are used in profu sion Avhen obtainable, or artificial blossoms are substi tuted when the real cannot be had. Much taste is shown 38 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. in the colors chosen and the arrangement in these elab orate coiffures. The Chinese colony of this city embraces 84 married couples or families. Of this number the wives in 36 instances are Chinese women, Avhile 48 of them are white. The white wives may be diAdded into three classes: 1— Respectable women regularly and formally married to Chinamen, and duly recognized as wives by the Chinese as Avell as by all others; 2-=— Women who Avere formerly prostitutes, but are now married accord ing to Chipese customs to men with whom they live, and who claim and acknowledge them as wives; and 3 — Com mon prostitutes living with some particular man -as his common laAv AAdf e. The last are looked upon more in the light of mistresses than as wives, though several of them haAre children, though none of them more than two. The total number of children of these mixed marriages is 47, of Avhom 28 are sons and 19 daughters. The families in which the white Avife is counted as of the first class are chiefly Christian families, with Avhom the offspring is looked upon and treated Avith equal fairness and affec tion, whether male or female. The second class wives are mainly ignorant and depraved women who treat their female children very much as do their husbands, being- careless and indifferent as to whether they are well or illy treated. Yet possibly in secret they have as much fondness for them as for their boys, but not much- for either. The third class of white wives have no apprecia tion of morality or virtue themselves, and are usually utterly careless regarding their children, whether boys or girls. There are 30 pure Chinese families — that is, families in Avhich both husband and Avife are Chinese. The wiA'es WHEN A SON IS BORN. 3<) in almost every instance haA^e been purchased, as are nearly all Chinese wives, either here or in China. The couples have been married after the Chinese fashion only, but are duly recognized as regularly married peo ple; and hYe together as such. Twenty-one of these fam ilies haAre children, the total number of full blooded Chi nese children being 32. Of these, 22 are sons and 10 daughters. In all these cases the daughters are looked upon and treated as inferiors, incumbrances, chattels to be disposed of as soon as the time and fitting opportunity arrives. The lower order of these Chinese parents are quite indifferent in disposing of their daughters, Avhether they are to be made Avives or prostitutes. The better classes, hoAvever, prefer to sell their offspring for wives, and they generally find no difficulty in doing so because of the scarcity of girls of their nationality in this com munity who are eligible for Avifehood. When a Chinese male baby is born in Chinatown prac tically eA-ery one knoAvs it. It is talked of in the Joss House, in 4-estaurants and on the street corners. The first morning after the birth of the child the father has tens out to receiA'-e the congratulations of his cousins and friends. On the third day after the child's birth he is Avashed for the first time. This is an occasion of great moment, and the relations and intimate friends are invited to take part in the ceremony. Each guest is expected to bring Avith him an onion and some cash — emblems of keen Avittedness and wealth — Avhich are formally presented to the child. Water in which scented herbs and leaves have been fused is used in the ablution, and when the process is over allpresent join in offering sacrifices to the family joss. 40 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. When the baby is a month old the parents give a din ner in one of the restaurants, if their residence does not afford the facilities required. At this time a name is given the child, its head is shaven and the queue started to groAv. When the child receiAres its name the friends of the father giAre an abundance of presents, such as gold bracelets, silks, etc. After the baby is able to walk he may be seen in his father's store or on the street, and is a curiosity, if of no interest, to the customers. But to return to the male offspring. The day ahd hour on Avhich he is born are considered as portentious for the future good or evil of the child as can well be conceived. Thus we are told that a child born on the fifth day of a month, and especially on the fifth day of the fifth month, will either commit suicide in after life, or AA-ill murder one or the other or both of his parents. A. child born at noon is believed to be a sure inheritor of .wealth and honor, while he who comes into the world betAveen the hours of nine and eleven will have a hard lot at first, but great Avealth later. The unfortunate one who comes into existence between three and five o'clock is doomed to poverty and woe throughout his life. Mr. Dennys, in his "Folklore of China," tells us that the day of birth also exerts influence over the future of the new-born child. Thus we have this rythmical forecast of the future of children born on the several days of the week : Monday's child is fair of face; Tuesday's child is full of grace; Wednesday's child is full of woe; Thursday's child has far to go; Friday's child is loving and giving; Saturday's child Avorks hard for its living; FILIAL PIETY A RELIGION. 41 But the child Avhich is born on Sabbath day, Is blythe, and bonnie and good and gay. As they have no Sabbath day in China some doubt is cast upon the authenticity of this entire schedule. But among the Chinese it is certain that the baby Avho cries long Avill live to be old, Avhile the one whose Aveeping is habitually intermittent will haA^e a precarious life at best. Babies Avhose cries die out, or the tone of Avhose crying is deep, or avIio open their OAvn eyes, or who con stantly move their hands and feet, are doomed by the physiognomists to early death, Avhile the child who Avalks, teeths and speaks early has a bad disposition, and Avill turn out unlovable. If the baby is a girl the father makes no demonstra tion of joy at its birth; he giAres no dinner, and in fact tries to forget its very existence. She is sold as soon as possible.Filial piety is the leading principle in Chinese ethics and really lies at the base of AvhateA'er religion they prac tice. Confucius insisted on it most strenuously, and all his disciples doAvn to this clay inculcate it. "Filial piety," said Confucius, "consists in obedience according to propriety; in serving one's parents Avhen alive accord ing to propriety; in burying them Avhen dead according to propriety." The "Book of Rites," Avhich is the uni versal laAv of China, enjoins, that "during the lifetime of his parents a son should not go abroad, or, if he does, then only to a fixed place. When at home he should rise at the first cock-croAV, and haAdng washed and dressed himself carefully, should inquire what the Avishes of his parents are as to the food they would eat or drink. He should not enter a room unless invited by nis father, nor retire Avithout permission ; neither should he speak unless 42 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. spoken to." These precepts are strictly obeyed by all Chinamen, if not literally to the letter, at least in spirit. All the foregoing applies mainly to the male offspring. The female child is considered of no account — an incum brance rather than a blessing. They are commonly sold at the earliest possible day, as well in America as in China. The laws of both countries alike forbid this prac tice, though under Chinese law it is permitted when effected with the sanction of the child. But that prohibi tion is practically ignored, just as is the law which for bids infanticide; yet in China it is a common practice, more especially among the poorer classes, to put the girl baby to death as soon as its sex is revealed. This practice is even defended. "What," they say, "is the good of rearing daughters? Wlien they are young they are only an expense; and when they might be able to earn a living, they marry and leave us." It Avas brought out in a recent case in one of the courts of this city, by the testimony of a Chinaman who had been arrested for an assault on a five-year-old girl, that the mother of the child, Mrs. Annie Lee, a white woman, the wife of a Chinaman, had sold her daughter to the Chinaman for $44. This was denied by the mother, Avho said she had simply "given the child to the China man and he was taking good care of her." The Gerry Society took up the case and had the child turned over to its care. Mrs. Lee had one girl by a former husband, a white man named Glackner. This child was the al leged victim of the assault, and is now in St. Ann's Home. She has another daughter of Avhich her Chinese husband is the father, which is alleged to have been sold to a Chinaman as his Avife. They live at 43 Mott Street. Two other children are with the mother. MARRIAGE BY PROXY. 43 There are a number of Chinamen now living in China- toAvn Avho are looking forward Avith more or less impa tience to the time Avhen they can return home and claim the Avives already selected for them by their parents, and to AAdioin they are actually engaged according to the Chi nese methods. It being considered a grave breach of etiquette for young men and maidens to associate to gether, the presumption is that the man never sees his bride until she becomes such by actual marriage. Of course it does occasionally happen that either by stealth or chance a pair become acquainted and mutually agree to an engagement. But Avhether they have thus asso ciated, or Avhether they are perfect strangers, the first formal OA'erture must of necessity be made by a "go- between," who, having receiAred a commission from the parents of the young man, proceeds to the house of the lady and makes a formal proposal on behalf of the Avould- be bridegroom's parents. If the young lady's father approves the proposed alliance, the suitor sends the lady some presents; next the parents exchange documents, Avhich set forth the hour, day, month and year when the young people Avere born, and the maiden names of their mothers. The price demanded for the girl, if she is being sold, as is usually the case, is also agreed upon and paid over. Astrologers are then called in to consult about her horoscopes and, should these be favorable, the engagement is formally entered into. Thus it happens that these young men of Chinatown, or the most of them, have never seen their future AviAres, and can haA'e no conception of their beauty and attract- iA'eness or the reArerse, beyond what their parents may haAre communicated to them. Still they are eager to take the fatal plunge. They Avant to set up house keep- 44 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. ing and provide heirs for the fortunes they are making in this alien land, and Avho shall reverence and honor them when they shall be dead. But not all these benedicts are Avilling to wait the indefinite time that may transpire before they can con sider themselves Avealthy enough to return to China and claim their wives. Meantime their selected Avives are advancing in years and may become tired of waiting; or their parents may Aveary of feeding them, as rice is not any too plentiful in a thickly populated province like Rwong Tung for instance. Thus it happens that mar-' riages have taken place in China Avhere the lady lives, Avhile the husband is still in ChinatOAvn, New York. Lee Yen Shee, of 11 Mott Street; Wong Sing Wah, of 18 Mott Street; Yip Mon Hong, of 22 Pell Street; Yong Po Yum, of 13 Pell Street, and others Avho might be named are among the married men A\dio have never seen their wives. They have simply been married by proxy in order to make sure of the chosen one. In such cases the negotiations are conducted in China by the respective parents in the usual Avay; the documents are exchanged, and the money is paid over to the lady's parents; cards of engagement are circulated and the engagement is per fected in due form. The cousins and friends are invited to the nuptial feast. But Avhen the ceremony is to be performed, in the absence of the bridegroom, a rooster is substituted. A nice healthy rooster is selected and dec orated with a red silk banner and gold jeAvelry. The nearest male relative of the absent groom acts as guard ian. He holds the rooster in the performance of the ceremony, meeting the bride Avhile she is coming to the bridegroom's house; Avorshipping the ancestors before The family joss; boAving to the cousins and friends, and THE HOMELESS ONES. 45 whatever else custom requires of the bridegroom,, all the while carefully holding the foAvl. When the ceremony is over the bride takes the rooster and must feed him whenever she herself eats. If the rooster should die dur ing the bridegroom's continued absence he is entitled to a decent burial, as if he Avas the real husband. Should he live until the husband's return the latter will then kill the bird and he will be served up as meat at dinner. On such a slender thread does the matrimonial bliss of many Chinamen hang. CHAPTER V. WITHOUT HOMES. THE GREAT BODY OF CELESTIAL IMMIGRANTS ARE SINGLE MEN— HOW THEY LIVE— THE GAUDY RESTAURANTS OF CHINATOAVN— THEIR BILLS OF FARE— SOME COOKER* RECIPES. HE large majority of Chinamen avIio come to this country, quite naturally, are young men, many of them mere boys. They are starting out in life, and come here, as do other immigrants, to make their fortunes. But, unlike other races, they merely remain here after accumulating a liAdng competency. Hence they are mostly unmarried. Of course they haA-e no homes other than the bachelor quarters they may pro- Adde for themselves in the vicinities where they labor. 46 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. The thousands of laundrymen scattered through the Metropolis — and these constitute by far the largest number of our Chinese population — live in their laun dries. Usually they have a back room in which they do their Avashing, and there also they do- their • cooking. Their ironing tables furnish them satis factory beds, or else they sleep in rough bunks made against the Avail in the back room. They require but little cooking, being content with an occasional piece of pork boiled, or some stewed foAvl. Their main staple is rice, always boiled, and fresh greens of some kind. When this simple regimen palls their appetite a visit to Chinatown affords them opportunity for a change by indulgence in the more elaborate menus provided by the gaudily decorated restaurants of that locality, wherein are served all the peculiar viands and much relished dainties of their native land. The Avell-to-do merchant employs a servant who pre pares his meals for him in a small back room of his store. But when he has visitors or essays a dinner of ceremony, he invariably resorts to the restaurants. The majority of the dwellers in Chinatown proper provide themselves with sleeping places only in which they do their eating much as do the scattered laundrymen, resorting to the restaurant occasionally. All, however, have the national craving for good living, which can only be satisfied at these establishments. And as most of the Chinamen within a radius of fifty miles visit the great center, if possible, at least once a week, they indulge in as good a meal as they can afford when there. Thus the patronage of the restaurants is ample, and especially so on Sunday, which is the great congregating day, when the locality IN THE RESTAURANTS. 47 is fairly thronged Avith people from all portions of the metropolitan district. The most gorgeously decorated and illuminated build ings in Chinatown are those occupied by these restau rants. The more pretentious of them usually occupy upper floors in three or four story buildings, having bal conies across their fronts, the buildings themselves being gaudily painted in deep green Avith red and gilt trim mings. Chinese lanterns ate suspended in reckless pro fusion from every available point. The interiors are also decorated in similar Oriental style. The eating rooms are kept Avith scrupulous cleanness, and no unusual dirt will be found in the kitchens. A recess or alcove off the dining room, furnished with a cot and covered with a portierre is generally proAdded for the use of those who may Avish to indulge in a short nap after dinner. The fur niture of the dining rooms is not materially different from that of any other restaurants. Tables are provided for parties of two, four or more, as required. Ordinary chairs are used, and the ware has no peculiarity except in the tea cups, which are provided with two saucers, in one of which the cup stands and the other is used as a cover. This arrangement is rendered necessary because of the peculiar manner in which the tea is served. The dry leaf is placed in the cup, which is then filled with boiling water and covered. When sufficiently steeped it is sipped rather than drank, with neither milk or sugar. When the first infusion is exhausted the cup is refilled with boiling water, which, by leisurely drinking, attains sufficient strength without addition of more tea. Cut lery forms no part of the table furniture, the national chop sticks being supplied instead, though knives and forks will be furnished if specially called for by "Melli- 48 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. can" or other patrons not accustomed to the use of chop sticks. Meats, Avhen served, are cut and carved into suit able mouthful portions before being placed upon the table. The eatables are brought in in a common recep tacle — a deep dish or bowl — from Avhich each guest at the table helps himself at pleasure, dipping in his chop sticks and conveying A\7hat is taken directly to his mouth. Other restaurants of a cheaper character abound, com monly occupying basements. They are less lavishly dec- IN A SECOND-CLASS RESTAURANT. orated and furnished. Their tables have no linen, but are otherwise as clean as the average cheap American restaurant. The viands provided are not so peculiar and are served, with much less pretention. They are patron ized by the laboring classes and outlaws, and quite largely by the lower classes of white people who visit AVHAT THE CHINAMEN EAT. 4 *4mky- SWfiK- WAf^> S<)u(r>M— Tu Kwr SOME OF THE PRODUCTS. 90 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. Sze Kwa is only fit to eat when young and tender. Ita average weight is about a pound and a half. When ripe its form is like the peculiar sponge the Chinese use when bathing — hence its name. Chit Kwa is picked when it Avill weigh a pound and a half; when fully ripe it weighs from twenty-five to forty pounds. It is used either in soup or is made into a sweetmeat like citron. Of course there are other vegetables grown by the Chinese. Indeed, they produce nearly everything that is indigenous to the soil, especially such as find favor with Chinese gastronomists. Especial mention is made only of those unfamiliar to Americans. THE OPERA HOUSE. 1)1 CHAPTER X. CHINATOWN'S OPERA HOUSE. THE ONLY PLEASURE RESORT OF CHINATOWN— SINGULAR ITIES OF THE CHINESE DRAMA— THE COMPANY NOW OCCUPYING THE BOARDS THERE. HE principal place of amusement in f ChinatOAvn is the theater, or, more jag^ correctly, "Chinese Opera House." iH&'V This is located at 5 Doyers Street. It P»\ is not a very pretentious playhouse, but is quite characteristic. The main building is occupied as an American lodging house, the theater finding its accommodation in the basement. This is fitted up with a stage or platform across the rear end, and, like all Chinese theaters, is innocent of curtains or scenery. The wall back of it is elaborately painted in high, bright colors, representing 92 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. birds, beasts and reptiles. In the center is a painted joss. On either side of the joss are doors, through one of which the actors enter, and through the other take their exit when they have finished their respective parts. The orchestra is seated on the back part of the stage, imme diately in front of the pictured joss. The auditorium is filled with rough wooden benches, enough to accommo date possibly 500 people. At the right of the stage is an enclosure, or private box, Avhich is usually occupied by white people and slumming parties. Two other boxes are located in the corners of the extreme front of the house. A peculiar feature of this, and all other Chinese the aters, is the sliding scale of prices charged for admission. The regular prices are twenty-five and fifty cents, and one dollar for a seat in the private box. Should a be lated Chinaman wish to enter an hour after the perform ance has begun, the doorkeeper will cut the rate for him about one-half. Half an hour later he will again dissect the figure for the benefit of the tardy visitor, who may then gain admission for ten or fifteen cents. The Chinese drama has been so often described that it seems unnecessary to say anything further regarding it in this connection. The plays generally represent some historical train of events, extending through the reign of a dynasty, or an interesting national epoch. Very little is left to the imagination of the spectator, and the literal text of the drama does not develop a plot with anything like the rapidity and dispatch which characterize our American or English plays. The Chinese play is em phatically a physical delineation of events from begin ning to end. The most trivial occurrences of life are faithfully portrayed, and at times very questionable and THE DEAD WALK FROM THE STAGE. ()y obscene practices are represented, but not often. Two or three months are generally consumed before all the acts of a play are finished. When one of the characters in the play falls upon the stage, either from the effect of a blow or a fainting at tack, supernumeraries at once step forward and place under his head a small block of wood or other substance for a pilloAv. A slain person lies in this way until the end of the scene, when he coolly walks off the stage in full view of the entire audience. The orchestra keeps up an infernal and ear-splitting din Avith gongs, tom toms, Chinese guitars, fiddles, triangles and cymbals throughout the entire dialogue. Not infrequently the performers, when not actually engaged in the scene, sit and lounge about the stage, smoking, munching sugar cane or sweetmeats, and at times even crossing the stage Avhile a scene is in progress. The audience at a Chinese theater never applauds. Occasionally a half -suppressed murmur of satisfaction is heard, but no clapping of hands, stamping of feet, whis tles or cat-calls are indulged in. The men sit with their hats on, generally perching on the backs of the benches, or Avander about the house talking with friends and ac quaintances in an ordinary tone of Aroice. Smoking and eating are constantly in progress in all parts of the house, and the practice of running in and out is freely indulged. The costumes of the actors are grotesque, often hide ous in the extreme. Occasionally a little dancing diversi fies the play, but this is an exercise never indulged in by the Chinese off the stage. They cannot understand Avhy people should exhaust themselves in this way when they can employ actors to do it for them. Moreover, as in Chinese society there is no intercourse between men and 94 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. women, no opportunity is presented for dancing, unless it be among "stags," and that sort of thespian indulgence is not highly appreciated by any people. But while not much dancing is shown on the Chinese stage, yet they do sometimes exhibit rare feats in tumbling, turning cart wheels, feats of juggling, and so on. Chinese actors are not held in high esteem by their compatriots, the calling being considered rather the re verse of respectable, whatever its emoluments may be, and these are not always niggardly. Women are but rarely seen upon the stage, the female characters being assumed commonly by men. The "starring" system is unknown among them. The Doyers Street Theater is conducted by the Chay Ding Quay Company, of which Chin You is the man ager. It was a highly prosperous enterprise so long as Sunday performances were given. But since the Park hurst period the city police have been more active, and the theater is closed on that day. As Sunday brings un usual throngs to Chinatown, the most of Avhom are pleas ure seekers and would gladly patronize the theater, its enforced closure on that day is a serious loss to the proprietors. The company now performing here is composed ex clusively of talent imported direct from China for this house. The company, including actors, attendants, mu sicians, etc., numbers about two score people. The prin cipal actor, or leading man, is Lee Sang. He receives a stipend of $1,500 a year, payable in American gold, Avhich is considered an exceptionally large salary. In addition, his board and lodging are furnished him. From this the salary list runs down rapidly to the lowest, which is $300 a year and "found," also. ' A COMMUNITY OF GAMBLERS. 95 CHAPTER XI. CHINESE GAMBLING. PASSION OF THE CELESTIALS FOR GAMES OF CHANCE- DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME OF THEIR GAMES— FAN TAN- LOTTERIES— THE RIDDLE GAME— THEY ARE ALL "OFFI CIALLY" RECOGNIZED. ^^^^ HE Chinese are naturally and constitu- ^mf°) tionally the most inveterate of gam- ^^^^ J^J^% biers. Almost all of them gamble, If fSf^v and their code of morality places no ¦ (fJcVfTv embargo <>n the practice. They only qSq Avonder that the laws of this country should forbid Avhat they consider so harmless and proper an amusement. They do not in dulge in their games of chance solely for money- getting purposes, though that may furnish the . in spiration in many cases, but rather for excitement and pleasure. And the gaming being perfectly laAV- 96 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. ful and proper under the laws of their native land, and they having indulged in it from childhood, they cannot readily appreciate that it is an unlawful prac tice in this country. Of course the older immigrants and those professional gamblers who own and control the games knoAV that it is a forbidden practice, and for that reason surround it with so much secrecy, and sub mit to the blackmail levied upon them by the highbind ers for "protection" in its indulgence; and sometimes blind the eyes of an intrusiye policeman with liberal payments for not disturbing them. They can compel them to pay generously for this "protection" because of the universal disposition of their countrymen to patronize the games, which makes the business highly lucrative. Fan tan is the game most popular and most generally patronized by these people. An idea of the extent to which it is played may be gathered from the fact that an enumeration recently made showed no less than eighty places in Chinatown Avhere the game is regularly in op eration. Each and all of these places pay the Hip Sing Tong, or Highbinders' Society, tribute in money for the privilege of carrying on the game without molestation or disturbance. This tribute, or "protection money," is levied according to a fixed scale. Games located in base ments or on the ground or main floor, are assessed $15 a week per table. Sixty of these tables are in existence, besides ten policy shops. This money is collected with regularity every Aveek by a regular collector whose name, as well as his occupation and personality, are well known. It is a common belief that some of the money reaches the hands of the police, though on that point there is no direct evidence beyond the inference to be gathered from the fact that the patrolmen do not discover the games 'THE NATIONAL GAME OF FAN-TAN. 97 Avhich are so Avell knoAvn to everybody else. A story is told that one of the proprietors, whose place is at 28 Pell Street, distrusting the collector, insisted that a former Mayor of Chinatown, and now representing the Hip Sing Tong, should come and receive the money, where upon the patrolman on the beat, an officer of the Eliza beth Street Station, called on the proprietor of the game and told him he had better pay the regular collector. This the proprietor persistently refused to do, declaring he would only pay the police direct or the ex-mayor. The truthfulness of this story is not vouched for, nor is the outcome of the alleged controversy knoAvn. When a fan tan game is to be started ten men usually club together, each contributing $30. Out of this money the "joint," or place where the game is to be con ducted, is secured and fitted up. The rent will be about $15 a week, which is invariably required in advance. Then the table is purchased at a cost of $5. This is about all the furniture required. Gas is needed; for the supplying of which the gas company requires a deposit of $10. "Protection" money must also be paid in ad- A*ance, and that is at least $15. The remaining money, about $240 or $250, is reserved for the bank, or capital of the game. The "joint" is then ready for business. The various fan tan games of Chinatown are all sub ject to the control of the Fan Tan Hong, or syndicate, as it would be called in English. This is a voluntary organization of Chinamen of prominence and influence who undertake the regulation of the game in general; adjust disputes between warring "joints;" fix the number of games to be allowed, and exercise general supervision over that particular form of gambling. The open char acter of the game, and its entire reputability and lawful- 98 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. ness, in Chinese estimation, is manifested by the stand ing of this Fan Tan Hong or syndicate. It has its head quarters in the building of the Chong Wah Gong Shaw, or ChinatOAvn's City Hall, and conducts its business as openly and with as much show of right and authority as does the Chong Wah Gong Shaw itself, or any of the several trade organizations. EATery fan tan game employs one lookout man, one dealer and one banker. The duties of these several offi cials are obAdous from their titles. The paraphernalia of the game consists of the "Board," a plain, square piece of zinc or tin, ten or twelve inches square, the sides being numbered I, II, III, IV. This is laid on one end of a common table about which the players gather, the dealer sitting in front of the board. A short stick, about the size of a chop stick, but tAvice the length, with which the dealer manipulates the "cash," or pieces with which the game is played; a n amber of "cash" — small circular brass pieces with a square hole in the center (one or two hun dred of these are used) — and a "cover" — a round brass vessel sufficiently large to cover the "cash" used — -consti tute the outfit. On the opposite page is given a cut illustrating the manner of playing the game, and the paraphernalia employed. TLAYING FAN-TAN. 99 flfWlil ?* — ^ FAN-TAN PLAYERS AND UTENSILS. The game being ready, the dealer takes a handful of the "cash" from the box in which they are kept and care lessly lays them in front of him, placing the cover. OA^er them, so that they may not be counted or estimated. The 100 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. bets are then made, each bettor placing upon the board the amount of money he purposes to bet. The dealer then proceeds to separate from the common pile with his stick four pieces of "cash" at a time, the game turning on the last draw, whether it be an odd or even number of pieces. This, however, has its modifications, as whether it will be one, two, three or four pieces. And, again, betting may be made on one number as against the other three, or two numbers against tAvo, and so on. Whatever number of pieces remain for the last draw, that number wins. In playing, the money bet is placed upon the board. The location in which it is placed determines the bet. If a player places one dollar on the corner of the board formed by the intersection of the two sides III and IV, he is betting against numbers I and II. If he loses, his loss is one dollar. If he wins he receives ninety-three cents, the remaining seven cents being "Soi" or water. SeA^en per cent, of all winnings are retained by the bank to defray the expenses and for profit, and is known as Soi. If the player places one dollar squarely on the side marked I, he plays that number against the other three. If he loses, he only loses his one dollar; but if he wins, Avhich he does if only one piece remains for the last draw, he wins $3.00 less seven per cent., or $2.79 net. When one dollar is placed on a number, "Chang Hoav," then the bet is only against the opposite number, as I against III or II against IV. The number on which the money is placed is the winning number for the bet tor, and the opposite number is his loser. It is an even bet, but he can only win should his chosen number come out, or lose should the opposite number appear. If NO PRIZES IX THIS LOTTERY. 101 neither number comes, then the bet is off and the player may AvithdraAv his stakes. The banker takes in all the money that is lost to the house and pays the Avinning of the bettors. The lookout Avatches the board for any carelessness or mistakes in placing bets; that no bettor takes up money not belonging to him, and that the transactions are all correct. The usual limit of the game is five cents as a mini mum bet and $500 for the highest. The average bet is $1, though hundreds of more impecunious ones bet half a dollar, a quarter or even a nickel, if that is all they can command. As many may play as can find place around the table, and the room is quite frequently crowded with eager onlookers, who, perhaps, haAre no money with which to play. When the fear of the police was not so great as it is noAV it was the custom to have a man stationed at the street door to call out to the crowds in the street and to passers, Moi Han La! which meant "The game is now open; come in and play!" Now, on the contrary, a watchman is placed at the door to keep out white people, unless vouched for, and also to give notice of the ap proach of the police. But this is a mere pretence, as the police very rarely trouble the games, though their loca tion and notoriety are known through Chinatown. CHINESE LOTTERY. Lottery is another form of gambling affected by the Chinese, though not by any means to the extent of fan tan. The Chinese lottery is very different from the lot tery of the white people. It has no great capital ; offers no grand prize, nor in fact any prizes at all. It is more 102 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. like the policy so well known among the negroes and the lower classes of white people in this country. It is con ducted by three persons — the conductor, or manager, a secretary and an assistant secretary. The conductor manages the drawings; the secretary receives the money and records the bets; the assistant secretary has charge of the drawing board, and marks out with brush and red ink the winning numbers. This "drawing board" is merely a placard bearing 80 Chinese characters, arranged in columns of four characters each, duplicates of which on small sheets are furnished to the players as tickets. Ml 0 &J8f -n 6$. iy & j- f$ # f n ^ *$¦ JK M J^ ft A LOTTERY TICKET. When the drawing is ready the manager tears each of the characters off the board, rolling them up sep arately in snug, tight wads, which are then placed in a tin can and thoroughly shaken and mixed. He then draws them out one at a time without opening them, and divides them equally among four pots or receptacles. METHODS OF PLAYING. 103 Then a lot is draAvn to determine which pot shall be opened. If pot or lot three is thus selected, the pot or lot so chosen becomes the one from which the drawing is to be made. The manager then proceeds to draw out the Avadded characters from the pot so indicated. These he opens as draAvn, calling out as he does so the names of the inscribed character or letter. This is then stuck on the drawing board in the place from which it was orig inally torn. The assistant marks out the winning num bers Avith red ink. The methods of playing lottery are various, but the simplest is that the player selects any ten numbers from the eighty, either all in one column, in a row or other wise, as he pleases. If five of the selected letters come out among the twenty drawn by the manager, the one who selected the ten Avins double the money he may have wagered. If he has selected six of the drawn letters he wins $20 for one; if seven, $200 for one; if eight, $1,000 for one; if nine, $2,000 for one; if ten or all the drawn letters, the winning would be $4,000 for each dollar in vested. But no such luck has ever been experienced by any player. Indeed, rarely does a player hit even five of the letters. If any number less than five have been selected the player wins nothing, but loses his invest ment, which may have been five cents or five dollars. The Chinese lottery players are ten times more super stitious than the American players. They rely unhes itatingly upon their dreams. For instance, if one dreams about a dead man he will select a letter for the lottery drawing which will indicate death. If he dreams about girls in bed he will select a whole i*oav of letters contain ing the one letter bearing the character "girls." There are many Chinamen who have lived in Chinatown for !04 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOWN. years and have never done any work, but who place their faith wholly on dreams. and Joss. The lotteries of Chinatown, like everything else, have a union. They are all under one common supervision, charge one uniform price for their tickets, pay the same commissions to agents. Each has a capital of $3,000. There are nine of these concerns as follows: Wing Chung Tai, 10 Mott Street. Chong Chin Wing, 11 Mott Street. Hang Chung Tai, 18 Mott Street. Lin Tai, 17 Mott Street. Sam Toy, 30 Mott Street. Yuen Lee, 18 Mott Street. Foo Kwai Chin, 32 Mott Street. Wing Yuen Tai, 14 Mot! Street. Lee Ching Chung, 16 Mott Street. Each lottery has two drawings a day, one at .3.30 P. M. and the other at 9.30 at night. They give employment to about 150 agents, who go around selling the tickets and collecting the bettings, which they turn in to the company employing them. For their part of the work they receive 10 per cent, of the money they collect. But no agent is allowed to collect a commission unless he belongs to the Lottery Agents' Union, the fee for admis sion to which is $5, or $25 for a life membership. This union extends help to its members when in distress, or when they get into trouble with the police or the lottery managers. These lotteries, however fairly conducted, are a gigan tic swindle, the chances of Avinning at them being less than in any other game of chance. By careful calcula tion the game gives the managers 65 per cent of the chances, while the player has but 35 per cent. Some of TSZ FA— THE RIDDLE GAME. 105 the poor infatuated players are laundrymen who work hard six days in a week and then squander their earnings on these lopsided lotteries. The man is not knoAvn avIio ever made a respectable Avinning at any of them, Avhile their victims are numbered by the thousands. THE RIDDLE GAME, OR TSZ FA. Another form of gambling among the Chinese is that known as the riddle game, riddle policy, or transforma tion of characters. In this game there are thirty-six efaances. Usually the outline figure of a person is drawn and the different parts of the body are marked, every mark representing a chance of the game. A few hours prior to the draAving the dealer giA'es out a Arerse some thing like this: "The bright light shines over the shadoAV valley:" Then the persons wishing to play gather and guess as to the meaning of the A'erse. The letters in the chance always bear the meaning. They stand either for bird, fish, spider, wild cat, tiger, money, strong man, dead body, pretty Avoman, old maid, etc. The dealer pastes the letter on a piece of cloth, rolls it up and hangs it on the wall, Avhich means that "the game is hung up." A player may guess any one of the thirty-six chances, and having bet from one to fifty cents, his Avinning is thirty for one. He might, for instance, construe the meaning of "shin ing light" to be a "pretty woman," and if the letter shoAvs this to be a correct guess he Avins. The percentage to the house, or dealer, is twenty per cent. The agents for this game haAre a union knoAvn as the Tsz Fa Chong, or Union, which translated means Riddle Game Union. On all money that the agents play for their principals they 106 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. are allowed 10 per cent., and if they win they get 10 per cent, more from the person for whom they play. No body is allowed this commission except those who belong to the Tsz Fa Chong. There are six games of riddle going on in Chinatown and each has two drawings a day, one at 3.30 o'clock in the afternoon and the other at 9.30 o'clock in the even ing, the same as the lotteries. There are twenty-five members of the Tsz Fa Chong. These riddle games do an aggregate business of about $700 a day. The game is played by the Chinese and the white strumpets of the district as Avell. It is no uncommon thing to hear one of the white women say she dreamed of a spider, or a pretty woman, etc., the night before, and Avas going to play riddle on the dream. There are still other games of chance played in China town, but the foregoing are the ones most largely pat ronized. Their patronage shows how general is the gam ing habit among these people. A NATIONAL DISGRACE. 107 CHAPTER XII. PROSTITUTION. TRAFFIC IN CHINESE WOMEN— THE DENS OF INFAMY OF CHINATOWN— THE DEPTH OF DEGRADATION— CHIEFLY LOW WHITE WOMEN— THE LOW GUI GOW. EMALE virtue is a rarity among the BBHm»% Chinese except among the higher fl^n ^fF*jT classes. The female offspring of the I lifW middle and lower classes is considered H| (^\ an inferior being, upon whom par- \ J- ental affection is wasted. She is val ued only at the price she will bring either as a wife or mistress. Her chastity is not consid ered for a moment. Thus Chinamen have quite natur ally come to consider prostitution a quite proper sphere for their surplus women. Only a small-footed woman, one Avhose feet have been kept from their natural groAvth by tight bandaging from 1 i 108 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. early childhood, is esteemed virtuous. Such are care fully reared in the concealment of home until disposed of by their parents to become the wives of the sons of respectable families. All big, or natural-footed women, are looked upon with suspicion. Not all of these are common prostitutes, but the demand for women for vile purposes is supplied from this source. These women are sold as early in life as customers can be found for them, either to become wives, mistresses or Avorse. The only value their parents place upon them is their worth as chattels for any purpose. Hundreds of these women have been brought to America and are held in dens of infamy by those AAdio have purchased them. The high binders find the traffic in this class of chattels a lucrative occupation. Happily but few Chinese women have as yet been brought to New York, the prostitutes of our Chinatown being chiefly degraded white women, attracted thither originally by a passion for opium smoking. These mis erable creatures the highbinders levy tribute upon, in default of a license to buy and sell them outright, as they do the Chinese women. But the actual slave trade — the importation and sale of Chinese girls right here in the heart of this great city — has already obtained a foothold, and will doubtless groAv apace unless resolutely put down by the philanthropy of Avhich Ave boast so largely. The highbinders are eager for the development of the traffic, and have made some promising beginnings in it. In the spring of 1889, a highbinder bought a girl at Victoria, B. C, for the sum of $1,800. After she was paid for he named her Yen Moy. He brought her to New Yori with the understanding that she was to become a "Lo Ki," meaning a woman of shame, for the term of two TYPES OF CHINESE WOMEN. 109 BIG AND SHALL FOOTED WOMEN. HO NEAV YORK'S CHINATOWN. years and six months, after which time she should be free from her OAvner. But when the two years and six months had expired, and three months grace had also passed, she Avas still a slave, because she could still be made profitable to her master. Being free, her earnings became her own; but her master compelled her to give him money to play fan tan and whatever more he needed to pose as a member of Chinatown's Four Hundred. One day his slave aAvoke to her position and related her tale of woe to Messrs. Huie Kin, Wong Chin Fee, Sue Chung CheAV and Joseph M. Singleton, who reported the case to the Gerry Society. This was in the fall of 1891. Miss Yen Moy was rescued from her worse than prison, a room on the top floor of 11 Mott Street. She was finally placed in the hands of Miss Campbell, a Presbyterian missionary, who resided at No. 282 Fulton Street, Brook lyn, where she lived and learned to say the Lord's Prayer, and was afterwards married to Jung Sing, a laundryman. Female slaves, lot No. 2, Avere also imported from Vic toria, B. C, by a young highbinder named Chu Ngai. The lot consisted of tAvo attractive looking girls named Lin Fung and Song Fung. Lin means "Lilly;" Fung means "Peacock." When the two words are put to gether, Lin Fung, they mean "As pretty as a peacock and as sweet as a pond lilly." Song Fung means "Twice as pretty as a peacock." The price paid for these girls was $2,000 each. The term of contract was two years. The price might have been' less than advertised. As a matter of fact business of this kind is made more profit able by putting the cost of a neAV girl up to an immense figure to make sure of catching the attention of wealthy customers. That everything might go well with the en terprising dealer they all boarded the Canadian Pacific SOLD TO A LIFE OF SHAME. Ill A SLAVE GIRL. 112 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. train for New York. When they reached Malone, N. Y., they passed the Custom House without the slightest trouble. Finally they reached this city and the girls Avere placed at 17 Mott Street, Avhere Miss Lin Fung made her permanent residence. She quickly became the reigning beauty of ChinatOAvn. Chinamen are not slow to note female attractions Avhen they see them. Miss Lin Fung made money fast and handed it over to Chu Ngai just as quickly. But Miss Song Fung soon found life a burden, for Chu Ngai expected to get as much money from her as he did from Lin Fung. She realized she was in a slave prison. She cried hard to Joss for deliverance, but Joss did not hear her prayer. Her eyes began to lose their lustre from weeping. Chu Ngai could see that his "goods" began to show impairment. He planned to sell her before she got worse. South Clark Street, Chicago, was the place Chu Ngai picked out as a market for her. So he went to Chicago to negotiate the sale and get his bargain money. When he returned to NeAV York he found Miss Song Fung still weeping for her woes. Chu Ngai told her that he Avas willing to take her back to Victoria and let her go where she pleased. Song Fung packed up her things to follow Chu Ngai the next day, thinking that- she was going back to Avhere she came from. But the following day, Avhen the train reached Chicago, Chu Ngai told her that he had some friends in that city where they could go and have a wash. The woman was more than willing to follow him. But when Chu Ngai's friend, Wong Se's room was reached, Chu Ngai told Song Fung to stay and hit the pipe while he would go down stairs and talk with a friend. He did go down stairs to talk with a friend and got the money CHILD SLAVES OF CHINATOAVN. na for his "goods," too. The $1,800 Avas counted out and handed over to him, and then he immediately took the train back to NeAV York. Meantime Song Fung, was waiting in the room up stairs and thinking all the time ¦ that her master was a long time coming back for her. When night came no Chu Ngai shoAved up. Poor Song Fung began her Aveeping anew. When her new master saAv that his slave was well secured he told her the truth, that he was her new master, and the successor of her con tract. When Song Fung heard the truth of the transac tion she Avept bitterly. Finally she lost her sight. The Chinamen in Chicago now call her Mang Ngen Por, meaning "Blind Woman." When Chu Ngai came back to NeAV York with the price of Song Fung it did not take him long to gamble his money away. When he found himself in need of more money he planned to sell his other slave, Lin Fung. But some good Chinaman informed Lin Fung of her master's intentions, and she gathered herself up as soon as possible and stole away from her prison at No. 17 Mott Street, and, finding her way to the Presbyterian Mission, No. 14 University Place, secured shelter and protection. She is still living Avith Mrs. Huie Kin, who has taught her how to read her a, b, c's and say the Lord's Prayer. Besides these Arentures, eight young slaves, aged re spectively 8, 9, 10 and 11 years, have been brought to Chinatown. This lot of slaves was bought in China and brought into New York by different Chinese families for domestic use as house and body servants. The prices paid for them were from $75 to $90 Mexican currency, equivalent to $38 and $45 American gold. They live at Nos. 15, 21 and 43 Mott Street, and are often seen walking through ChinatOAvn Avith baskets and tin pails. H4 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. They carry food from the store or restaurants to their homes. As a rule merchants do not allow their daugh ters to carry baskets, or even to walk through the public streets. These girls are taught by their masters and mis tresses to fancy all sorts of dreadful things that they allege the Christian people practice. They teach them to understand that it is wicked for girls to know how to read and write, and that the Christian people baptize per sons with a deadly solution, or hypnotize them. This fantasy is planted in the minds of the young slaves just as American children are taught Mother Goose rhymes. They are not alloAved to attend public school; they are not allowed to speak to Christian Chinamen; they are not allowed to know any domestic affairs; and only eat the scraps left by the masters. When they attain the age of 14 or 15 their masters will sell them to the Mott Street merchants for concubines for $800 or $1,000 apiece. Female slave trade of this nature in New York's China town is becoming to be regarded as one of the most profit able investments. Whenever these children receive an order from their mistress their duty is to obey to the very letter. Otherwise they would be punished with a severe whipping. The poor things dare not tell their situation to anyone in the world. Indeed, they have no friends in whom to confide. Nor do they know that any wrong is being done them. They can only cry in secret when their pains are seA^ere, or they suffer from hunger. And all this in the great city of New York ; which sends relief to the suffering in Ireland, India and Cuba by the ship load. But the passions of the thousands of Chinese in New York are ministered to, as already remarked, by a vast DEGRADED WHITE WOMEN. 115 horde of the lowest, the most degraded, most ignorant! and vile Avhite Avomen this great metropolis can produce. These Avomen have abandoned themselves wholly to the Chinese, dwelling in Chinatown, adopting its mode of life, eating its food, and drinking its vile liquors in the Avorst of white resorts, enjoying its body as well as soul- destroying opium pipe, and conforming in all things, save only in dress, to its manners and customs. Al though not slaves like the similar grade of Chinese women, they can be anything else than happy. The highbinder has succeeded in getting them under his con trol, and compels them to pay him a considerable share of their miserable earnings. The blood money is wrung from them through menace of violence or prosecution. They are made submissive through threats of being turned OA^er to the police and sent to Blackwell's Island. They are stuffed continually with stories of the political power of their persecutors as well as of their ability to secure sworn evidence of any charge they may choose to make against them, even to murder. Thus they yield to the demands made upon them through their fears. And when their payments do not satisfy the greed and rapacity of their highbinder masters they are subjected to kicks, cuffs and blows until they willingly give up their last penny and have to go hungry themselves. And all this goes on regularly and continually within call of Christian churches and within sound of Christian mis sionary establishments. But all Chinese women, as already stated, are not pros titutes. They all have a money value, and are purchased with money. The wife is purchased no less than the mistress, and is alike subject to the will of her husband in all things. He may even sell her to another, if he so 116 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. pleases, Avithout offending any Chinese laAV or code of propriety. It is estimated that there are now thirty-five Chinese women residing in Chinatown besides the girls already spoken of. But three of these women are public prostitutes. The rest are held either as the wives or mis tresses of their oAvners. These Avomen are seldom seen, except by their OAvners or husbands, for Chinese usage is strict in forbidding them to go upon the streets under any circumstances. If for some special reason one is per mitted to visit another's home, she must be taken in a carriage, even though her destination be only a block away. In ChinatOAvn the people are reticent regarding their women and girls, but the present belle of Mott Street is a handsome girl of fifteen, recently purchased by a New York Chinaman from a member of the Chinese Legation at Washington. The girl is at No. 19 Mott Street, and it is reported that $1,200 Avas paid for her. At a neighboring house is a pretty girl of sixteen who, as Chinatown rumor has it, is held for $1,000, as she is very beautiful and attractive. But the usual price for a girl is $700 or $800. They are generally disposed of when fifteen or sixteen years old. The police, Avhile not doubting the existence of the evil, at least in some degree, look upon the difficulty of getting proof as the principal object in the way of stop- ping it. "If a Chinaman says a girl is his daughter or niece, hoAv are we to prove it?" said Chief McCullagh. "And hoAv can we legally prove, Avhatever our belief may be, that the girl was first bought in San Francisco or China, or that she is actually held for sale here?" Chinamen are very jealous, and the rules for the gov- erment of their women are very strict. They respect THE BELLE OF CHINATOAVN. 117 A CELESTIAL BEAUTY. 118 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOAVN. Avomen of their oavii race much more than they do those of Avhite blood, and look upon the Caucasian denizens of their district with contempt. To a certain extent these Avomen are required to conform to the Chinese custom of remaining in doors. They may not appear upon the streets openly, especially in the day time; Avhile at night the necessities of their vile calling keeps them in their rooms. Hence the necessity entailed upon them of hav ing on hand messengers to do their bidding, Avhich calls into seiwice a corps of otherwise idle and Avorthless boys and young men, known in the A'ocabulary of Chinatown as Loav Gui Goav. Low Gui means a common Avoman, and Goav a dog. Thus the phrase means "The common Avoman's dog." Its application is servant, boy or attend ant. Thus a Loav Gui Gow is merely an attendant upon a common Avoman. There are about fifty of these Low Gui Gow in Chinatown — white, black and yellow. They live on the street and hang arOund Nos. 11, 17 and 18 Mott Street and the corner of Pell and Doyers Streets, near Avhich their patrons have their residences. Thirty Avhite boys, fifteen negroes and five Chinese are so em ployed regularly. These boys, of course, make their liv ing off the women. They haA-e their own peculiar way of conducting their business and "running things," as they term it. They have ChinatOAvn divided up into dis tricts. Each boy is entitled to wait upon so many Avomen Avho are duly assigned to him. When a woman wants beer all she has to do is to go to the AvindoAv and shout for her particular attendant. If her Loav Gui Gow is not at his post Avhen called the others signal quickly for him. The signal passes all through Chinatown, and in a minute the boy wanted appears. At very late hours these Loav Gui Goav stand around the places where "THE COMMON WOMAN'S DOG." 119 GEORGE PAPE, CHIEF OF THE LOW GUI GOW. 120 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. "Hop" (or opium) is sold, waiting for Avomen from other parts of the city who may come to buy the drug. The boys procure it for them and receive tips for the service, the tip running from 5 to 25 cents. The most profitable part of the Low Gui Gow's business is showing strange Chinamen where "pretty Mellican girls" live. For such service the fee is from a quarter to a half dollar. The picture here presented is that of George Pape, the chief of the Low Gui Goav in ChinatOAvn. He was born in Philadelphia of negro parents and came to New York in 1891. He does not know Avhen he was born, but says he thinks he is about 22 years of age. He is known to the girls whom he serves as Sam, and his com panions of Pell Street call him "Yellow." As will be seen from the picture Sam is not a very prepossessing young man, but, in the vernacular of Chuck Connors, "He gets there just the same." In addition to being chief of the Low Gui Gow, Sam acts as waiter at night in the Chinese restaurant at 16 Pell Street, and receives a salary of from $4 to $5, ac cording as the proprietor feels on pay day. Sam has never done any other work than that of a Low Gui Gow, and before coming to New York performed the same offices for the girls in the Chinese quarter on Race Street, Philadelphia. He has never been to school and can neither read nor write. The particular territory over which he has the exclusive right to reign includes 11 Mott Street, 11 and 19 Pell and 6 Doyers Streets, in which there are forty prostitutes. He says he has to keep a sharp lookout all the time in order that his territory may not be encroached upon by the others of TIPS OF THE LOAV GUI GOAV. 121 his class, and also for the police who chase him and the rest of the fraternity out of the district. Sam says the Low Gui Gow are always fighting among themselves, claiming that their business is being appro priated by each other. For getting a girl a pint of beer he receives fiAre cents, and for buying twenty-five cents worth of opium he receives ten. cents. He does a good "business," although he is not growing rich. He is, as before stated, the chief of the band and is typical of the class. 122 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. CHAPTER XIII. HIP SING TONG. ORGANIZATION OF THE VILLAINS OF CHINATOWN-PROFES SIONAL BLACKMAILERS, DEALERS IN FEMALE SLAVES AND PROTECTORS OF CRIME. HE "highbinder" is an American desig nation applied to a class of Chinese immigrants whose business is crime and violence. It must be remem bered that Chinese civilization is rad ically different from American or Christian civilization. The code of morals of the two nations is widely different. To illus trate, the murder of a female child is not looked upon as a serious crime in China, nor as criminal at all by the middle and lower classes of the Chinese. In America THE THUGS OF CHINATOAVN. 123 human slavery Avas abolished thirty odd years ago; but to-day the women of China are bought and sold as freely and as commonly as are cattle among us. The marriage tie in China is a very slender and weak chain, sundered on the slightest pretence and with no material ceremony. Here marriage is considered a binding alliance, lasting through life unless set aside by legal formality and for serious cause. So the Chinese come to us impregnated with the ideas of morality and social relations that obtain in their native land and instilled into them in their early education. It is not to be wondered at, then, that they recognize in their communities a class of men avIio live and fatten on what we call crime. The Chinese high binder is otherwise what Ave call a "thug." He is a far worse character than our "plug-ugly," "brigand" or other lawless Adllain. But still he is permitted to roam at large and practice his unholy vocation among the Chinese without a protest from them. Indeed, he is openly rec ognized, and his profession, though possibly not consid ered quite as respectable as the mercantile or mechanical pursuits, is looked upon as perfectly regular and legit imate. No man Avas ever punished in China for merely cutting the throat of his female offspring, and why should he be here? If women were not openly sold in China, how would Chinamen get wives? Therefore, why may they not be sold here ? Were it not for, blackmailing in China, hoAv would the mandarins and other officials live and thrive? Hence, why make a fuss about black mailing in America? Here you have the Chinese logic of the situation. Hence, you will find highbinders openly practicing their calling in Chinatown and in every Chinese community in America. Here in NeAV York's ChinatOAvn the highbinders are 124 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. formally organized under the society name of Hip Sing Tong. The organization is fully recognized by the Mayor of Chinatown and by the Chong Wah Gong ShaAV. Indeed, "it is duly incorporated under the laws of the State of New York;" but that is merely a bluff, and is based on misrepresentation and fraud. It has no excuse for existence that would be entertained for one minute by an American court. Its business is simply to protect its members in blackmailing, in levying tribute upon the vile Avomen of Chinatown, in buying and sell ing Avomen for the purpose of prostitution, and in the commission of all manner of crimes that may be neces sary in the prosecution of its nefarious calling, and re quire its protecting care. It furnishes, for a price, per jured testimony to acquit any apprehended criminal, or to convict any persecuted tradesman. It guards the por tals of the Chinese gambler's den for pay, and, when necessary, assumes to blind the eyes of American police men to the Adces of Chinatown. Indeed, it is broadly asserted that through its agency Police Headquarters has more than once been influenced to withhold its hand from crushing the iniquities which prevail in Chinatown. Why should it not be recognized and well paid for such sendees as these, especially as they are not repugnant to the Chinese standard of morality and virtue? The Hip Sing Tong differs in no respect from its sister society of San Francisco, which is called Hip Yee Tong, or translated, "The Temple of United. Justice." Thus does crime seek to hide itself under a virtuous name, or thus does the morality of the Orient designate the most odious and hated of villains. Thus the more devilish the business the more sanctimonious the name it assumes as a cloak. Both in San Francisco and here it is a secret, ORGANIZED FOR VIOLENCE AND CRIME 125 oath-bound body, the betrayal of the mysteries of Avhich renders the betrayer liable to death on sight and Avithout benefit of clergy, or any form of trial or conviction. It costs the enormous sum of tAvo dollars to become a mem ber of this delectable society of professional cutthroats and blood-suckers. Any AAdio Avish to join may make application at headquarters, No. 34 Bayard Street. The fan tan industry in Chinatown, of Avhich more extended mention is made in another chapter, is carried on under the protection of the Hip Sing Tong, which ex acts heavy tribute from it for its fostering and shield ing care. Probably the Fan Tan Syndicate would be forced to pay even heaAder tribute should the Hip Sing Tong swing around and assume an attitude of hostility to it. It makes but little difference to these felloAvs which side of any cause they espouse so long as they make money out of it. To illustrate the character of the men, or fiends, composing the Adllainous organization, a prominent member and leader Avas accused some years ago of robbing and murdering a peaceable laundryman. The police Avere satisfied of his guilt, but his thug com panions managed to spirit aAvay the Avitnesses Avho Avould have proved his guilt, and thus he escaped conviction. Soon after he was arrested at NeAvark, N. J., for robbery. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. His criminal friends managed to enlist influential sympathy in his behalf, and he Avas pardoned after serving but eighteen months of his term. He is now practicing his trade of crime among the Chinamen of New York's ChinatOAvn, and is naturally a shining 126 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. light of the Hip Sing Tong. What his associates and companions must be can be readily inferred. The Hip Sing Tong has about 450 members, eArery one of Avhom is an expert in crime, as understood in this country, and fully eligible to a residence in state's prison or a seat in the chair of electrocution. Yet, as already remarked, they are not looked upon as criminals by the Chinese whose moral ethics differ so widely from those of Western civilization. They go and come among their countrymen Avith entire freedom, though well known and their nefarious business thoroughly understood. The highbinder dresses well and carries himself with a great sIioav of importance, though sometimes with rather too much SAvagger. He usually carries his hands in his pockets to convey the impression that he is quite pre pared to draw his weapon — yes, and use it, too — on the slightest provocation. The highbinders are organized in every principal city in this country, though under vary ing names in the different localities. A bond of union exists between them, and members transfer from one to the other as, for any cause, they have occasion to change their residence from one city to another. It is estimated that there are about 3,000 of the guild in the United States at the present time. In the prosecution of his calling the highbinder is cold blooded, pitiless and cruel. Human sympathy is as for eign to his composition as can Avell be conceived. He is ever ready for emergencies, and has no hesitation at shed ding blood, or even committing murder, when he fancies that it is required.' Tactfully he seeks to avoid trouble with the more respectable members of the- Chinese col ony, his victims being those usually engaged in pursuits generally knoAvn to be unlawful under the laws of the RECKLESS USE OF PISTOLS. 127 land. The gambling establishments and the houses of prostitution are his most ready fields of operation. Here he can levy his blackmail with but little ques tioning, and enforce his demands at the point of his ever- ready pistol, or, if more quiet is desirable, overcome resistance Avith a hatchet or "fighting-bar," Avhichever may be most coirvenient. His fighting Avhen plying his trade among those Avhom he blackmails endangers no lives but those already beyond the pale. But when the - Adllains fall out among themselves, as they occasionally do, and hostilities are begun on sight as usual, non- participants are quite as liable to be shot as are those engaged in the shooting. The Avretches, crazed by their anger and intense hatred of each other, are then utterly reckless of consequences. They send their bullets flying Avith careless aim and promiscuous results. They have learned the use of the pistol only in recent years and since coming to America, and are not therefore expert with it. Indeed, they even knoAv very little, technically, about it. When a Chinaman buys a pair of boots he selects the largest he can find, because he gets more leather for his money. So in buying a pistol, only those of the largest size suit him; but after size he requires quality, and selects the best. No cheap affair can be sold to a highbinder. A Colt 6-shooter of 44 or 45 caliber divides with the Smith & Wesson, the Remington and the Merwin and Hulbert his esteem, but all must shoot the cartridge ordi narily used in rifles. As a rule the double action pistols are preferred, for the reason that highbinder shootings are ahvays hurriedly done, so that police interference may be avoided and the fighters get under cover in the 128 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. labyrinths of Chinatown. The Aveapons are never bought directly by the men who Avill use them. Several gun stores are located almost Avithin the limits of ChinatOAvn. On the BoAvery there is a curious "de partment store" which is partly given up to 'hardware and firearms. It is a tumble-down shop, presided over by a Aveazoned old man Avho remains strictly neutral be tween the Avarring highbinders. They can all buy pistols from him, and paAvn them at his place when the imme diate occasion for their use has passed. The arms are rarely purchased until a man has been doomed to deatli or a fight has been decided on. Then some respectable looking Chinaman, perhaps a merchant, visits a gunshop and with the utmost care selects one or more reA-olvers of the largest size. The pistols are crit ically examined as to "pull," certainty of action in the cyl inders, and the length of the point on the hammer Avhich strikes the primer and discharges the shell. Nearly all of those purchased have long barrrels, 7-J inches, and are arms intended for army and naAry use and to be carried in holsters. But the highbinder has no use for a holster. When he takes up the pistol It is to kill some man within a few minutes and mayhap on sight, so he must have his Aveapon where it can be gripped and put into action in stantly. The peculiar dress of the Chinese especially favors the murderous highbinder in concealing the Aveapon and yet haAdng it under control. The long, flow ing sleeves of the outer garment Avorn on the street by all Chinamen serve a double purpose for the murderous outlaw. Often the assassin detailed to kill some fancied enemy or opponent straps his revolver to his forearm by a rub ber band or other fastening, from which the Aveapon can HOW THE PISTOL IS CARRIED. 129 be instantly disengaged. The pistol lies along the inner portion of the arm where it can be carried without ob servation. If one of the ChinatOAvn detectives chances on purpose to brush against the highbinder in passing, nothing is felt of the Aveapon that is ready for use as soon as the man marked for death appears. At other times, Avhen Avaiting around for a street fight to begin, or when walking from the Tong house to some battle ground, the pistol is carried in the waistband of the trousers where it can be quickly reached by lifting the blouse. In cold weather it sometimes becomes necessary under the highbinder code to put a man to death, and then the assassin may take his 6-shooter in his hand and conceal it by turning down his sleeves. That way of carrying the pistol is considered equally as desirable Avith the manner also affected in the cold season, when the assassin covers the hands by hiding them in his sleeves, as ladies use a muff. One hand holds the weapon, and when the victim can be stolen upon, the pistol is merely pushed against the cloth and fired through it. No one sees the pistol and it is easy for the murderer to escape in the excitement which ahvays fol- Ioavs a gunfire in ChinatOAvn. Searching a Chinaman is a matter quite different from going through a man in American dress. Anywhere from five to twelve garments covering the body must be examined, to make sure that no deftly concealed pocket holds a weapon. Sometimes beneath a half a dozen blouses a coat of mail or an armor of quilted paper is found, either being impervious to bullets. If the desperate Mongols were expert marksmen there might be less objection to their pistol practice on each 130 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOWN. other, but they are notoriously erratic shots. A few years ago certain shooting galleries were frequented by Chinese, but Avhen a Avhite man one day killed one of them instead of aiming at the regular target the Chinese patronage ceased. Although quite indifferent to death, the Chinese have not yet learned to handle firearms prop erly. When they hold the pistol at arm's length they nearly ahvays turn the face aAvay at the instant of firing. A highbinder AAdio can remain complacent among the reports of a thousand big firecrackers shrinks from look ing through the sights of his pistol until the lead has been sent on its mission of death. Sometimes the murderers grasp the pistol Avith both hands, and by using the double action discharge four or five shots in half that number of seconds. A rest across the forearm is a favorite position and one of the most effective, since it permits of something like steady aim, although it is said that the highbinder neArer keeps his eyes open Avhen the pistol is discharged. No remedy at laAv has been effective in preArenting resort to arms by the highbinders. HeaA-y fines as Avell as imprisonment haATe been imposed for carrying con cealed Aveapons, and Avithin twenty-four hours a dozen highbinders were fighting Avith pistols on the street. The rule made by the police officials operates to lessen the danger to pedestrians about Chinatown, because any Chi nese arrested at the scene of a shooting Avill be compelled to defend himself in court as a principal and pay attor ney's fee. Heretofore there has been an agreement among the fraternitv to settle their grievances outside of courts, but the new law will make such procedure un necessary, since nothing can be saved by so doing. The initiation of neAV members as highbinders is very SWORN TO LAAVLESSNESS. 131 INITIATING A HIGHBINDER. 132 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. impressive and trying, and is a ceremony that is held sacred. Only a feAV privileged Americans have ever wit nessed it, and one of these, in describing it to the writer, declared it really impressive. The neophyte, as well as all the officials, are dressed in their richest silken robes. The candidate for admission boAvs before the great joss, which is in the upper room of the society headquarters, and then kneels. A great tAVO-handed Chinese sword, flaming with jewels like Excalibur, is held directly across his throat; another, but smaller sword, is pressed against the nape of his neck. In this position, more critical than the men who play the role of Damocles, the neophyte repeats in a chant the solemn ritual of the society, with the oath that binds him to renounce all earthly ties and pledge his undivided devotion to the work of the organ ization. This oath is held unusually sacred by the super stitious Chinese, for the society sees to it that anyone avIio breaks it does not encumber the earth many moons. Lesser infractions of orders or discipline are punished by flogging, the culprit being bound over a curious wooden instrument which looks like a hobby horse, and the blows are administered with a thick bamboo club. These men are not criminals because of mere love of crime, any more than a man is a surgeon because of a fondness for inflicting pain. It is their chosen profes sion, and they practice it for the money they may make from it. They are shrewd enough to understand that many of the pursuits of their countrymen, esteemed in nocent by them, are unlawful in this country, and may only be carried on surreptitiously. This affords these cold-blooded professional scoundrels their opportunity. Every gambling game of any kind is compelled to pay them tribute under pain of exposure to the police. Every HIS FIELD FOR BLACKMAIL. 133 inmate of a house of shame must in like manner pay, lest the evidence be produced to send her to BlackwelPs Island. Every opium joint must contribute a liberal share of its receipts, lest its doors be forced open by the guardians of the law, avIio are as carefully kept away from the submissive places. For the rest, if a quarrel occurs betAveen tAvo men, one of whom is able and willing to pay to have the other put out of the way, the high binder is ready to undertake the job. Or if anybody has fallen under the disfavor of the laAv this enterprising free booter will, for a suitable "fee," proAdde the evidence to secure his acquittal. Again, Avhen a neighbor has made himself personally obnoxious, the ever-ready highbinder will secure his comiction of any crime that may be trumped up against him in order to secure his removal from the place. In fact, for pay, the highbinder is ready to perpetrate any villainy, from perjury up to murder, and his oath-bound fellows, under pain of'death, must protect him should he fall in the meshes of the laAv in the practice of his unholy vocation. Talk of the Italian Mafia! There has never existed such another organiza tion of desperadoes and villains as the Chinese high binders; and these maintain their organization and ply their trade more or less openly in every city of the United States which maintains any considerable colony of Chinese. 131 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. CHAPTER XIV. OTHER CHINESE SOCIETIES. FONDNESS FOR ORGANIZATIONS ILLUSTRATED— SOME TYPICAL MINOR ASSOCIATIONS. -^ HE Chinese are great believers in or ganization. Every trade and calling in ChinatOAvn, as already seen, has its organization or union. They also maintain societies for purely social purposes. It Avould be impossible to notice all these A'arious societies. Sev eral of the more prominent have already been referred to. Others of any considerable importance may be briefly mentioned. The Len Ye Tong Society is perhaps the most conspic uous of the social or fraternal bodies. This is commonly CHINESE FREE MASONS. 135 known as the Chinese Free Masons, though beyond its secretness it has no likeness to the Masonic Order of the Western World. It is also knoAvn as the rebellion party, possibly because of its origin in China during the great Taiping Rebellion. However that may be, the Len Ye Tong is said to have not less than 4,000 members in New York alone. Its rooms and headquarters are at No. 12 Pell Street. It has a temple or place of worship of its own in which Quan Gong, the god of strength, is in stalled, before Avhom none but members of the society are allowed to make their devotions. Tom Lee, the for mer Mayor of ChinatOAvn, has been the leading man in New York of this mysterious organization for the past fifteen years. The On Leon Society is a social organization Avhich confines its membership to the higher class of Chinese residents. It is bitterly opposed to the Hip Sing Tong, ¦or Highbinders' Society, and seeks to encourage and pro mote good order and becoming respect to the laws of the land and city Avhich gives the Chinamen hospitality and ¦protection. Most of the merchants of Chinatown are members of this meritorious organization. Tom Lee is at the head of it. The Sue Yep Kong ShaAv is an organization of those hailing from the four southern districts of the Province of IvAvong Tong. Its purposes are to guard the interests of its members in social and political affairs, as well as in business matters. To this end it exercises some legis lative and executive authority, making and enforcing rules and regulations for the conduct of its members. Limited in this respect by the nativity of its members, it exercises similar poAver to that of the Chong Wah Gong ShaAv, though it recognizes and submits to the 136 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOAVN. superior authority of the latter. Thus its members are required to patronize only those coming from the same districts in China as themselves. The society also charges itself Avith the duty of recovering the bones of its deceased members and returning them to their native land. Loong Kon Gong ShaAv, another of the many asso ciations or societies in Chinatown, is a development of pride of family. China presences in its form of govern ment much of the old patriarchial system of the ancient HebreAvs. This, with the worship of ancestors, as taught by Confucius, naturally strengthens the family tie among these people and promotes family pride. The Four Brotherhood, Avhich the title of this particular so ciety means, when put into plain English, is an out- groAvth of this sentiment. The tradition is that some twelve hundred years ago there were four Chi nese patriarchs, named respectively Lau, KAvan, Chang and Chew, Avho lamented the gradual decrease of their progeny and feared the ultimate extinguishment of their family names. They therefore bound themselves each to the other Avith a solemn oath to form one sacred tribe or family, as the tAvelve tribes of Israel were com bined in the Hebrew nation. Hence the foundation of this society which has maintained its existence to this day, and embodies .the descendants of the original Chi nese patriarchs named. The branch maintained in Chinatown is therefore but a subordinate, or possibly, a merely local organization, of those dwelling here, but tracing their common lineage back to the patriarchs mentioned. It has its head quarters at 22 Pell Street, where, besides a meeting room, parlor and offices, it maintains a shrine devoted to VARIOUS ORDERS. 137 the Avorship of the particular divinity of the combined families. The rooms are decorated in Oriental style, with considerable pretentions to beauty and attractive ness. Every male avIio bears either of the surnames of the traditional originators of the clan is eligible to mem bership. It is estimated that there are about 2,000 of them in the states on the Atlantic coast. 138 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. CHAPTER XV. THE OPIUM VICE. ITS INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD IN NEW YORK— CHINAMEN NOT THE ONLY USERS OF OPIUM, NOR CHINATOWN THE ONLY LOCALITY WHERE IT IS USED— WHAT THE DRUG IS. ITS USE AND EFFECTS. HEN England forced her Indian prod uct of opium on China against the earnest and energetic protest of the government of China, she committed £3 a crime against humanity, morality and the Avell-being of the human race Avhich can never be atoned for. The Chinese race took naturally to the drug, and developed the sevreral manners of its use as a minister to idleness, vice, moral degradation, physical and mental prostration, and final death. Its victims throughout the middle king dom are numbered by the millions, while the impairment UNIVERSALITY OF THE OPIUM HABIT. 139 of the national vigor and strength in consequence of its very common use is beyond estimation. The Chinese brought the vile drug and its habitual use Avith them to the United States. The people of America are quick imitators of the fashions and follies of others, and are as abject slaves to habit as any other class of peo ple on earth. They quickly noted the illusive pleasures to be derived from opium smoking and opium eating and submitted themselves to the tutelage of the Celestial immigrants in its use. The drug is now accomplishing its deadly work in consequence as well among the Avhite population of the land as among the yellow-skinned neAvcomers. When the Chinese, in 1875, began migrating m numbers from the Pacific coast to this city they brought with them their opium pots well filled, and the parapher nalia for its use. But while they settled in an isolated locality by themselves, the noxious fumes of their opium pipes pervaded the entire city and rapidly won devotees to its use. And so it happens that to-day we are debarred from pointing a finger at Chinatown and saying : "There that degrading, disgusting and soul-destroying habit of opium smoking is indulged; therefore, we must drive the Chinese out." Opium is smoked to-day in all quarters of the city and by all classes of the community alike. The number of "hop fiends," as opium smokers are called, is far greater in NeAV York than people have any idea of, and seems to be growing rapidly. It's a disease. When it gets hold of anybody it seems next to impossi ble to make it let go. There are thousands of our people Avho use the drug in one form or another, and the station houses and asylums are full of those Avho have been pulled down by it. Whisky is bad enough, but as to its 140 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. effects compared to those qf opium, all intoxicating liquors amount to nothing, because the use of the drug is easily kept secret until the victim of the habit is prac tically beyond all advice or help. There is no cure. A certain uptown druggist could, if he Avould, tell startling tales concerning the use of this terrible drug — tales that Avould cause the most profound amazement and anxiety. The "joints" of Chinatown are but evidence of the last stages of the disease — the lowest rounds of the ladder of human disgrace. The Avorking and mechanic class is probably less tinc tured Avith the disease than any other. Why it is so may be a question not easily ansAvered, but opium users are not found in great numbers among skilled mechanics. It may be that men and Avomen Avho fashion things simul taneously Avith brain and hand have less craving for opi ates. It is the active brain worker and the restless idler — tAvo extremes — who are most prone to fall before the deadly poppy plant. The disease assails men and Avomen alike — the women are the most unfortunate, because harder to detect. Respectable people, who would con sider it vulgar to drink in public, and a lasting disgrace to get drunk on liquor anywdiere, Avill go around under the influence of opium all day and retire drunk from its use every night. Happily this is not as yet general, but there are a great many such — so many that nearly every one knoAvs somebody so affected. Frequently the habit is the outgrowth of illness — ac quired innocently and accidently. If you would look over the prescription book of any drug store you would WHERE OPIUM IS PRODUCED. 141 be astonished to see Iioav Avidely opium is used by physi cians; and the same is true of patent medicines of all kinds. Opium has its legitimate uses, and confined to those uses is a precious boon to mankind ; but beyond this it is a subtle fiend, more deadly because insidious, steal ing aAvay brains, honor and life. Better have. the yellow fever than the opium habit. Opium eating, so called, and the one most commonly adopted in European countries, is the simplest method of using the drug. There solid opium is eaten and lau danum is drank. In some cases, bodily suffering, the pain of neuralgia or rheumatism, a troublesome cough, distress due to hunger, diarrhoea, etc., furnish the excuse for the first employment of the drug, its use being often continued after the suffering has passed away. In other cases, sleeplessness or mental trouble induces sufferers to fly for relief to this potent narcotic. Sometimes mere curiosity causes a .person to make a trial of the drug. If the special purpose for its use be accomplished it is only too likely that recourse to the drug Avill be had as the remedy AAdienever there is the slightest recurrence of the pretext for its use. Opium is obtained from the milky juice of the poppy plant, Avhich is grown in Persia, India, China and, to a small extent, in Egypt. A portion of that produced in India is consumed at home, and the rest, Avhich is a very large quantity, is exported to China and other countries. With the increase of opium cultivation in China its con sumption in British India, Burmah and America is also increasing. The vice of opium smoking, which is more injurious than opium eating, has of late been spreading to an alarming extent. Noav opium can be found in al most all towns and cities, and upwards of five hundred 142 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. thousand acres of the best land in India are devoted to its cultivation. In order to encourage and stimulate its production advances of money are made by the govern- L ment to the growers, as the crop progresses, Avithout in terest, and finally the entire crop is purchased by and taken into the government factories at Patna and Ghazipur (both toAvns of the Bengal presidency). The raw opium is prepared tliere for use, and especially adapted to the Chinese market. The annual average production is 12,000,000 pounds, which is consumed in _ India, China, Burmah and America. Thegovernment of India, in fact, is the sole manufacturer and wholesale trader in this baneful drug. It is hardly necessary to enlarge on the deadly proper ties of the drug. The reader should simply bear in mind that a dose of a feAV grains is sufficient to kill a strongly built, full-groAvn man; or a close of one, or even half a grain, once a day for six months continually, is enough to deprive him of his physical, moral and mental strength and activity, and to degrade him to the level of a beast. A very robust youth is reduced to a mere skeleton after- only a feAV months' use of this powerful poison, and made incapable of earning even his own livelihood. He conse quently falls on the charity of his relatives, and failing that, takes to stealing and other crimes. The opium eater or smoker is invariably a pilferer, even if he has money enough of his own to buy the supply he wants. The miseries of the victim are not so painful to us as those of his relations and friends. When the head of a family, or in other words, the breadwinner of a household con sisting of Avif e, helpless children and old and infirm par ents, gives himself up to smoking Chandu (compound opium), his home becomes a horrible place, an actual and DEGRADATION OF THE OPIUM EATER. 143 visible hell on earth. Starvation, Avant and misery al- Avays reign there. HoAvever hard-hearted a man may be, he cannot refrain from shedding tears on hearing the pit eous cries and seeing the wretched condition of those innocent children, Avho invariably surround their equally needy mother and ask for food in a weakened and most piteous Aroice. The opium eater, as a rule, does not sleep at night, ex cept during the latter part, and consequently spends the greater part of the clay in dozing, and the rest in indulg ing his appetite for the drug. His time is spent in idle ness, and his money, if he has any, in buying opium and making Chandu. He is the most filthy creature on earth, and unfit altogether for any human society. In addition to all these, opium makes him most licentious. In fact there is hardly any defect or weak ness Avhich is not habitual with him. Religious sen timent is deadened in him, and religion and morality become matters of ridicule to him. In case of poverty the wretched victim, in order to secure a pipe, is driven to the perpetration of crimes of heinous and horrible kinds, which can be better imagined than described. Time, Avealth, energy, self-control, self-respect, honesty, truthfulness, and everything that is honorable in a man, are all sacrificed by him to it. The only thing to be said in his favor is that no one eA^er heard of one being caught red-handed in a murder, as is the case with many a drunk ard and blangee (eater of Indian hemp). But this is due more to his natural cowardice and bodily weakness than to any other cause. He is inA^ariably a coAvard, utterly unable to defend himself, his Avife or his helpless chil dren. Young men and Avomen will sacrifice their last 144 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. piece of Avearing apparel and all earthly belongings, as Avell as their relatives' articles of value, to obtain the nec essary drug. Whres Avill secretly empty their husbands' purses; sons Avill rob their Mothers; fathers will permit their- offspring to starve, all to obtain indulgence in the use of this horrible stuff. There are nine different forms of indulgence in opium, namely: smoking, gum eating, opium ashes eating, opium pill eating, prepared opium eating, laudanum drinking, morphine eating, the use of nlorphine solution, and the hypodermic injection of opium. In 1840 about 20,000 pounds of opium Avere con sumed in the United States; in 1880 the consumption had increased to 533,450 pounds. In 1868 there Avere about 90,000 opium eaters in the country; noAv they number over 500,000. More Avomen than men are ad dicted to the eating of opium. The vice is one so easily acquired, so easily practiced in private, and so difficult of detection, that it presents peculiar temptations and is very insidious. The relief from pain that it gives, and the peculiar exaltation of spirits, easily lead the victim to believe that the use of it is beneficial. Opium and Chloral are to-day the most deadly foes of Avomen. There are about twenty or more places in ChinatOAvn in which opium is sold in twenty-five and fifty-cent por tions, Avhich means about 10 to 16' "fun" (a fun is one candareen). The gum, Avhich is bought from Avholesale druggists, is spread out thin in a baking pan and baked slowly over a mild fire until almost crisp. It is then dis solved in water over night and strained through a piece of fine flannel. Then it is again boiled over a slow fire until the liquid becomes of the consistency of molasses. This is knoAvn as No. 1 opium. It is not the best No. 1. BRANDS AND PRICES OF THE DRUG. 145 The best No. 1 comes from Hong Kong, and is sold in cans on Avhich the government collects a duty of $5 to $6, and costs about $8 for one-half pound. This is knoAvn as Fook Yuen, or "Fountain of Happiness," and Li Yuen, or "Fountain of Beauty." Besides the Fook Yuen and Li Yuen brands, there are four other brands sold in ChinatOAvn, namely: Ti Yuen, Ti Sin, Wing Chong and Quan Kai. These last-named brands come from British Columbia and their quality is about equal. No duty is ever paid on the last-named brands. They are smuggled into the United States by French women, Avho are employed for the purpose by the Chinese. The manufacturer in Victoria, B. C, makes a shipment to Montreal and then the Avomen take the stuff and carry it over the border to some city or toAvn, such as Burlington, where they leave it until they haA'e sufficient to ship to NeAV York City. The Avoman Avho smuggles the drug gets a commission. 146 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. CHAPTER XVI. OPIUM SMOKING. "HITTING THE PIPE"— THE A'ICE AS PRACTICED IN CHINA TOAVN— HOAV THE DRUG IS SMOKED, AND THE PLACES AVHERE THE HABIT MAY BE INDULGED— THE "LAY OUT" DESCRIBED. In T HAS already been said that the ^. i ) opium habit is indulged quite largely ^^ v__r^ throughout the city — the vice is by ^. Vv fj no means confined to the narrow lim its of Chinatown. Still, as China- toAvn is responsible for the introduc tion of the aAArful practice into this community, and as it is more openly, and perhaps more systematically, carried on there, and particularly as it is a prominent feature of daily life in Chinatown, we nat urally look there for its practical illustration. The places where opium smoking is provided for and may be indulged, for a price, by all comers, like liquor- AN 0TIUM "JOINT" AND "LAY OUT." 147 drinking in a saloon, are called "joints." There are a great many of these "joints" scattered throughout China- toAvn, the most of them hidden in obscure places, and all more or less surrounded with mystery, out of deference to or fear of the police. For it must be remembered that such places are not countenanced by the law of the land or that of the city. A description of one of these places Avill serve as a description for all. To gain an entrance to it you Avill have to go along a narroAV, unlighted, dingy alley to a barricaded door. Upon the signal given by your guide, the door will be open leading through a Chi nese wood yard, up a narrow, rickety stairs, along a nar- row, creaky porch, to the second flight of stairs leading .doAvn to door No. 2. On gaining an entrance there by signal you Avill find yourself in a dimly lighted under ground room where from fifteen to twenty people — Chi namen and Avhite Avomen — will be found "hitting the pipe." Others may be seen sitting at tables gambling away the few pennies they may haye. The place is dark, gloomy and filthy. Along the sides of the apartment are ranged a number of slightly raised platforms, wdiich serve as bunks for the smokers. They are without furniture, save a block of wood, AAdiich serves as a head rest or pilloAv. The paraphernalia or "lay out" for smoking is brought to the bunk on order, by the pro prietor or attendant. This "lay out" consists of the fol lowing essential articles: The Yen Tsiang (opium pipe), Ow (opium boAvl), Yen Hock (a thin wire used for dipping out jthe opium and holding it OA^er the light Avhile cooking), . Yen Hop (a box containing the opium), Yen Dong (opium lamp), Kiao Tsieii (scissors), Sui Poav (a sponge to Avipe off the bowl of the pipe Avhen soiled), Dao (a cleaning knife), 148 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOWN. Ven H°P -~S=- J j?*Pyyit.'w-i'''.M Yem Doing (Op'..i"L?imp) . YEm Hock [Ol>u« NeedleA Sui Pow Mr-EM Kum Yen ^S imported I Yen NGOW (Bowl 3crAper~) (^Hf-ad Rest J) V&JM "Poo M op—" la pivcod J Dow ^-o— ' ( Pipe Bowl) ^ AN OPIUM SMOKING LAY-OUT. MANNER OF SMOKING, 149 Yen tau Kar (a box or bureau used for setting the bowl on), Yen Shee Hop (a box for keeping the ashes in). For all this you make payment and are then at liberty to proceed Avith your smoking, and when satisfied or over come, sleep and dream as long as you please or can sur- vive in the close, fetid atmosphere of the room. The person Avho smokes opium ahvays does so reclin ing, usually stretched across the hard Avooden bunk, which is simply carpeted Avith straw matting, a small stool or a beveled block of avoocI serving as a pillow. Resting on his left side, the smoker takes up a little of the treacle-like mass upon the steel needle (yen hock), and, holding it about the flame of a lamp, Avatches it bubble and SAvell to six or seven times its usual size. In doing so it loses its inky hue and becomes a bright, golden brown color, giving out a pleasant creamy odor, much admired by old smokers. Poor opium does not yield so pleasant an odor, and is liable to drop from the needle into the flame of the lamp, and rarely gives so handsome a color, the yellow being here and there streaked with black. This process is known as "cooking" the "hop" or opium. Having brought it to a proper consistency, the operator, Avith a rapid, twirling motion of the fingers holding the long needle, rolls the mass upon the smooth surface of the boAvl, submitting it occasionally to the flame, and now and then catching it on the edge of the boAvl and pulling it out into strings in order to cook it through and more thoroughly. This is called "drying" the mass or pill. Rolling it again upon the surface of the bowl until the opium is formed into a small pea-sized mass, with the needle as a center, the needle is thrust into the small hole in the center of the bowl, thus levelling off the bottom 150 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. of the pea. Then, grasping the stem of the pipe near the bowl in the left hand, the boAvl is held across the flame of the lamp to warm it; the bottom of the opium mass or pill is also warmed, and by again thrusting the needle into the small aperture in the center of the bowl and quickly withdrawing it, the mass, with a hole in its center communicating with the hole in the boAvl, is firmly fas tened upon the surface. Inclining the body slightly forward, the smoker tips the pipe bowl across the lamp until the opium is just above the flame, when it commences to sizz and bubble. With the lips firmly compressed against the ivory mouth piece, the devotee inhales strongly and steadily, the smoke of the burning drug passing into his lungs. This smoke, which is returned through the mouth and nose, is heavy and white, and has a not unpleasant, fruity odor. Having finished this pill or polus, which requires but one long or a few short inspirations, the smoker cools the bowl of the pipe with a damp sponge, and repeats the operation of cooking, rolling and smoking as often as is necessary to obtain the desired effect. Smokers are clas sified as "long draw" and "short draw" men, or as "hop fiends" or "pleasure smokers," according as they consume the mass in one long or a few short inspirations. The "long draw" is unquestionably the most injurious. "Hop fiends" are habitues and "pleasure smokers" novices. The habitue, after smoking his allowance, which va ries from seventy-five grains to two ounces, feels a pleas ant sense of exhilaration that merges into a condition of dreamy wakefulness. It is a state in which the devotee finds himself perfectly happy and contented. The squalid surroundings of the opium den, the harrassing cares and trials of life are banished, and an indescribable ANTIQUITY OF THE OPIUM PIPE. 151 sense of complete satisfaction takes possession of him. This waking dream, this silken garment of the imagina tion, will take its shape and coloring from the most cher ished and brilliant strands that run through the web and woof of his life's story. It hides the unpleasant condi tions of every-day life, and gives birth to a pleasant bubble, the brilliant play of the colors and misty outline of which are born of the pipe alone. As the smoker's hopes, ambitions, aspirations are, so will be the figures and incidents of his opium dolce far niente. After frequent indulgence the habitue finds that the pleasant things that at first always came at the pipe's bidding now fail to appear, and, disgusted with the pleas- ureless practice, he tosses aside the pipe in disgust, only to find that at a certain hour the following day he must smoke again; not drawn to it by any fascination, but driven to it by the horrible sufferings that follow close upon the heels of any attempt to abandon it. The opium pipe, the origin and antiquity of which are unknown, though it is supposed to have first come from Arabia, consists of two parts, a stem and a bowl. The stem is usually of bamboo, one joint and a quarter, or twenty-four inches in length, and four inches in circum ference. When new it is of a straw color, but with long smoking becomes black and glossy. It may be of ivory, orange, or briar wood, or sugar cane, and is occasionally made of lemon rind, cut, dried and polished. The lemon stem gives a peculiarly pleasant taste and odor to the smoke. At about the junction of the middle third, or just back of the joint, a place is hollowed out of the side of the stem and communicates with its longitudinal perforation. About this hollow there fits closely a shield of metal, 152 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. usually brass", that rises in a rim about the hole. Into this, is fitted the boAvl. On either side of the stem is fit ted a button of ivory. These stems may be plain, or ornamented with silver and gold, and variously carved. The boAvl may be bell-shaped, oval or hexagonal. It is usually of hard, red clay and hollow. On its under sur face is a neck or flange by which it is fitted into the stem. To make it fit tightly this is wrapped with strips of soft linen. The upper surface of the bowl is either flat or sloping downward and upward. In its center is an opening about sufficient to admit an ordinary darning needle. The whole pipe is called yen tsieng, or opium pistol. The Chinese opium smokers prize old pipes very highly, and they are sometimes handed down from father to son as precious legacies. After an old pipe has been buried with the remains of a dead smoker, and when the smoker's bones are disinterred for any purpose, the old pipe is recovered and carefully kept by th'e" existing head of the family. The oldest son only is entitled to use the pipe of his deceased father. There are pipes now in use in Chinatown which are claimed to be upwards of 50s years old. There are also two establishments for repair ing pipes, a line of business Avhich is said to yield at least $5,000 a year. There are many Chinamen in Chinatown who make- a living buying Yen Shee, or opium ashes. They collect these ashes from all available sources. This refuse is dissolved in water, Avhen it is subjected to a process by which Avhatever of the original drug may be retained in it is recovered and manufactured over. This is known as No. 2 opium. It is then mixed with No. 1 and becomes what is called Yen She Koav, or "half and half," and is AMONG THE OPIUM "FIENDS.' l.j:j sold at a reduced price to the lower class of "joints" and to those smokers avIio cannot command the price of the pure drug. Fortunes, or Avhat are esteemed such among the Chinese, have been made from this business. CHAPTER XVII. IN AN OPIUM DEN. SCENES AND OBSERVATIONS AVITHIN A JOINT IN CHINA TOAVN AS RELATED BY A VISITOR— THE AVERAGE OF THE DENS OF VICE IN THAT LOCALITY. has no relief. CLEAR conception of the awful degra dation, immorality, beastliness and total depravity produced by submis sion to the opium habit can hardly be obtained from any mere Avords. Per sonal obseiwation only can disclose the utter blackness of the picture Avhich The folloAving description of scenes within an opium joint in ChinatOAvn is furnished by one 154 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. who made his visit solely for purposes of observation and study, and to gain a clearer and more intelligent view of the wretched place and its features, and of the mis erable wretches who patronize it, than can otherwise be obtained. "The hands of a clock prominently displayed in the win dow of a Chatham Square jewelry store point to 2 o'clock in the morning. The boulevard of the East Side is thronged with pedestrians. Night brings them over here when the rest of the city is asleep, recalling the old adage, 'One-half of this great city knows nothing about the other half.' Within half a dozen doors from the shop where the clock hangs is Pell Street, a narrow, dark, gruesome thoroughfare. This portion of the Chinese quarter is given over to the occupancy of loose women and men who are, if anything, on a lower scale, morally, than their wretched consorts. The houses are old and dilapitated, veritable rookeries, swarming in the daytime with Mongol- American children who give place, as night draws near, to the frowsy-haired and foul-mouthed women who make the dark halls a rendezvous. No. 10 is a house much like the rest, with possibly the exception that an air of quiet pervades it in the daytime. Visitors are few, occasionally a man or woman better dressed than those of the neighborhood. They come from the Tender loin, and in the early part of the night are frequenters of the Empire, the Bijou on Sixth Avenue, the Hay- market, and similar places. They climb up the steps leading from the cellar and hurry away. These steps lead down to a little square bit of standing room, built about with boards nailed firm and strong, as if an attack was expected. Little pencils of light sift through cracks made by inequalities in the timber, and from a knothole ENTERING A CHINATOWN "JOINT." 155 in the door a single red eye in the forehead of a very watchful demon confronts you. If you would enter: knock, wait, and presently you will hear the rattle of a chain, the shifting of a bolt and the door is opened by an attendant who peers out into the gloom, bringing with him a smell, pungent and heavy. If he knows you, or concludes that you look all right, the chain is loosened and you enter the opium 'joint.' Near the door is an apartment very much like a booth at a country fair; or like an enclosure in Central Park, where the sacred bull or some other animal is kept to be stared at. In the booth is a platform Avhich takes up nearly all the avail able space. It is two feet from the floor, and is covered with Chinese matting. In the center is a square black wal nut tray holding a variety of articles familiar to the opium smoker. They are the 'lay out.' By the tray is the pipe itself. This particular pipe is a good one and brought on here from San Francisco by Mo Hing. It is used only by the Celestial proprietor. A piece of bamboo about fifteen inches long, so soaked by repeated smokings that it looks like ebony, is the stem. Two-thirds of the distance from the ivory mouthpiece is the bowl, made of red clay and marked around the sides with Chinese char acters. The top of the bowl is flat, but in the center is a pin hole over which the cooked pill is placed. This par ticular pipe is worth $50. The value increases with age. A Chinaman is smoking. He is Sing, the proprietor. His lips are fixed against the mouthpiece and he draAvs steadily. While the smoke is ejected through his nostrils the pill makes a crackling noise as it turns over the flame and as it is gradually drawn into the little hole. "Pass betAveen the folds of a calico curtain to the joint proper and this is what you Avill see. It is a room about 156 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. thirty feet long by about twelve wide. Beginning at a point about three feet from the floor are seA^eral separate and distinct strata of smoke Avhich rise and fall like the bosom of the sea disturbed by a swell. The pungent odor which greeted you at the door is intensified a hun dredfold, and is heavy and sensuous. A score of little lamps dot the place here and there, and are burning bravely, as if they were trying to light up the surround ings. Their attempt at illumination is a failure. They Avere not intended to illuminate, hence their failure in that regard. Vice loves gloom and goes hand in hand with darkness. Here is vice of the vilest kind — ^imported) vice. On either side of the room there is a row of board bunks, as habitues say, erected about two feet from the floor and covered like the platform in the outer room Avith matting and dotted with wooden head rests or little wads of straw covered Avith green gingham, which serve as pillows. This is the hour for the fiends, and there is little unoccupied space on the bunks. "A party of four is the usual company with one 'lay out' and one pipe. Two lie, one on either side of the tray and use the head rests. The other two lie on their com panions, so that no space is wasted. One acts as cook and the pipe goes around in turn betAveen choice bits of con versation and morsels of gossip. 'Hop fiends' do not stand on ceremony nor among them is regard paid to personal appearance Avhile in the joint. There is a knock at the door and a party of newcomers is announced. A handsome girl of about 18 years and her 'man' among them, enter and exchange greetings Avith the doorkeeper. " 'Hello, Pete ! How is graft V '¦' 'A lay out, Sing,' she says to the Chinaman, 'and hurry up; I've got the yen-yen terrible.' Yen-yen is Chi- AMONG THE SMOKERS. 107 SCENE IN A CHINATOWN "JOINT. 158 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. nese for habit — a craving for the pipe. She must smoke to relieve that terrible pain. To stop that tiresome yawn ing and to bury that feeling of intense depression. The calico curtain is brushed aside and they enter the joint proper. The man is recognized. He is a green-goods man and a successful one, and he receives the attentions paid him with befitting dignity. " 'Hello, Harry; how did you hit them lately?' " 'Oh, fairish. Seen McNally?' " Nope ! He ain't been here since last night. I heard he went to Philly to right up the guys there.' "'Ah!' "Leisurely, and as if she was alone in her own room, the girl begins to disrobe. It is warm in the joint and she carelessly removes her cloak, hat, dress, corsets .and shoes. " 'Move up a little, can't yer,' she ejaculates impa tiently. And when a spot is cleared she lies down while the attendant, Chu, brings in tray and pipe, for which he receives fifty cents. The opium for the common smoker does not come in the" hop-toy. A black lump about the size of a silver quarter is stuck on a playing card. The card upon which Nell's dope is placed hap pens to be the nine of clubs. " 'Oh, the nine of clubs! Well, well!' and she laughs heartily. 'I'm going on a journey across water.' "Harry's coat is off and he is preparing to lie down. " 'Well, you make me tired. Yer worse than an old hag, with all yer signs and things. Cook the hop and don't be cracking so much.' And obediently she begins. With a delicate touch she dips the point of the yen hock into the black, shiny, sticky mass, and after a few twists brings it forth with a round lump about half the size of INSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATION. 159 a pea on the very tip. Nell has been smoking for five years and she can cook like a Chink (Chinaman). As the little lump is held over the flame it begins to simmer and cook, and turns a rich golden color, as it gradually puffs and groAvs to five times the original size. Tiny jets of smoke spurt forth here and there, as presently she begins to roll it down on the smooth surface of the pipe with marvelous dexterity. " 'Been here long?' asks Harry of his nearest neighbor. ' 'Yes, since the day before yesterday. But I'm going out to-morroAv to get down to graft.' (Graft means stealing of some kind.) "Nell is heating the pill again, and as it simmers she Avorks it back and forth on the edge of the bowl to get all the poisonous juice out of it. " 'Yer take a year with that pill,' growls Harry. 'What do yer want to chi it for?' (The kneading process is known by the Chinese word 'Ohi.') "With a quick jerk the pill, rapidly hardening, is re moved from the pipe and the rolling goes on until it assumes the shape of a high silk hat without the brim. Then the space about the little pin hole is heated, the bare point of the yen hock is stuck in the aperture and the pill made fast. The steel is withdrawn and it is ready to smoke. " 'The cook has the first pill,' says Nell, and t.he has her way. With her lips pressed against the big ivory mouthpiece she draw's long and steadily, just as Sing, the Chinaman, did in the other room, and a coil of heavy, aromatic smoke goes up to strengthen the cloud-like wave near the ceiling. " 'Sing 'Marguerite,' Imogene, will you?' asks Nell of the other woman, as she takes another little black lump 160 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOAVN. from the nine of clubs, and as she rolls it the singer begins softly, and the buzz of conA^ersation is lessened, for Imogene is a professional and can sing 'proper.' "And thus an hour passes and one is glad to pass out into the fresh air again. But I wanted to have a really novel experience, so I went back there and became one of the 'fiends' for a feAV hours. Imogene was still sing ing 'Marguerite,' and as she sang she kept cooking over the little lamp. She Avas a fine looking girl. Her hair black and glossy, her eyes brilliant, the pupils apparently dilated. She had not been working for two weeks and remarked : " 'Ever since my last engagement I have lived right doAvn here in this cellar, eating only when absolutely necessary and sleeping away the few hours of early dawn, Avhen the tide in the joint was at its lowest ebb.' "Two weeks may seem a long time to live down there in the smoke and smell of a crowded room where the Celestial owners cook their meals, but I found a girl over in one of the corner bunks who said she had not seen- a ray of daylight for six weeks. She came in with $118 in her pocketbook and she was 'going up against the pipe,' according to the cant term of the joint, for all she was worth. "Imogene's song has ceased and she is humming a snatch of a Bowery ballad. Four persons enter. They are girls, women, or Avhatever you please to call them. One was addressed as Italian Rosie, another was known as Dutch Bertha. Two of them are not new to the place, and they salute the doorkeeper with : " 'Hello, Pete, 1ioav are things? Lottie down here to-night?' " 'Nope,' responds Pete. WOMEN RELATE THEIR EXPERIENCES. 161 " 'It's only Berth; she's going up against it to-night, ain't you, Berth ?' and Berth nods her head violently once or twice, as if she Avas afraid to say anything. There is a difference betAveen her and the rest, but the barrier betAveen them will be broken down as soon as the fascina tion of the pipe and the pungent smell and the company of congenial companions come upon her. Thenceforth she will look forward only to the time when she can go to the joint. She will forget her other shame in this new one, and Avill look upon money as representing so many 'shells of dope.' She seems a Avilling victim, for she has heard from her companions of the pleasures, real or al leged, which follow a smoke. " 'I say, Rosie,' said Bertha, pausing in the act of re moving the last stains of opium from the middle spot of a three of diamonds, 'there's Mamie and Dutch Rose and they've got a neAV girl. I suppose she is thinking noAv that she'll go to sleep and be in heaven as soon as she hits it.' " 'Ah, forget it. They all make me tired,' replies Rose. She is a languid looking blonde woman, and one of the worst victims who smoke. And as she reclines on the shoulder of a one-armed man the light of the lamp shoAvs great dark rings beneath her eyes, and her cheeks sunken. She first smoked ten years ago, and now the one-armed man has all he can do to keep her supplied with the dope. He is a Avell-knoAvn counterfeiter and all-around crook, and is popular because his sister can go into any big department store and. lift a bolt of cloth into her capacious pocket without being detected by the house man. He is in the business himself, but is not very 162 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. successful on big jobs, because he is handicapped by the loss of his arm. " 'Well,' returns Bertha,' meditatively, as she finishes cooking the last pill and sticks it on the bowl with a deft motion, 'that's just the same way I walked in here four years ago. Only it wasn't a woman 'brought me here, it was that Spanish Joe, the Peter Guy, and I wish I'd never seen him. I'll smoke this pill considering it is the last, and considering also that I haven't got the price of another shell.' "She smokes as slowly as she can, without running the risk of burning the pill, and when the last golden fleck of the drug has disappeared into the little hole which has taken in hundreds of dollars and given out nothing but smoke, she lays the pipe down and continues: " 'When I was first brought up against this thing' (and she lays her hand carelessly on the bamboo stem) 'I thought that as soon as I took a couple of puffs I would be dead to the world. I thought hitting the pipe was a terrible thing. But Spanish Joe, and everybody else, for that matter, said it Avouldn't hurt a baby, and I went at it.' " 'But a good many think,' interrupted Rose, 'that it will make you unconscious as soon as you hit it.' " 'So they do. And that's the idea that I had. When Spanish Joe cooked the first pill for me I was afraid as death. But they all got around me and said: 'Go ahead, Bertha; it won't hurt you,' and it didn't hurt me at all. The smoke wasn't half so bad or strong as cigarette smoke, and it didn't choke me when I swallowed a little bit. I smoked for three hours that night, and I was so sick I thought I would die. I Avas so dizzy that I fell on the floor right in between the bunks here. They poured THE ONLY CONSOLATION. 103 Avater over me and everything else they could think of. The first thing I remember Avas Avhen I opened my eyes and found my face all wet. Of course if I had kept quiet Avhile smoking, instead of getting up and running around betAveen each pill, I'd haAre been all right. And then I smoked a whole lot for the first time; in fact, too much. I didn't see anything so nice about it. I liked the smell Avhen I was smoking. Smells something like peanuts roasting.' " 'Yes, a little bit.' " 'I got in the way of coming doAvn here because all the rest of the people came down here. And every night after the s1ioav — I Avas working in Miner's then — I used to put for the joint and stick away into the morning. That was av.1i en I had the company habit and liked to come here just for a chance to talk Avith the boys. Ah ! but Avhen I learned to cook; my, Avasn't I proud? I AA'anted to be cooking all the time, just for the sake of cooking. Well, it didn't take me long to get the habit after that. Then the yen-yen came and I used to have to smoke to keep from getting sick. Now I suppose I'm up against it for good.' " 'Well, Avhat's the difference anyhow?' said Bertha. 'You can't die but once, and you might as well die in front of a shell of dope as any other way. Hide your face up, Rose, here comes the ward guy with a crowd. I don't Avant to be stared at, for my part.' "The ward man just enters Avith a slumming party. Four well-dressed men and one woman, chaperoned by the officer. This is not at all an unusual event, and hardly a day or night passes without the advent of one or two of these parties. When the sightseers had left, Bertha's load of hop proved too much for her and she fell 164 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. asleep, while the vigilant and economical lookout, Pete, came clattering in and took away the pipe and tray. It was almost dawn now, and the buzz of conversation had gradually died aAvay, and the little fairy lamps had been extinguished one by one, Avhile there remained only one or two here and there, flickering away like philanthropic fire-flies trying to penetrate the darkness — darkness of the cellar which so charitably threw a mantle of gloom over the debauchees and hid from view the too scantily clad Avomen who were, for the time being, happily un conscious of their wretchedness." HALLUCINATIONS POETICALLY EXPRESSED. 165 A HOP FIEND'S DREAM. A hop fiend went on a weary stroll, In search of a friend who a pill could roll. He had not smoked for a whole long day — He was "barred" from the joints — for he could not pay. He strolled along with a yen-yen bad, Till he found a guy who some money had; He touched him quick and off he fleAV To "cop" the hop from the Chink's bamboo. He smoked, and smoked, and smoked away, And thought of the riches he'd have some day. He thought of his friends and roasted all; For a fiend who won't roast, is no fiend at all. 166 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. He finally into a SAveet dream fell, And dreamed of everything — all but Hell. He dreamed sweet dreams of untold wealth, And of all the dough he could cop by stealth. He dreamed of diamonds and riches rare, And of all the suckers he could ensnare. He was worth a million in nickels and dimes, And counted them OArer a thousand times. He owned houses and lots, cattle and sheep, And a million ships that sailed on the deep. He Avas king of the world, Avhom all obeyed, And was in the most gorgeous garb arrayed. He had a thousand Avives, so pretty and rare, All dressed in the finest, Avith golden hair. He'd a billion servants, Avho stood at his call — For Aladdin's palace wasn't in it at all. He kept on dreaming, until he aAvoke, Only to find he had run out of dope. "Yen Shee Gow." THE VICE AMONG THE WHITES. 107 CHAPTER XVIII. A TENDERLOIN JOINT. WHERE "MELLICAN" MEN AND AVOMEN PRACTICE THE VICE -MORE PRETENTIOUS APARTMENTS, BUT THE SAME WRETCHEDNESS— GAMBLERS AND THIEVES, AVOMEN AND BOYS MIXED TOGETHER LIKE BAIT IN A BOX. , AVING seen the vice of opium smok- ^¦^^KJ';? mg m the depths of Chinatown, where B'' *' Ife' ** ^s indulged by the Chinese and their ^H ^B; '-.'I miserable victims of the lowest strata s ' lUIWai /lK white society, it will be interesting n L^ljui <^j an(J instructive to take a look into an uptown joint, from which Chinamen are excluded, and where only the white graduates of their horrible teachings are permitted to enter and pursue their downward Avay. For this purpose one of the most 168 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. pretentious of the many scattered throughout the city is selected. A house on West Forty-sixth Street, near Seventh Avenue, enjoys the distinction of having been at one time the most luxuriously furnished joint, not only in NeAV York, but in the United States. In the first place, it Avas not a mere flat, like some of the better classes of opium dives that exist in the city, nor was it a mere room over a stable as are some others. It was like none of these, but occupied the entire house, from garret to base ment, and was in a respectable street, having the further advantage of being practically next door to a very much frequented part of Broadway. Harry A. Hamburger and "Sammy" Goldstein, alias Wood, Avere the proprietors. Hamburger himself was the McAllister of opium society. He did not himself indulge in the seductive drug from the sale of which he got his income. He merely contributed his genial pres ence to those who gave him their money for the privilege of transforming themselves into wallowing brutes and chattering idiots in his house. There was nothing in particular to attract your atten tion to the house as you approached it in the shade of night. Perhaps the bright light in the basement glass door, while all the rest of the house was wrapped in gloom, was a little unusual and suspicious. Yet it would hardly have aroused curiosity in the ordinary belated pedestrian. The shutters of the house, particularly those of the front parlor windows, were always fast closed, and behind them and the windows heavy curtains fell. Not a ray of daylight straggled into the rooms, and not a ray A "JOINT" IN THE "TENDERLOIN." 109 of the dim gas and lamp light within escaped to the street. All was very dark, solemn and silent. Your guide knew the way. You merely pressed the electric button at the door and he did the rest. There was first the clamor of the distant muffled bell, and then footsteps Avere heard clumping down a flight of stairs. It Avas not a pleasant face that presented itself at the Avin- dow and looked at you with keen, suspicious eyes. It was not the face of a man you would clasp to your bosom with hooks of steel. To dispose of this branch of the subject at the outset, it may be said, not to put too fine a point to it, that the face of the chief philanthropist, as well as that of any one of his more attractive assistant philanthropists, would send a chill of horror through the forecastle of an Algerian pirate. When the formalities of inspection had been gone through with, and you had for an instant exposed your back to the blood-freezing bandit at the door without having a knife plunged into your vitals, you had only to folloAv him up a narrow flight or stairs to the first floor . of the house, and there you were. It was a very simply constructed house. There Avas a front and back parlor, and between these tAvo rooms was a narrow strip of a room, a sort of long, closet-like recess, about six feet Avide. In this recess, and to the right as you passed from the back parlor into the front, was a handsome upright piano. Double doors, which had been taken from the hinges, faced each other open ing from the recess, and so formed an unobstructed pas sageway between the two parlors. The piano fitted snugly in the recess, and was flush Avith the sides of the doors to each room, so that the player, as he sat on his 170 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. stool, was in the passageway between the front and back parlors. Double doors once- opened from the front parlor into the hallway at the side, but they were closed up, and in the parlor were covered by a heavy portierre which Avholly concealed them. Portierres Avere a great feature of adornment of the two rooms. They covered every door and hung from every conceivable place from which a person, with a passion for portierres, might hang them. Large and heavily framed pictures, steel engravings of not a bad order, adorned the walls in both rooms, and the AvindoAvs of the front and rear parlors were covered with lace curtains, surmounted by lambrequins. The furniture of the rooms Avas very simple — there Avasn't any. Not a chair or table was to be seen. In place of them, and scattered along the floor of both rooms, were strips of straw matting dyed a deep scarlet. BetAveen the matting and the thick carpet which covered the floor, well stuffed mattresses were comfortably placed. At intervals along the Avails and on the matting Avere placed hard, carpet covered ottomans, which were used for head rests. All of this, it is to be understood, you are very far from taking in at the first glance. As you entered the room, coming from the lighted hallway, you could only see, by the light of the tiny lamps and from jets turned down low, the dim outlines of things like shadows in the gloom. As your eyes became accustomed to the dark ness, the huddled lumps on the matting took human form with ghastly white faces, which seemed almost phos phorescent in the faint glow of the opium lamps which fell upon them. Yes, there they were, men and women, and hollow-eyed, cadaverous wrecks of mere boys, tan- ON A LEVEL WITH THE LOWEST. 171 SCENE IN A WEST FORTY-SIXTH STREET "JOINT.' 172 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. gled together in mixed groups about each lamp — out stretched, outdrawn, ghastly faces resting on their arms in the deep drugged opium sleep. The stench of cigar ettes filled the rooms, and with it came the pungent odor of the sizzling opium as it spluttered over the lamps, while the smoker drew its .poisonous inhalations from the pipe stem deep doAvn into his lungs. The floor in both rooms was so thickly streA\Tn with men and women that you could Avith difiiculty make your way through the tangled feet and legs. WalloAving is the predominant posture of the opium smoker. A couch of any kind seems to be beyond his ambition. Just let him get prone on the floor, and there let him groA^el on one common level of sodden debauchery Avith the best — if there be any — and the worst of his fellow wretches. That is all he wants — that is his paradise. Among the customers at the West Forty-sixth Street joint were both men and Avomen whose faces Avere well known to the public. For the accommodation of such \ as these, and for other parties of half a dozen or more ! who wished a certain privacy, there Avere two room's rather luxuriously furnished on the second floor of the house. Both these rooms and the tAvo parlors on the first floor were nearly always filled. The more cautious class of smokers, particularly the women, came in the daytime and early evening, the women Avearing long veils very often. The midnight and the early hours past midnight were generally chosen by the regular element. Bunco steerers and the more prosperous grade of fallen women, very often expensively and not untastefully dressed, were among these. Here and there, out of the gloom of the darkness that pervaded the place, diamonds flashed in the EDIFYING CONVERSATION. 173 ¦dim light of the little lamps on the floor. A very popu lar resort with the green-goods brand of swindlers was this place, and it Avas said that Jim McNally, now in ¦State's Prison in Illinois, who is an eminent member of that fraternity, was backing the place with his cash. The scene was pretty nearly the same every night, and •every night the customers were pretty nearly the same. On one particular night there was a low murmur of con versation floating above the heads of the incumbent groups, Avhich, however, Avas not unusual. You could hear Avhat Avas said if you wished, but one circle seldom heeded another. Noav and then a cracked, bedrugged voice raised a quavering song, in which others joined in an irregular, mumbling way, as if trying to appear happy. Then some one attacked the piano, and some one who really could sing joined in. That sweet old song beginning, "These words no Shakespeare wrote, these lines no Byron penned," which was such a favorite with the late unfortunate Prince of Austria, was sung with plaintive earnestness by a forlorn creature in purple and fine linen, Avhose face was a ghastly, waxy hue, and Avhose eyes had the glistening feverish lustre of the con sumptive. But the song did not meet with general approval. "Now, how's a man to keep his load on with all that caterwauling going on?" came in a querulous growl from a great mass of blubber and sensual selfishness which Avas having a good bestial wallow all by itself near the middle of the room. It was Joe Blake, alias "Papa Joe," a jewelry fakir and green-goods man. "Yes," chimed in another voice, "and a two-dollar-and- a-half load at that." Then there Avas a dull croaking sound all over the 174 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. room which took the place which laughter occupies out in the free air. In the meantime a man over on another stretch of matting was telling between pipes all about how he got cured of the opium smoking habit at the Keeley Institute. "It's a wonderful thing," he said, "wonderful. Keeley made a million and a quarter of dollars out of it in one year," and then the cured one hit another pipe. In the meantime one of the domestic brigands was wandering about among the groups distributing his cards with dabs of opium on them, for which he charged fifty cents each. He distributed drinks, too; but when crit icized for aAvkwardness, he said, with resonant pride: "I ain't barkeeper, see! Cheese; let go!" Thus the intercourse went on until dawn came, pale and grey out of the East. "Be careful of the steps," said little Sheeny Sammy, an attendant, as he let his visitors out of the front door. It was not that he was sentimental about it, but it made a bad mess for a man to break his neck on the steps of an opium joint. AN HABITUE'S REFRAIN. 175 THE LAY OF A LOTUS EATER. Oh, wicked little dope pill, You sphere of poppy dcugh — ¦ Tho' sin too oft indulged in — I fonder of you groAv. Thou dear, diverting hop pill, That makes all care forgot; Without you what would life be? A drear and tasteless lot. The Tenderloin girls all love you, You are their heart's delight; The sight of you brings sunshine; Your absence — darkest night. A DEVOTEE. 176 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. CHAPTER XIX. TOBACCO SMOKING. THE CHINESE ARE INVETERATE SMOKERS OF THE WEED- THE QUEER PIPES THEY USE— THEY SMOKE BUT LITTLE AT A TIME, BUT OFTEN. HE Chinese are inveterate smokers, though not all, by any means, are opium smokers. With the really bet ter class the opium habit is considered quite as revolting and injurious as it is by white people. And, indeed, it is questionable if any of the Orientals give themselves up so absolutely to the influence of the drug as do those white people who indulge in its use. A Chinaman who smokes it at all seems, as a rule, to be satisfied with an occasional mod- SMOKING TOBACCO THROUGH WATER. 177 SMOKING A WATER PIPE. 178 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. erate indulgence, rarely alloAving it to become an overpowering or masterful passion with him, as with so many of his Western imitators. But nearly all Chinamen smoke tobacco, and smoke it excessively. Sometimes they indulge in the luxury of a cigar, but more commonly the pipe is their choice. Their pipes are of peculiar form, which leads the uninitiated to suppose them to be opium pipes. But opium is never smoked by Chinamen or others when standing or en gaged in business or work. It can only be smoked while being held in a blaze of fire. The little-bowled, long- stemmed pipes so often seen in use by these people are merely their more popular form of tobacco pipes known as a Souey-kun. The bamboo stem is long and quite large, usually tipped Avith an ivory mouthpiece. The boAvl is quite small, seeming to be infinitesimal in pro portion. It holds but a small pinch of fine cut tobacco, barely sufficient for two or three good Avhiffs. That suf fices the industrious man, though he wants his whiffs often. The more leisurely Chinaman indulges in what he terms a "water smoke" — that is, in smoking through Avater. For this form of smoking they have several kinds of pipes, as the Sheuy-Yen-Tong, which is a large, slightly curved bamboo contrivance, which is filled with water, the pipe bowl being adjusted near the lower end. There is no mouthpiece to this pipe, its large aperture being pressed against the lips, when, by a strong inhala tion, the smoke is drawn from the pipe proper, through the water into the mouth. Another style is called Sheuy- Yen-Tai, and is quite an elaborate affair made of Ger man silver. The Avater is contained in a small reservoir of any desired shape. Attached to this is the pipe bowl TOBACCO TIPES OF VARIOUS KINDS. 179 CURIOUS TOBACCO PIPES. 180 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. for the tobacco. The stem of silver is attached to the upper part of the water box or reservoir and is bent at its upper end. In any of these forms John enjoys his smoke hugely, though he can only indulge in his water smoke when at leisure. But in any form the amount of tobacco smoked at one time is very small; though the frequency of his indulgence makes up for the less amount consumed at one time. THE MONGOL HAS HIS PICTURE TAKEN. LSI CHAPTER XX. JOHN BEFORE THE CAMERA. HIS SUSPICIOUS NATURE DISPLAYED— STRIKING A BARGAIN -HUMOROUS INCIDENTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF HIS CHAR ACTER— BUT HE PAYS THE PRICE AT LAST. .,. 6(D's the Appo boy was looked upon as one of the curiosities of the neighborhood, and among his playfellows in the Oliver Street School he was regarded as a sort of ia juvenile hero, partly on account of his east ern ancestry and partly because of his nerve and cun ning. He jwas a bright child, tricky and fearless, and as he grew into manhood he" drifted naturally into one of the numerous gangs of roughs and loafers that were at that time so common in the lower wards. As early as 1872 he was known as a James Street truck lifter — that is to say, he was in the habit of steal ing tubs of jbutter and other commodities from the trucks that he found backed up against the sidewalk. "Nigger" Hannon, Archie Hadden, "Johnny" Foley and Dick Flannigan, known in criminal circles as "Dick the Tinker," were his associates in those days, and a choice crew they were, too. Young Hadden was the son of the notorious Hadden who kept a boarding house in Water Street Avhere sailors were shanghaied every day in the week, and a near neighbor of his was a gentleman named Allen, who managed to acquire considerable notoriety at one time by posing as the "wickedest man in New York." GRADUATED AS A PICKPOCKET. 253 The young crooks Avho followed the learned profes sion of truck lifting along the river front undoubtedly learned a great deal from association with Mr. Hadden • and his friend Mr. Allen, and for many years — until the police spoiled their usefulness — they Avere the terror of the neighborhood in Avhich they lived and worked. One of their favorite places of rendezvous was a store or "fence" situated on Cherry Street, between Oliver and Catherine Streets, and kept by a woman named "Mag" Farley, the sister of the notorious "Red" Farley, better knoAvn in his day as "Reddy the Blacksmith." It was here that George made the acquaintance of cer tain nimble fingered "ladies" and "gentlemen," who taught him the art of picking pockets, and in June, 1873, he was sent to the penitentiary for six months for prac ticing that art himself. When he came out of prison he adopted the light-finger business as a regular means of livelihood. About two years later he was again arrested for a similar offense, escaped from Bellevue Hospital, was re-arrested and sentenced to a second term, for he was noAv looked upon as an habitual criminal and a cun ning, if not a dangerous man. His picture had its place in the Rogue's Gallery, and his face showing the charac teristics of both his parents, was not a difficult one to remember and recognize — a circumstance which was a hindrance rather than a help to him in the profession which he had chosen to follow. It is not strange that young Appo should have come naturally by a taste for opium smoking, a vice which held him enchained, and which has played an important part in his whole career of crime. As the Chinese colony grew in numbers, so did the opium dens within its limits increase and flourish; but it Avas not until late in the 80's 254 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. that the passion for the drug began to spread among the Americans and Irish who dwelt in the neighborhood. Appo had always, by virtue of his blood on his father's side, enjoyed to a certain extent the confidence of the Chinese — a confidence which these strange, secretive people seldom give to any one not of their own race. While still very young he had learned to smoke and prepare the opium for the pipe, and it was through him that many New York roughs and crooks began to use the "dope" themselves and to spread the taste for it among their associates. They began to seek out the places in which smoking might be enjoyed, and in 1880, or thereabouts, there were a score of joints in full blast in Pell, Mott and Doyers Streets and in the lower Bowery, and not one of these but what had its quota of Caucasian smokers of both sexes, most of whom belonged to the criminal or dissolute classes. There were other visitors, too — actors, actresses, clubmen and those who dropped in from time to time for the fun of the thing and .because they found a peculiar charm in the heavy, pungent, soothing atmosphere, and in the outspoken frankness and freedom which distinguished the conver sation of the regular habitues. At that time, the nice art of cooking or preparing the opium for the pipe was known to but very few except the Chinese, and the young halfbreed soon found that by means of his familiarity with the magical black paste and his undoubted skill in its preparation, life's patlrway could be made smooth and delicious with a dreamy hap piness, without the exercise of much industry or daring on his part. There were a dozen ways in which he could pick up a living, if nothing more, through his connection with the A SKILLFUL "DOPE" MIXER. 255 joints, and any one of those ways Avas safer and easier than picking pockets or purloining things from trucks and basements. He could act as guide to parties of sight seers who Avanted to do Chinatown, and he could always earn a small fee and at the same time get his turn at the pipe by cooking the opium "pills" for the smokers who were less skillful than he. Besides this, continual con tact with visitors from uptown offered him rather un usual opportunities for obtaining a Avatch or pin now and then without having to go to Benedict's for it. So it happened that Appo became an habitual fre quenter of the opium dens of ChinatOAvn, and a "fiend" of the most pronounced description. That is to say, he soon became so addicted to the drug that he did not -wish to exist without it, and it was probably on this account that when he was arrested in 1882 for the robbery of a Mexican named Del Valle, he made a desperate attempt to kill himself by drinking a vial of laudanum. On this occasion the Tomb's physician endeavored to adminster an emetic, but Appo kicked it out of his hands, and it became necessary to put him in a straight jacket and force the medicine down his throat. The opium habit has always been a dominant influ ence in the career of this man, and it Avas through his indulgence in it that he came upon the great opportunity of his life, one Avhich led to his leaving the business of picking pockets, which, after all, required only digital expertness and occasional fleetness of foot, and embark ing in the beautiful green-goods profession, which called into play all the mental cunning and duplicity which he had inherited from his father, as well as the general "flyness" which came partly from his mother and partly from his long association with New York toughs, and in 256 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. which he was ah adept of the highest order and greatest proficiency.. Barney McGuire, at that time the acknowledged king of the green-goods men, was not only an habitual opium smoker himself, but was the proprietor of a joint of his own on Crosby Street, which was the favorite resort of some of the most agile artists in his line of busines. Bar ney and his craftsmen were not slow to recognize in Appo the qualities which have already been alluded to, and which they knew could be successfully applied to their peculiar calling. They said as much to him on more than one occasion, and it was not long before Appo1 began operations as a regular dealer in phantom counter feit bills. Now one of the strongest peculiarities of the opium habit is that Avhen indulged in it stimulates the lying faculty to a degree that makes the exploits of Ananias seem trivial in comparison; and if there is any business in the world in which mendacity is at a premium it is that of luring yokels to the city and then making them believe they are going home with a package of bright new counterfeit bills in their possession. Mr. Appo's accomplishments in this line were such as would make him an invaluable salesman in an old furniture and rare bric-a-brac establishment, and in a very short time his talents began to waken the admiration of his fellows. It is not improbable that the business of awakening the cupidity of victims, drawing them to New York by means of a will o' the wisp green-goods letter, and then robbing them of their good money was one, which ap pealed to the cynicism which is a part of the Eastern character, and is not altogether wanting in most profes sional criminals. For a time he prospered in his new AN EXPERT GREEN-GOUDS MAN. 257 calling, but it is recorded that in 1S90, during a tem porary depression in his peculiar trade, he so far forgot himself as to snatch a "yaller super" in a crowded down town street, or in other words, to take a gold watch out of the pocket of a fellow citizen. For this he was sen tenced to a year in prison. On his release he repented of his professional backsliding and reneAved his correspond ence with agriculturists in remote portions of the coun try. Up to this time George Appo had only been known to the police, to his own personal associates and to the occasional .rustic who found himself in Jersey City with a black bag filled with a choice quality of fine hard-wood sawdust or a box of excellent tissue paper, for Avhich he had paid the usual market price of about $125 a pound., The name Appo, it is true, had appeared in the news papers from time to time in connection with some petty larceny or pocket picking exploit, but it was always coupled with the explanation that he Avas the son of Quimbo Appo. George wanted to be famous, but fame came to him first in an unlooked for and wholly undesired manner, in the winter of 1893. It was early in February of that year that he went up to Poughkeepsie to meet an ancient and seedy "come-on" and his friend who. had left their rural homes in the mountains of North Carolina, im pelled by some alluring essays on the advantage of using counterfeit money, mailed to them by Mr. Appo, who had written them in a strain of imaginative beauty, such as can be found only in the "Arabian Nights." These "come-ons" wore long whiskers and had large rolls of good money secreted in their waistbands. They met their tempter in a room in a Poughkeepsie hotel, and the latter, finding his victims loath to part with their money. 258 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. became threatening in his manner. He was promptly shot in the eye and the bullet went through his head. All hands were put under arrest, and Appo was removed to a hospital, where he again attempted to take his own life. It was thought at first that his wound would prove fatal to his reason, if not his life, but he recovered his senses in a day or so and was visited by a woman named Lena Miller, his common-law wife, and a gentleman who represented himself as a wealthy manufacturer from Block Island, a place which fairly teems with factories, as every summer visitor knows. His sweetheart wept when she saAv the stricken crook, and the wealthy manu facturer inquired, Avith considerable anxiety, whether George had "given anything away." The wealthy man ufacturer was none other than Walter McNally, brother of the notorious king of green-goods men, Jimmy Mc Nally, now serving a term in state's prison in Illinois. Appo's nerves were in a horrible condition for want of opium, and he expressed himself with much bitterness in regard to his associate in the enterprise whom he re ferred to as "Dolph," and who, he declared, had sneaked off and left him to his fate. The Dolph referred to was Dolph Sanders, an associate and steerer for the notorious McNally green-goods gang. If it had not been for the influence of the Miller woman, who relieved his suffer ings with small pellets of opium which she had brought with her, it is probable that he would have betrayed the members of the gang, as he claimed at the time it was a put-up job to do him. Three months later he got out of the hospital and was sentenced to a year's imprison ment. And sometime afterward, while being transferred from Sing Sing to Danamora in charge of Detective Jackson of Sing Sing prison, he again attempted suicide. A PROMINENT LEXOW WITNESS. 259 On his release he declared openly that the man who shot Mm was Avhat Avas called a "dummy come-on," who had been hired by James McNally to put him out of the way, as McNally bore him a grudge. Appo said at the time that McNally and his professional associates bore him a grudge and employed this man to impersonate a rustic "gudgeon," and in that guise to kill him at the first op portunity. The game was considered a safe one, com paratively speaking, in view of the acquittal of the Texan, Holland, who killed the green-goods operator, Tom Davis, in New York City some years ago, and who was acquitted before Judge Roger Pryor. It was this suspicion on Appo's part, according to the testimony of some who know him, that led him to give away the opera tions of the gang at the LexoAV investigation. Such is the story of a man whose testimony regarding the mysterious workings of the green-goods business at that time proved a revelation to the entire country, and served as an amusing topic of conversation for the City of New York. As a study in heredity and racial traits and tendencies, George Appo's character is one which is well worth investigating, not only because of the way in which his peculiar talents have been applied to the bus- - iness of money-getting, but also because he is the first one of the new hybrid brood to which he belonged who has come into popular notice. The question which nat urally presents itself to the thinker is: "What part will the rest of his tribe take in our national development?" There is no doubt that many of the half-breeds will be heard of the same as was Appo. But it must be remem bered that they are not all common, ignorant laundry men and sailors, these pig-tailed aliens. ' Some of them 260 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. are men of education, and even wealth, aat1io haAre been brought up in their own native land as merchants or pro fessional men, and there are many among them who would be termed, in Mr. Appo's picturesque lingo, "Fly mugs" (gamblers and sharpers), who surpass in cunning and mendacity the average confidence man of upper Broadway, and who journey from one city to the other playing faro as well as fan-tan, and fleecing those with whom they come in contact without regard to race or creed. Verily it is an interesting quarter of the town in which young men of the George Appo type are growing up, and we shall hear more from its half-breeds as time rolls on. Appo had a hard time of it after his exploits as a Lexow witness. He was naturally hated and discarded by the green-goods fraternity, and was looked upon with suspicion by respectable people. Thus he became a ver itable Ishmaelite, and experienced difficulty in getting bread to eat, either by honest industry or dishonest craft. He Avas hunted by his former associates, and was repeat edly in broils and fights with them. He was always under suspicion and frequently arrested. At last the state prison gave him shelter, from which he was re moved to the Matteawan Asylum for the Criminal Insane, where he remains, a hopeless wreck like his father. To attempt, according to the records of the much abused science of criminology, to trace a physical resem blance between father and son would be a superfluous task. Whether George Appo's insanity is the natural result of a career of vice and dissipation, or whether its seed was an inheritance long latent, is a question for alienists. The' secret of his career is so simple that a THE GREATEST GOOD HE CAN BESTOW. 2(11 child can sec it. For George Appo to have led a pure and noble life would have required the moral strength of a Savanarolla, the genius of a Cromwell and the pa tience of a Job, qualities inconceivable in one man. For him to haA-e lived as he did was — Human. When George Appo gives up the ghost it will be the greatest- benefit he ever conferred on his felloAV man — ¦ more Avorthy of record than any or all of his long count of misdeeds. The approach of his death is in itself al most too trite a matter for comment. He has all his life been an enemy to all that is good and true in the Avorld. He has done nothing but harm. He is so constituted that Avere he to be at liberty for a hundred years to come he would continue to do nothing but harm. In all fair ness, such a man is better dead. But George Appo, in sane, is another matter. With the loss of his reason he assumes a Aralue that otherwise he could never have ac quired. He teaches a Avonderful lesson. If there is in all the Avorld a human being Avho will profit by it, George Appo's appalling wickedness has not been in vain. 262 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOAArN. CHAPTER XXIX. TYPICAL CHINESE. BRIEF SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIA'E RESI DENTS OF CHINATOWN, MALE AND FEMALE, YOUNG AND OLD, HONEST AND OTHERAVISE. HE foregoing sketch of the career of George Appo must not be accepted as typical of the Chinese colony in gen eral. The good and the bad jointly make up that community, ate the two classes compose all communities. The only true method of judging a body of people is to study all grades composing it. To aid in A CHINESE MERCHANT. 263 such study of ChinafoAvn the following brief sketches of a number of its more conspicuous people is given. CHU FONG— MERCHANT. Chu Fong Avas born in Hong Kong, China, thirty-six years ago, and has been in this country nineteen years. Like the majority of his race he first came to San Fran cisco, there to learn the language and customs of Amer icans and the methods of trade betAA^een the tAvo nations. After seATen years' stay in San Francisco, Chu Fong came 204 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOAVN. to NeAV York, settling in the Chinese colony where he still remains. At present he is manager of the Hop Tai Wo Company, at 20^ Pell Street; also a large stock holder in the Choy Ding Quay Company, conducting the Chinese theater in Doyers Street, and a member of the Won Hing Company, Chinese importing and exporting house in Hong Kong. Chu Fong is the son-in-laAV of Lee Chuk, a Chinese merchant of 21 Mott Street, Avho- is said to be one of the wealthiest of his countrymen in the United States, vari ous firms in Avhich he is interested having branches in five of the large cities of this country and in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Canton, China. Lee Chuk also enjoys the proud and profitable distinction of being the Chinese Simpson, for by royal decree and permission he plies exclusively the trade of paAvnbroker to the cities of his native land as named. Lee Chuk had a daughter, Sun Toy, Avho is the noAV proud Mrs. Chu Fong and the handsomest Avoman in the Celestial colony. Mrs. Chu Fong Avas born in Canton and is noAv 22 years of age and the mother of a young daughter something c>Arer a year old, Avhom her father calls Yok Ching' Fong. The mar riage of Chu Fong and Sun Toy afforded one of the most picturesque public ceremonies ever Avitnessed in NeAV York. The nuptials were solemnized at the Lexington Avenue Opera House on the evening of October 21, 1892, by the Rev. On Nay, a Chinese minister, and be sides 375 Caucasian guests Avho Avere present and at the feast AAdiich followed, there were 120 Chinese merchants, and the bride was attended by twelve Chinese brides maids. Many persons prominent in political, social and literary life participated in the function. Chu Fong has many friends in social and political life, numbering A MERCHANT'S AVIFE. 205 among them several ex-mayors, and others noAV and for merly high in official circles. Ex-Mayor Gilroy and Ex- Mayor Strong and Mrs. Strong have at different times enjoyed the hospitality of the Chu household. It was MRS. CHU FONG. Ex-Mayor Strong avIio formally opened the Mon Lay Won Restaurant, Avhich is knoAvn as the Chinese Del- monico's, and it Avas Chu Fong, who, as a member of the Six Companies, the Four Brotherhood, and the Chinese 266 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAA'N. Merchants' Association, was chief of the committee of the leading Chinatown business men who tendered a dinner to Mayor Van Wyck and the new administration- elect at the Mon Lay Won on November 23, 1897 — for Avhich the most elaborate menu ever served within the boundaries of Chinatown was prepared. Although Chu Fong is reckoned well-to-do, and was at the time of his marriage, he received from his father- in-law, Lee Chuk, who is an officer of the Six Companies, the unexpected but nevertheless substantial compliment of a dowry conferred upon Mrs. Chu amounting to $10,- 000 in g'old. Mr. and Mrs. Chu Fong, aside from the immediate contact with their felloAv country people, are somewhat Occidental in their tastes. Their home at 32 Mott Street is an ideal of what an American domestic establishment should be in all its appointments, and Chu Fong declares that his little daughter shall receive the best American education, befitting a Avoman, that Amer ican money can buy, and that his ambition is that she may live, and groAV to that age Avhen she may be able to teach and enlighten her frail sisters of t-he Orient in the language and ways of the "Mellican man." JIN FUEY MOY— A CHINESE-AMERICAN DOCTOR. Dr. Jin Fuey Moy, Avho besides being a practicing physician of the genuine American school, holds the posi tion of official interpreter in the local courts, is perhaps the most happy exemplification of the highest attain ment of polish and education, made possible for all his race in Free America. He came to this country in 1875, when but a boy of fourteen, to learn our language, em- A CHINESE-AMERICAN DOCTOR. 2117 brace the Christian faith and become a missionary to his benighted felloAvs. It Avas in Sien Ning, located in one of the four south ern districts of the Kwong Tong Province of the Celestial Empire, that little Jin Fuey Mov was born. San Fran- DR. JIN FUEY MOY. cisco was his first American destination, as it is usually for his fellow countrymen seeking these shores, where he remained but six months, and then came to NeAV York. Soon after his arrival in the great metropolis several charitable and Avealthy persons became interested in the 268 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. youthful student, among them Mrs. George Washington Reed, of Brooklyn, and her husband (av!io Avas at one time publisher of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle), residing on Berkeley Place, that city. In 1880 young Jin Fuey Moy became a pupil of the Pennington Seminary, Pennington, N. J., from Avhich he graduated three years later. After his graduation he entered the Methodist Episcopal Chinese Mission at 14 Mott Street, conducted by the Methodist Episcopal Con ference, as a missionary, where he remained until Octo ber, 1884, Avhen he visited Philadelphia, where he took ' charge of the Chinese- American Union at 924 Walnut Street, a non-sectarian charity, coA^ering a large field, over Avhich Moy was made superintendent. In 188 G he entered the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from Avhich he graduated in 1890, taking the degree of M. D. ' He opened an office for the prac tice of his profession on Sansom Street, where he built up quite a large practice both among the Chinamen and Caucasians of the City of Brotherly Love. It was then that he Americanized his name to Jin Fuey Moy — Moy being his tribe or family name. In 1892 he returned to New York and Avas associated for a brief period Avith Dr. J. C. Thorns, then conduct ing the Chinese Hospital on Hicks Street, Brooklyn, Avhich was supported by Aroluntary contributions from various churches and private individuals. The hospital did not prove a success, and Dr. Moy severed his connec tion Avith it after having remained there but two months. After leaving the hospital Dr. Moy became superin tendent of St. BartholomeAv's Chinese Guild at St. Bar- tholomew's P. E. Church of this city, wdiere he remained until January, 1897. He is now connected with the AN ORIENTAL BANKER. "269 District Attorney's office in New York City as official interpreter in the different branches of the criminal courts, a position to Avhich he Avas appointed by former District Attorney Olcott, and reappointed by District Attorney Gardiner. Dr. Moy still practices his profession among his fellow- countrymen in ChinatOAvn, but says his patients are superstitious and are prejudiced against the scientific method of administering medicines, putting faith in vari ous root and herb formulas handed doAvn by bygone generations and to which they still cling with the simple faith of childhood. Dr. Moy was married to an American lady in April, 1889, and is the father of a little daughter, iioav nine years of age. He resides at No. 18 West 134th Street, Ne\v York. DEK FOON— BANKER. Dek Foon Avas born in San Wing, Province of Canton, China, thirty-eight years ago. He came to America eighteen years ago, settling at Millsville, Avhere he worked as a farmer for four months raising vegetables for the San Francisco markets. He then removed to Nevada City, Avhere he opened a laundry, conducted it for eight months and then sold out at a profit. From there he came to New York and entered the employ of Wong I. Gong, as traveling salesman, collector and book keeper. He remained in the employ of Mr. Gong for eight years,- Avhen he opened a restaurant, and later en tered into the advertising business at 24 Pell Street. He is also a partner in the Chinese banking firm of Joseph 270 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. M. Singleton & Co., at the same address. Dek Foon speaks and reads the English language fluently, although DEK FOON— BANKER. he never attended an English school, and is a self-made man. He is a Christian and one of the best knoAvn and most highly respected men in ChinatOAvn. CHIN YOU-MERCHANT AND THEATER MANAGER. Chin You is a merchant, manager of the Chinese Theater, partner in the Mon Lay Won Restaurant, and MANAGER OF THE OPERA HOUSE. 271 managing partner of the Wing Chong On Company, 22 Pell Street. He Avas born in the town of Hok Son in the Province of Canton, China, thirty-one years ago. He has been a resident of the United States for fourteen years, the first five of Avhich Avere spent in San Francisco, CHIN YOU— IMPRESARIO. where he served his business apprenticeship as clerk, bookkeeper, and manager of various Celestial commer cial houses. At the conclusion of five years Chin You had accumulated sufficient money to allow of his return to his native land and birth place, where he wooed and 272 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOWN. Aved Miss Leung Chin, whom he brought to this country, this time making New lrork his abode. On the second of March of this year (1898), Mrs. Chin lrou gave birth to a baby boy at their home, No. 32 Mott Street, a mod ern apartment house which is leased and sublet by her husband. Several of the wealthiest and most prominent of the merchants of Chinatown occupy apartments in this building, where they live in a style at once modern and comfortable. SUE CHUNG CHEW— SPECULATOR. One of the most intelligent and enterprising of the Chinese residents of this city is Sue Chung Chew. He Avas born in Sun Wai, Province of Kwong Tong, forty- two years ago. He is a full-blooded Chinaman, Avho migrated to the United States in 1869, taking up his residence in Oakland, Cal., opposite San Francisco. Be ing an enterprising young felloAV he conceived the idea of acquiring a mastery of the English language, fully appreciating the advantage that would give him. By earnest Avork, steady application and determined perse verance, he had so far succeeded that in 1878 he was appointed interpreter in the United States Circuit and District Courts of California. In 1880 he lost a large sum of money, his OAvn savings through industry and economy, in putting up a Chinese market building on Sacramento Street, San Francisco, He then remoA'-ed to Portland, Ore., Avhere he sought to recruit his fortune in the salmon canning industry on the- Columbia River. He made some money at that, and then, in the fall of 1880, returned to China, and in 1881 married Miss Lumina Wang, also a full-blooded Chinese, though born AN ENTERPRISING CELESTIAL. 273 in the West Indies. Sue (.-hung ( 'hew started Avith his Avife, March -2S, 1882, to return to this country. They secured passage on a steamer of fhe Canadian Line, which Avas wrecked on Yesso Island, Japan, iavo weeks SUE CHUNG CHEW AND HIS CHILDREN. later. CheAv lived among the Japanese for three months, finally, with his wife, securing passage to America, arriv ing for the second time on the first clay of August, 1882. He remained in Portland a short time, vhere his first 274 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOAVN. child, named Gertrude, was born. Then he removed with his family to this city. In the summer of 1887 he Avas employed on the Panama Canal, where he had the superAdsion and direction of the Chinese laborers. In MRS. LUMINA CHEW. the fall he returned to this city, and during the folloAV- ing Avinter traAreled through the Eastern States deliver ing lectures on the religions of the Orient in churches and public halls. A second daughter, named Josephine, A BRIGHT SCHOOL BOY. 275 was born in Brooklyn, Avhere the family Avas then living, and a son subsequently in Philadelphia. Mrs. Lumina CheAV Avas born in the Port of Spain, Trinidad Island, of a Chinese Christian family. Her father Avas Chinese interpreter at the English Court at that place. Miss Lumina, Avhile yet a girl, Avas sent to Hong Kong to complete her education. She graduated from the Diocesan School in Hong Kong, and then be came instructor in English to Lady Wu, the Avife of the present minister to this country. She Avas born of Chris tian parents, reared in that faith, and died a Christian Avoman four years ago at Boston, Mass. The girls are noAv pursuing their studies in Hong Kong under private tutelage, but expect to return to this country to complete their education. The boy is noAV at Macao, China, studying. CHIN SING— SCHOOL BOY. This is an excellent photograph of a lad who is now a pupil in the public schools of this city, and a very bright and forward one. He can be seen any week day passing Paradise Park on liis way to and from school. His name is Chin Sing. He is the son of Chin Yee, who is quite a prominent man in Chinatown, residing with his family at No. 12 Pell Street. The fatlier made^a small fortune in smuggling bogus Chinese merchants into the country from China, defying the proscription. He bought a little small-footed woman for his wife, pay ing $1,000 for her. He wants to buy another, and says he will do so just as soon as he can lay his eyes on one that suits him. Chin Yee is considered wealthy and 276 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOWN. highly respectable in Chinatown, of which he is one of the leading citizens. CHIN SING-SCHOOL BOY. MRS. THOM JOCK-A "NEW" AVOMAN. Mrs. Thom Jock is the wife of a cigar manufacturer of Howard Street. She was born in China and came to the United States for the purpose of studying the Eng lish language. While so doing her money gave out, and she had to struggle for a living. Mr. Thom was in New York at the time, but was thinking seriously of going A PURCHASED WIFE. 277 to China to buy a Avife. He did start and got as far on his journey as San Francisco. There he met this lady, and quickly became enamored of her. Within a few hours, and by the expenditure of a few hundred dollars AIRS. THOM JOCK AND CHILDREN. to her relatives, she became Mrs. Thom. One of her sons is named Thom Wing Jew, and is a public school student. When he puts on his Sunday clothes in Amer ican style, he looks to be the cleanest little Chinaman 278 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. that ever walked Pell Street. Mrs. Jock is deservedly proud of him. MRS. MON LEE— A CHINESE MOTHER. Mrs. Mon Lee is a well preserved woman about 32 years of age. She was born in China, but married in this city about ten years ago. She lives with her family j W«3g»- k \ . • J^j^^H j"*apr ^ - t -¦"¦''yZ&^BKHm n I klMM B -•^mmm&: j ,Jm M ¦y. :.:-,:- MRS. MON LEE AND CHILD. at 21 Mott Street. Mrs. Lee is the mother of a bright three-year-old boy, and a girl six years old. Her hus band, Mon Lee, is a naturalized citizen of the United States, but has never been alloAved to vote. He is a pig A CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY. 279 roaster and sausage manufacturer by trade. He is about 50 years old, and wears eye glasses and a mustache. MON NGEE— MISSIONARY. Mr. Mon Ngee is a Christianized Chinaman, noAV serv ing as a missionary among his OAvn people under the d V ^ VS.':. Bjh " ^""^BtejiL k |! i MON NGEE— MISSIONARY. auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association. He is now traveling in the northeastern portion of New York State, expounding the truths of Christianity to his fellow countrymen. Mr. Mon Ngee is about 31 years old. He was born in Hock Shan, Province of Kwong 280 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOWN. Tong, and came to America ten years ago. He acquired his education in the Sunday Schools and by private study. He is said to be the brightest bible scholar among the Chinese converts in this country. LUK POR— A MONEY-MAKING WOMAN. Luk Por may not be this woman's name, but it is the appellation by which she is generally known. It is the MADAME LUK POR. Chinese equivalent for Grandma. Luk Por is an old slave, who lived in California thirty years before coming to this coast. Here she has been a member of Wo Kee's A CHING CHING JOSS. 281 family, at 19 Mott Street. During her lifetime she has succeeded in saving $12,000, Avhich is a large fortune for a Chinese woman. Of course she no longer has any value as a chattel, and being free to go and come as she pleases, purposes to return to her native land and spend the rest of her days there, Avhich she can do comfortably on her fortune. She is still active and able to maintain herself by her labor. Besides serving the Wo Kee fam ily, for which she is accorded a home and board, she finds outside employment in combing and dressing hair, run ning errands, and serving as a midwife. She is also a Ching Ching Joss and inspires luck for other Chinese ladies. For such sendees she is paid handsomely. She has groAvn-up sons and daughters living in China, to whom she frequently sends money. Through her aid the children are noAV prosperous and considered highly distinguished in the district Avhere they live. DANG FEY— A FAT MAN. The next picture speaks for itself. It is a portrait of Dang Fey, who lives at 19 Pell Street, and who has two recommendations to notice. He is the fattest Chinaman in town, tipping the scales at 310 pounds. Moreover he is a wonderful sleeper. He frequently sleeps two and even three days at a time. He is compelled to sleep alone, notwithstanding that he is a married man. This is because of the perpetual motion he maintains while asleep. He rolls from one side of the bed to the other continually while sleeping. Should he roll upon his wife he would inevitably crush her. The fear of such a mis adventure compels them to use separate beds. You may see him sit at his desk to dispose of some business, but within three minutes he will be fast asleep in his chair 282 NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN. and snoring musically. It is said that despite his som nolency Dang Fey eats as much as any three ordinary Chinamen. DANG FEY— THE FAT MAN. CHU JIN— A YOUNG MERCHANT. Chu Jin is a young man, a member of the Lun Chun Company, of No. 4 Doyers Street. He is frequently employed as interpreter in the courts, and is the young est interpreter in the city. He married an educated Chi nese lady of his own age and choice last winter. His -A PROMISING YOUNG MERCHANT. 283 father promises him all the backing he may require to carry On his business enterprises. He is a Christian, nev ertheless is highly respected by his fellow Chinese who yet cling to heathenism. CHU JIN— A YOUNG MERCHANT. LEM TONG SING— A PROMINENT HIGHBINDER. Lem Tong Sing, alias Charley Tong Sing, alias Scar Face Charley, is the head man of the Hip Sing Tong. The police say he is one of the most notorious cutthroats ever known in Chinatown, and it is alleged that he is 284 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOWN. responsible for five or six murders that have been insti gated by the highbinders in the United States. He is always closely watched When he is in the jurisdiction of the Sixth Precinct. Sing is a remarkable man in many ways. When he first appeared in Chinatown, early in 1882, his countrymen of the clique opposed to the Hip Sing Tong became terror stricken, and some of them asked the police for protection. "Scar Face Charley" is the name by which he is best known. After his fourth week of residence in New York he made application to the police board for appointment as special detective in ChinatOAvn.' He said that gambling was going on con stantly in nearly a score of places and that the regular police was not able to suppress it. He has a scar about five inches long across his face. He claims he received the injury while in the Arctic regions. He was at one time steward on the steamer "Jeanette," and later on the "Thetis," in the Arctic regions. He has two medals, one. presented by Congress to the survivors of the "Jeanette" expedition, and the other presented by the Navy Department. Quan Yick Nam, a Chinaman Avho has done service for the police of the Sixth Precinct, became the object for attack of the highbinders, and the price of $1,000 was said to be the reward for his death. Nam, who had been in San Francisco when Charley Sing was there, gave Police Captain Young the Avhole story of Charley's THE WICKEDEST MAN IN CHINATOAVN. 2.sr> •career of crime. Nam says that Sing killed a man and got his papers, and has since passed himself off as the original CHARLEY TONG SING— "SCAR-FACED CHARLEY.' owner of the papers. Ex-Assistant District Attorney George Gordon Battle said that Sing has something of a record in NeAvark, N. J. Twelve years ago he and seAreral confederates tied up and nearly killed a country man of theirs. For that Sing served a long term in 286 NEAV YORK'S CHINATOWN. state's prison. His next escapade consisted of a bold daylight robbery at the store of Willie Hong, in Fair Street, Newark, N. J., on November 10, 1895. Sing and four confederates attacked Hong and took $101 from him. Sing and another Chinaman named Wing Sing, were arrested red-handed, but their companions escaped. Members of the Hip Sing Tong offered to repay all the money taken if Willie Hong would not prosecute, and when that offer was rejected, threats were used. The two Chinamen were tried in Newark and they set up the plea that they had been playing fan-tan in Willie Hong's place and had been arrested for demanding their winnings. A gullible jury believed the story and acquitted the prisoners. The term served by Charley Tong Sing in Trenton State's Prison was ten years for burglary and highway robbery. LEE SHEW— POLITICIAN. Lee Shew is considered the most powerful politician in Chinatown. He is the leader of the Lee family in the Eastern States, which numbers about 3,000. He is an enterprising merchant, the proprietor of two large stores in New York and one in Boston. He is a member of the firm of Sang Chung, 24 Mott Street, and Sun Chung Lung, 3 Oxford Street, Boston. Lee Shew is about sixty years of age. He is a cousin of Tom Lee, a former Mayor of Chinatown. YAN PHOU LEE— SCHOLAR AND WRITER. One of the bright men of New York's Chinatown is Yan Phou Lee, a graduate of the Class of '87 at AN EDUCATED CHINAMAN. 287 Yale College, and consequently a particularly bright individual. Mr. Lee first visited the United States in 1873, when he Avas 12 years old, as one of the 120 Chinese sent out under the auspices of Li Hung Chang to obtain an Amer ican education. He Avent through the grammar school, YAN PHOU LEE— SCHOLAR. the preparatory school for colleges, and entered Yale in 1880. In 1881 the Chinese Government recalled all its students, and Mr. Lee returned and was assigned to the Tientsin Naval Academy, but afterwards resigned, as he did not consider himself fitted for a position in the 288 NEW YORK'S CHINATOAVN. navy. In 1884 he returned to Yale and Avas graduated with high honors in 1887. Mr. Lee had not the money with which to pay for his college course, and to repay the amount he entered the lecture field and traveled from New England to the Ever glades of Florida, telling American audiences of "Chi nese Customs and Manners." By this he earned suffi cient money to keep him and pay the debt he had contracted. During the Chinese agitation on the Pacific coast Mr. Lee became a contributor to various magazines on the subject of discrimination against the Chinese, one article from his pen, under the caption "The Chinese Must Stay," in the North American Review attracting consid erable attention. After he was through his lecture course Mr. Lee em barked in the mercantile business in a town near Wil mington, N. C, but at the end of two years went to San Francisco and was given a position in the Pacific Bank, controled by the McDonalds, who were his classmates in Yale. He remained there eighteen months and then re turned to New York, and for three years past has been Chinese interpreter in the courts here. When Li Hung Chang arrived in the metropolis Mr. Lee was engaged by the New York World to accompany the Viceroy during his stay and Avrite up the various functions attended by him. During the time the gentle man in Yellow Jacket was in poor health, and refused to be interviewed by the reporters. But being known to him the Viceroy gave Mr. Lee an advantage over the others by according him an audience three days before an edict was issued allowing reporters to enter his pres ence. Mr. Lee paid a visit to his home two years ago in AUTHOR AND LECTURER. 289 relation to a concession granted him by the managers of the Tennessee Exhibition, which took place in 1896 in Nashville. At the request of the management he brought to the United States the material for a building of a typical home of a Chinese agriculturist. In addi tion to this he also brought a Chinese family, so that visitors to the exposition could see how the Chinese live. This was done by an act passed by Congress at the time permitting the Chinese to enter the United States for the purpose of attending the exhibition in connection with a concession. Mr. Lee's home in China is in Hong Shan, or "Fra grant Hills," just north of Macao. He knows of Mr. Afong's place there, and knew Tony and Chun Lung when they were students at Hartford and New Haven respectively. In 1887 Mr. Lee wrote a book entitled "When I Was a Boy in China," and was fortunate enough to sell the copyright to the Lothrops in Boston for a good round sum. The money earned in this ven ture enabled him to travel extensively in the United States, and he has visited nearly every city of importance in the country. After he graduated Mr. Lee declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and renounced his allegiance to the Emperor of China. During his visit to China it was as a citizen of his adopted country. APPENDIX. Views of Various Professional Writers and Otheks on Chinatown and the Chinese Question. APPENDIX. 293 CONTENTS. Lucien Adkins — "A General View" 295 Wm. E. S. Fales, Ex-Consul at Amoy 208 Elbert Rappleye — "Chinese Humanity" 302 Wm. W. Young — "Chinese Peculiarities" 307 Isaac D. White-1— "Among the Vicious" 312 Horatio Jennings Ward — "Sight-Seeing" 316 Edward E. Pidgeon — "Sunday School Work" 319 Police Inspector Brooks — "General Characteristics" 323- 294 AS OTHERS VIEW IT. EXPERT OPINIONS. A'ARIOUS VIEWS OF LIFE AND CHARACTER IN CHINATOWN BY THOSE WHO HAVE MADE STUDY FOR YEARS— DIFFER ING VIEWS FROM DIFFERENT STANDPOINTS. I haA-e endeaA^ored to give a plain, fair and impartial portraiture of Chinatown and those Avho inhabit it. Nothing has been -written through prejudice or favor, nor has any effort been made to color the features that make this locality so peculiar. Lest this should be charged, the A'iews and testimony of those best qualified to judge Mongolian character, habits and pursuits, be cause of their intimacy with them, have -been secured at great pains. Prominent Avriters on the metropolitan press who have made ChinatOAvn a specialty in their news gathering have furnished me with signed articles illus trative of their experiences, which are printed herewith as received. Hon. William E. S. Fales, former United States Consul at Amoy, and himself a trained journalist, also contributes an interesting sketch, placing Chinese and American morals and habits in striking juxtaposi tion. Police Inspector Brooks, who has been brought into close official contact with these strange people, also contributes a valuable paper, telling of the efforts made to suppress Adce in that quarter. From these various sources a comprehensive and perfectly impartial estimate can be formed of New York's Chinatown as it actually is to-day. THOUGHTFUL OBSERArATIONS. 295 h %? 'ft LUCIEN ADKINS— A GENERAL VIEWr. Not many years ago an unfamiliar might sit in a ¦Chinese restaurant until he starved. If he did not know Avhat to order, he could get no suggestion from the Chi namen. They preferred to cater to their own people. 'They distrusted the Caucasian. Their attitude Avas not odd. They Avere strangers in a strange land, and the whites Avith Avhom they came in contact wrere, usually, •of the lowest kind. By comparison, in their estimation 296 SUSPICION CHANGED TO CONFIDENCE. the Chinaman Avas a superior person in every Avay, and it is no wonder that he became an egotist and held in contempt a race so manifestly inferior. Within recent years the conditions have changed. The armor of Chinatown has been penetrated. Curios ity and research have led many well-bred and considerate men and Avomen into the Oriental colony, and the result has been a better understanding on both sides. The Chinaman, quick to grasp business advantages, has seen the possibilities of trade growing out of the interest he was free to excite in the American mind. He now does business with all comers, and he does it with fairness and ability. In the Chinese restaurants of to-day you will be given a bill of fare, with the names of the dishes printed phonetically in English, and if you are in doubt as to what to order, the Chinamen will take a great deal of trouble to put you right, and will bring samples of half a dozen dishes. As a friend and guide, I have introduced many to the delights of chop-suey, a standard dish that stands the test of time much as does the roast beef of old England. It can be eaten once every day, and it is a wonder how the desire for it manifests itself in the man who lives principally on French cookery. Take a friend to Chinatown for the first time and watch his face when the savory chop-suey arrives. He looks suspiciously at the mixture. He is certain it has rats in it, for the popular superstition that the Chinese eat rats is in-bred. He remembers his schoolboy history, with the picture of a Chinaman carrying around a cage of rats for sale. He quickly puts aside the chop sticks, which are evi- AVOULD EXTEND THE RIGHT HAND. 297 dently possessed of the devil, and goes at the stuff with a fork. It is a heroic effort, but it is not sustained. The novice gets a mouthful or t\vo, turns pale, all the time declaring that it is "great." It is a long time before he can be persuaded to go again, but he is sure to surrender eventually to the en chanting decoction, and soon there are times Avhen the knawing hunger for chop-suey, and for nothing else, draws him to dingy Chinatown, alone and solitary, if he can find no one to accompany him. For awhile he half believes there must be "dope" in the stuff. He is now certain that there are no rats in it. He is a confirmed chop-suey eater. There is much to interest the thoughtful in the Chi nese colony. To know the Chinaman is to like him; to find that, despite his race, his religion, his Oriental tradi tions so far from everything European or American, he thinks just as Ave do, has the same notions of pride, of honor, of justice and of morals, and can readily be made into an acceptable American citizen. Admitting that at first he is a semi-barbarian, he is impressionable, clever, shrewd, and, above all, most hon orable in his dealings. It is marvelous how quick he grasps the neAV and hoAv well he retains the old impres sions. Personally, I Avould extend the right hand of friendship and citizenship to the Chinese people. It is not possible in the allotted space to tell Avhy. M>Ojl~k 298 AN EX-CONSUL'S OPINIONS. WM. E. S. FALES, EX-CONSUL AT AMOY. There are two ChinatoAvns. That of odoriferous and queer restaurants, gaudy joss houses, pretty shops and busy stores is well known to Gothamites. There is a sec ond which is known to but feAV Americans. It is the TWO CHINATOWNS. 299 Chinatown of benevolent societies, of clubs and unions, of social relations and of home life. All tradesmen are more or less alike. A Chinese shop keeper is like his Western colleague, the chief difference being that the Oriental sells goods at a lesser profit. Res taurants vary but little the world over; soup and steAV, roast and boiled, cake and pastry, sweetmeats and pre serves, entree and hors d'oeuvre, tea and wine make up the Mongolian as Avell as the Caucasian bill of fare. The former is older than the latter and has therefore a greater variety of foods and dishes. Religions are cast in the same mould. The Buddhist and Taoist believe in God, immortality, the punishment of wrong, the reward of virtue, the power of prayer, the efficiency of faith, the forgiveness of sins, the action in this life of spiritual forces, both good and evil, a clay of judgment, a heaAren, a hell and many of them in a resurrection of the body. They are nearer orthodoxy than many Christian churches. Those who study Chinatown are at first beAvildered by the color and glitter; after that they find that everything is just like its counterpart in "Little Italy," the "NeAV Jerusalem," or the "SAvedish Colony." But the other Chinatown is a world full of novelties. In it are born the co-operative banks, institutions by which a poor man of good character oan raise $50, $100 or even $1,000. Here are benevolent societies and char itable funds. Some support the sick, bury the dead, pro vide for widows and orphans, or carry remains from New York to family burying grounds under the shadow of the White Cloud Hills in distant Canton. Others bring skilled physicians across a continent or help enter prises in Cuba, Porto Rico or Panama. Others aid the 300 COMMENDABLE FEATURES. unfortunate or keep the prayer house in repair. Insur ance and assurance, co-operative and profit sharing, the loan and building fund association, the mutual benefit society, the corporation limited, the syndicate, trust and pool, the labor union, employers' union, arbitration board and other features of the best part of American civiliza tion appear here in similar or in more deAreloped forms. Here are circles of six or a dozen Avho, after their work is over, sit or recline listening, Avhile one of their number reads aloud the poems, essays, stories, and histories of their literature. Here you can have related to you the dramatic tales of the Avars of Canton Avith the armies of the North; the marvelous accounts of Tamerlane, Zen- ghis Khan and Kubla Khan, who conquered and ruled over more territory than Alexander, Caesar Augustus, Charlemagne, Mahmond, Charles V. or Napoleon Bona parte ; or the magnificent lives of Foo and San Tszoon. Here are poetic competitions, in which cook and Avaiter, salesman and laundryman, gambler and mer chant appear as rival bards producing verses so smooth and sAveet as to seem the pencraft of professional Avriters. Here, Avhen you are known and liked by the China man who has been made taciturn, moody and suspicious by hoodlumism and cruelty, you can hear the hopes and ambitions, the life comedies, tragedies and romances of the little almond-eyed commonAvealth. Here Wing Sing gave a great dinner Avhen he Avon the prize in a contest. The conditions of the tournament Avere severe. Each candidate Avas required to submit a verse four lines long Avith eight Avords to each line, the first Avord of the first line to be "dragon," and the last THE TRUE CHINATOAVN. 301 word of the last line "ship." In English his' poem would run: "Dragon, who rules the shoreless sea of death, When I lie dreaming on my loved one's lip And thou dost come to take her parting breath, Oh, take me Avith her on thy spectral ship." Here Ah Fong reads every evening from 8 to 12 in Yuet Sing's private office the romantic history of the Avarrior Wong Tai, Avho saved the empire from the hea then of the North. Here Yuet Sing received his pretty little wife from Canton and held open house a fortnight to express his joy. Here died the last of the Hwangs, the Taeping generals who would have overthrown China but for Chinese Gordon and his British and American free lances. Here passed away Ting Hop, Avho was tried and convicted of stealing the burial and charity funds of one of the Tongs, and Avho took opium to avert a more aAvful fate. This is the true Chinatown, one Avhich once seen Avill never be forgotten. yj~* • £ 5 JoJUo_ 302 A STORY OF HUMANITY. ELBERT RAPFLEYE— CHINESE HUMANITY. The bravest man I ever kneAv Avas not a Chinaman; but one of the strangest acts of bravery I ever witnessed was performed by a Chinaman. I never knew the names of any of the individuals who figured in the incident, Avhich began in Hope, a little railroad tOAvn in northern Idaho, and ended in a build- LIKE A AVHITE MAN. 303 ing in Pell Street, just off Mott. I happened to see the beginning and end of this story while covering assign ments for the New York Mail and Express. In Idaho, as in all the West, there are more Chinese women in proportion to the Chinese population than in the East, and although the possession of a wife, negotiated in the usual manner, is about as expensive a luxury as in NeAV Y'ork State (less the cost of transportation), there are more wives; more women; more female associations; and it is in consequence of that, perhaps, that the Avomen out there are more human than the torpid, apathetic, calloused victims of licentiousness Avho are exhibited in New York's Chinatown to the gaze of the alien as "a Chinese woman." One of these Western women of her race was the Avife of a merchant in Hope. He was wealthy — I was told. She Avas good looking — I was told; but I never saw her. I heard about her jewels and her attendants, and I gath ered that they were plentiful. Her husband, or at least her owner, was a very striking figure. He Avas of ordi nary stature, but erect. He had fine features, which indicated a degree of intelligence unusual for a China man. His voice was pleasant — which was more remark able. He was altogether a figure, noting which one would naturally inquire about, and having done so my self, his identity was established as I have described it — a wealthy merchant. My informant added: "He is more like a white man than a Chinaman. He is a sport, gambles like a gentleman, loses like a sucker and will go broke without a holler," which in Hope, Idaho, at that time described a thoroughly worthy citizen. I became fairly acquainted with him during the two weeks I was there, and found out that he furnished labor 304 BUT HE SOLD HIS AVIFE. to the railroad and gambled against his luck, and, AAdiat struck me as a trifle peculiar, because of the primitive ideas I had of the domestic affairs of the Chinese, he seemed to think considerable of his Avife. About tAvo years later I Avas coA^ering an assignment which took me into New York ChinatOAvn to see Captain McCullagh. I Avas Avalking through Mott Street when I came face to face upon a Chinaman Avhom I recognized as the figure impressed upon my memory in Hope. I hailed him, and he greeted me, but Avithout spirit; and while I Avas mentally measuring his changed appearance and calculating hoAv long it Avas since he had "gone broke Avithout a holler," I asked him Avhy and Avhen he came here. "Lose all money. No luck. Mebbe year flom Hope. Much tlouble." I got the story straight finally. The miserable wretch had sold his wife. "Her heap cly," he said, and he per suaded me that he felt bad, too. It had been a year since he had seen her, although she Avas here in Chinatown, the Avife of some other Chinaman. Suddenly our conversation Avas interrupted by a cry, which to me Avas unintelligible, and a frantic Chinaman came tumbling out of the hallway of a tenement a few doors up Pell Street. Both of us" hurried to the point, and by the time Ave reached it there was an uproar in every direction, and then the voices of Avomen scream ing: "Foh-sheu!" (Fire!) as they came tumbling out of the hallway after the Chinaman. Then Chinamen, white Avomen, young ones and nondescripts followed until it seemed as if the population of several such tene ments had emptied itself on the street. I recollected later that I did not see any Chinese Avomen among the discovered her in danger. 305 wildly excited fugitives. In another moment the hall way Avas filled Avith smoke, and it rolled out of the cellar and first-story windows in a suffocating cloud. Then the faces of some Chinese women appeared at some of the Avindows above. We were standing watching, my Chinese acquaintance exhibiting no excitement, until among the faces of the Chinese women he recognized some one, and pointing upwards he shouted something in Chinese and then darted across the street into the smoke and disappeared in the hallway. By this time the rattle of approaching fire engines, and the shrieks and moans of the scores Avho had turned out from the human bee hives in the neighborhood, to gether Avith the hollering and excitement, made such a scene as it is possible to witness only when the cry of "fire" is heard in one of the dense tenement districts of the great city. I had not ceased to wonder for a moment what had become of the Chinaman, and was looking for him Avhen he suddenly appeared again, dragging out through the smoke a Chinese woman. The ci-oavcI hur ried around them, and I could understand that the woman was endeavoring to break aAvay and get back into the house. In another moment, hoAvever, I saAv her res cuer plunge back into the smoke, which was now so dense that it meant, almost certain death to anyone at tempting it. Then the firemen broke in, and in another moment the crowd was scattered. More fire bells were clanging and the police Avere hurrying to the scene, and driving the people out Avhile the hose was being dragged in. But while all these scenes, typical of a New York fire, Avere taking place, I was peering anxiously for a glimpse of 306 A STRANGE DENOUEMENT. the Chinaman who had gone back through the smoke in response to the appeal the Avoman had made. I watched until the fire Avas subdued, but I saAv nothing of the life- saver. It Avas only a cellar blaze, and as the smoke quickly lifted the firemen could make their Avay into the halls Avithout difficulty. They had just done so Avhen tAvo of them came out dragging a body. "One of the Chinks," I overheard a fireman say, as I recognized the limp form of my friend; indeed, I felt at that moment as though I might be proud to have had such a friend. As the firemen Avere laying a blanket OA^er his body another came out of the door bearing in his arms a little child Avrapped in a bed quilt, and they had found it near the body of the man who had tried to saAre it. It Avas perhaps tAvo Aveeks subsequently Avhen I was in Chinatown again, and although I do not belieA^e in ghosts, I was almost frozen by coming face to face Avith that identical Chinaman. I must have shown it. I stopped in amazement ; perhaps it Avas a feeling of terror. I don't knoAV Avhich; but he came up to me, held out his hand and I believe I shook it in a manner Avhich described my perplexity, for he smiled broadly and said : "Me no dead; too muchee smoke. All lite hoav." "Well, I thought it Avas all over Avith you," I said; "but Avhat has become of the woman? Was she ytfurs?" "She my gall— Hope." "And the baby that I thought you had died for—?" "Not mine — hers.*" CHINESE PECULIARITIES. 307 AVM. AA'. YOUNG— CHINESE PECULIARITIES. "Foh Sheu! Fob Sheu! Fob Sheu!" A thousand terror stricken Chinamen repeated the cry, running Avildly up and doAvn Mott Street and 308 A FIRE IN CHINATOWN. through the narrow lanes dignified with the names of Pell and Doyers Streets. "Foh Sheu! Foh Sheu!" echoed a thousand other Celestials, as they rushed to the second, third, fourth and fifth-story tenement Avindows which line the street like dark entrances to cliff swalloAvs' homes. "Foh Sheu! Foh Sheu!" shrieked forty timid little almond-eyed Avomen from the land of tea, temples and toms-toms and their rich silk skirts rustled as they shrank into the clingy corners of their dark rooms. All was confusion. Bedlam was turned loose. One might imagine that he had been suddenly dropped among the frantic people of Pompei as they fled from lava- belching Vesuvius. There Avas a three-alarm fire in ChinatOAvn, and I was sent by the NeAV Y'ork World to "cover" it. It was mid night, early in winter, 1894, and it Avas my first repor- torial assignment in that queerest of all foreign colonies in NeAV Y"ork. The burning- building Avas orie of the densely populated Chinese tenements in Mott Street. Blazes are the bane of Chinamen. They fear flames as they do death. Whether the fire be big or little the excitement in the narrow streets is intense. Alarms spread more rapidly there than in any other section of the city, for no other section is so thickly peopled and the people nowhere else are so closely joined by common interest or so Avatchful of each others safety. At the first shrill cry of "Foh Sheu! Foh Sheu!" which means "Fire! Fire!" a host of sleepy Celestial souls spring from their "lay-out" bunks; thousands of almond-eyed, yellow men- sAvarm out of the dark, narrow doorways, like rats in buildings fleeing from danger, car rying with them their most precious belongings. Chat- TENACITY ILLUSTRATED. 309 tering and gesticulating wildly tliey rush aimlessly about the streets. This happened to be .an uncommonly fierce fire, and the commotion was proportionately great, so my intro duction to NeAV York's Chinatown was lively and interesting. What I saAv that night made me want to see more — a natural result of any American's first visit, I believe, even under the most commonplace circumstances. I have seen much more, greatly to my advantage profes sionally, and infinitely to my personal satisfaction. From the burning building that night forty-six scant ily clad Chinamen escaped through a single rear window, dropping to an adjoining roof. To be sure, there was a suspicious rattling of coins, which indicated that the in evitable fan-tan had centralized the population for the time being. While these panic-stricken yellow men clam bered out of that window, hundreds of others hurried through numerous other windows and through the single front door. One Chinaman attempted to escape through a fourth-story window. Hanging by -his fingers on the sill he could just touch the top of the third-story window frame with the toes of his bare feet. Reaching adjoining buildings was impossible; to drop would mean death. So, although the fire gradually crept toward him, there was nothing left for the frightened man to do but hang on for dear life until some fireman climbed a ladder and came to his rescue. This was done, but the frightened Chinaman remained in that perilous position, suspended high in the air, fully ten minutes before assistance came. The thought comes to me that these tAvo incidents of my first Chinatown fire, the escape of the forty-six China men through a single window, and the pluck displayed 310 HUNTING A WOMAN. by the suspended^ man, were good illustrations of two very important characteristics of the Chinese — concen tration of population and tenacity. A Chinaman is nothing if not tenacious. He Avill hang on to anything, from a peculiarity to a principle; he will stick Avith equal tenacity to a fact or to a false hood. Arguing Avith him is of little use. No other people are so completely controlled by custom as they. For a thing to be customary makes it right in their eyes, even if it is wrong. The houses of Chinatown are like huge honeycombs, but only drones occupy them. Inside them are many labyrinthian lanes, lined with dark and dingy cell-like rooms, rickety stairs running from sub-cellars to roof. Most Americans who visit Chinatown see only the sur face. They have no idea of the conditions existing be hind the walls of the buildings there. Under some of the buildings there are as many as six sub-cellars, each occupied by Chinamen as a living apartment or as a dark, vermin-reeking hiding place for their opium "lay-outs." I was once sent by the World with a photographer to get photographs of a Chinese Avoman connected with the Chinese Theater in Doyers Street. At the theater they told me she lived in a Chinese lodging house in Chatham Square. I went there and was told by an ex cited crowd of Celestials who caught sight of the camera that she did not live there. Chinamen hate cameras. After spending an hour trying to locate the woman I went back to the same building, feeling sure that she really did live there. My experience had taught me that the best way to deal with Chinamen is to show them that yoii are not afraid of them. I was getting angry. LeaAr- ing the photographer behind, I started on an exploring A FASCINATING FIELD FOR LITERARY AVORK. 311 trip through the house alone, opening the door to each room and looking for the woman. On the fifth floor I found a temporary bridge leading from the fire-escape to the fire-escape on the next house back. Not having found the woman I crossed this bridge and began search ing the next house, calling the woman's name in each room. Down, doAvn, I went, floor after floor, until I thought the house had no bottom. At last I found the woman, and, upon making an investigation, found that we were in the fourth sub-cellar under the Chinese Theatre. I had gone through a doorway in Chatham Square, and when I again emerged into daylight it was from a door leading into Doyers Street. By a great deal of persua sion I got the woman to put on her most gorgeous gown and climb over fire-escape and all, clear to the roof of the Chatham Square house, where we made photographs of her. Chinatown is a fertile and fascinating field for repor- torial work. Fact or fancy may form the writer's theme, and the result will assuredly be interesting if the China- ' town flavor1 is retained. The colony is a news mine that may be, and is, successfully worked by observing writers. There are nuggets of news to be picked up daily; there are nuggets in the shape of special articles for the Sunday papers and the magazines in every building in the place, in every phase of its commercial and social life and in every one of its curious customs. HUNTING THE VICIOUS. ISAAC D. WHITE-AMONG THE VICIOUS. I am afraid that I am not very popular in Chinatown* due to the fact that for three or four years I took part in nearly all the raids made by the police on the opium dens and fan-tan games, and on a few occasions attended government officers in their search for smuggled opium. The Chinamen naturally enough learned to associate me RAIDING WITH THE POLICE. 313 with their misfortunes, for whenever a raid is made there are many arrests and everything pertaining to the vio lation of laAv is confiscated. The spoil includes opium, pipes, lamps, yen-hocks, hop-toys, fan-tan checks and any loose money that may be found on the gaming tables. When Police Inspector Nicholas Brooks, then a cap tain, took command of the Sixth Precinct, which includes Chinatown, the laAV regarding opium smoking and fan- tan Avas violated almost openly, and he made up his mind to clear the atmosphere. His Avardmen, who were also new in the precinct, Avere Frank Price and John Shimier. They spent their spare time for seA'-eral Aveeks locating the. dens, and learned, among other things, that they were best patronized on Sunday nights, when Chinamen from surrounding towns come to New York to spend a holiday. Accordingly the first raid was planned for a Sunday night. All the reserves Avere kept in the station house that evening. Not one of them knew what was in the Avind, for news spreads quickly in Chinatown, and if the slight est rumor had been sent abroad there would have been no more smoking or gambling for a good many hours to come. About 10 o'clock I set out with Captain Brooks, Gustav Boeder, another reporter, two wardmen and a trio of policemen in citizen's clothes. We sauntered into Mott Street in pairs, keeping well apart. Price and Shirmer were in the lead, and when they ascended a flight of steps a few doors from the Joss House the rest of us promptly followed. Once indoors Ave made a rush up a couple of flights of stairs, burst open the door and found ourselves inside of one of the biggest "joints" that Chinatown supported. A person who has once been inside an opium joint aauII 314 A BIG HAUL OF OPIUM SMOKERS. never forget the smell. The close, fetid atmosphere was clouded with smoke, and the pungent odor of the poppy permeated everything. There were thirty odd China men and three American girls packed away in a couple of rooms that would have made comfortable sleeping apartments for not more than three ordinary beings. They were laid out in groups of two or three in little low bunks, arranged one above the other in a double tier that extended all around both rooms. Each group had the regulation lamp, a pipe and a "shell of dope." A few slept, but most of them were smoking. There was a rush for the windows when we broke in, but we were too quick for the Chinamen, many of whom seemed very "dopey" indeed. When they realized that they were properly coraled they became sullen and silent. A couple of policemen were left on guard, and the rest of us hastened to the next den that had been marked by the detectives — hastened because we wanted to arrive there before word got abroad that the police were on the rampage that night. Two other opium joints and a fan- tan shop were surprised in the next half hour and the inmates placed under guard. Then word was sent to the station house for the re serves, and upon their arrival the prisoners were marched off in pairs. A wagon load of smoking and gambling paraphernalia was confiscated, including ivory-tipped pipes beautifully colored, with orange peel bowls and silver "saddles;" hop-toys graven with dragons and mys tic figures; little brass lamps with delicately tinted globes and trays or salvers of wood and metal, curiously decorated. A majority of the "lay-outs" were much more common, however, than those described. In the biggest raid I ever attended in Chinatown we SNUBBED BY A CHINESE WAITER. 315 took, I think, ninety-eight prisoners. As an illustration of the docility of the Chinaman, I recollect that three of us that night were left alone in a "joint" with forty- eight prisoners, and not one of them so much as moved to escape pending the arrival of the reserves. A few days after this raid I went with Louis J. Beck to dine in the restaurant under the Joss House. I recog nized in the waiter one of the former prisoners, and from the conversation which folloAved I was forced to conclude that he remembered me. "What want?" he asked sharply. "Two chow-chop-suey," I replied. "No Sabee; no chow-chop-suey," said the Chinaman, sullenly. "Then dong-gow-gi?" I requested. 'No dong-gow-gi," was the prompt response. "Well, what have you got?" I asked, impatiently. "All the samee no allee," he said, and he marched away from the table with much show of dignity. We had to go elsewhere for our dinner that night. 316 SLUMMING AVITH BOOTH-TUCKER. HORATIO JENNINGS WARD-SIGHT-SEEING. The funniest combination I've met with since I be came a newspaper reporter was General Booth-Tucker and Steve Brodie. The place Avas Chinatown. Brodie had invited the General to come doAvn to the BoAvery and see the sights, and incidentally he invited a number of neAvspaper men to come around and see EXPERIENCE IN A JOSS HOUSE. 317 "the fun." Nobody ever goes slumming in the BoAvery Avithout taking in Mott Street and its crooked tributaries, and there Avas no exception in this case. The Avhole thing looked like a put up job. When the General ar rived at Brodie's place at 10 o'clock that night Steve Avas there to meet him. "Walk in, General; I see you're on time," Avas Steve's greeting. "Come in an' I'll fix yer fer de trip." Steve then took the General into a room in the back of his saloon and adorned the classical features of the leader of the Salvationists with a pair of huge false whisk ers and a Avig similar to that worn by "SA-engali." They then started on the noAv famous "slumming trip." Mike Callahan's saloon was the first place visited. - There the General had to pay $2.50 for a round of drinks, and in getting his change had a bad quarter "worked off" on him. This Steve kept as a memento. The next place Avas the Joss House in Mott Street, with the Chinese restaurant below. There the General had his pockets stuffed with gifts of chop sticks, pastry and tea. A cup of the latter was brewed for him, but he seemed afraid to drink it. The Chinese temple inter ested him hugely. Particularly the sacred drum. The General could not keep his hands off it. Twice he hit it a resounding whack to the horror of the attendant. He would certainly have been thrown out by the "Chinks" had it not been for Brodie, who pacified them by distributing some silver dollars, Avhich the General produced. In the Joss House the whiskers of the commander of the Salvation Army attracted universal attention. The ladies of Chinatown Avere particularly pleased with them. The General was well satisfied with his disguise, how- 318 ARTFUL STEVE BRODIE. ever, and never dreamed that the denizens of the dives were "onto him." He had just left the temple loaded down with incense sticks and other relics when a police man stepped up to him and said : "Don't you know you are violating the laAV?" 'T don't understand," said the General. "What am I doing?" "The 'gazaboes,' " said the policeman, giving the false beard a twig. "You'll have to come around to the station house," continued the officer, as he took the General by the arm. Booth-Tucker was horrified. "Dis ain't on the square," said Steve. "De General is me guest and he ain't bein' treated on de level, see." "Well, you ought to know," answered the policeman, as he gave Steve a wink. The. General was arraigned at the station-house desk, searched and detained in the back room, while Brodie signed away one of his brown-stone houses as security for the General's appearance in court the next morning. Of course Steve was profuse in his apologies to the General for the treatment he had received. "I meant no harm," said the General when he ap peared in court the next day with the notorious Steve by his side. "I wanted to meet the sinners that I was sure Mr. Brodie could bring me into contact with, so I put on the whiskers, as I did not want to attract attention." A feAV days later when I met Steve he said: "How's dat for a story? I'm goin' to pull off anoder in a few days, and I'll put yer on, see." <5j4, err* ojC-o^^«-^^>»A^i JJUa/TWsr CHRISTIANIZING THE HEATHEN. 319 EDAVARD E. PIDGEON— SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK. My first opportunity to study John Chinaman beyond the sidewalk obserArances of boyhood, disclosing him as a human clothes sprinkler, was in the class room of a Brooklyn Sunday School, where a number of Celestials attended each Sabbath. To my young and untutored mind this gathering of silken-bloused attendants comprised the most demurely 320 THE FIRST MISSIONARY EFFORT. modest and devout followers of the faith it had ever been my juvenile privilege to observe. Their apparent eagerness to throw off the blighting shackles of heathenism and embrace the teachings of the new Christ were beatific in the extreme, and these Ori entals, some of whom had not only renounced the creed of their forefathers but the queue and habiliments as well, were pointed out as great and glorious examples of the good and mighty result of the evangelizing influence of missionary work here, and its needs in far away hea then climes. For a time only one or two churches in elite neighbor hoods .Avere the proud possessors of Chinese classes, who in all the gorgeousness of their best raiment, added not a little spectacular color to the picture of the Sabbath afternoon gatherings, while certain it was, the mission ary interest did not suffer abatement nor did the contri butions for the foreign missions diminish. A few years later I found myself one of a band of earnest young workers who Arolunteered their services to teach the Celestial attendants at the Chinese Mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church (the first of its kind established), in the very heart of Chinatown. There I found the same intelligent, perceptive and ready pupil of the Sunday School, who would, even with only a smattering of our language, learn in the brief ses sions of two successive? Sabbaths the entire alphabet — and remember it. I recall two such brilliant scholars. The new mission was a novelty that did not fail to interest even the denizens of that populous and then ex ceedingly wicked quarter, and the attendance increased steadily until it was impossible even to accommodate more or procure sufficient teachers for those enrolled, for THEY DON'T WANT RELIGION. 321 it required a tutor for nearly every scholar in the early stages of their educational development. My apt pupils soon reversed the conditions, and I then began to learn something myself. For a time the atten dance was most regular'. No sooner, however, had we become interested in and justly proud of the remarkable progress of some favorite scholar who had mastered the primary intricacies of the "three R's," than the familiar face was missed from the Sabbath gatherings. Grad ually one by one they would, with f e\v exceptions, silently and unannounced drift away from the Christianizing influence of the mission, and — as we afterwards learned — out into the world to battle with their fellows for Uncle Sam's gold, that commands so high a premium in the Chinaman's native land. The laureate of Poker Flats hath spoken truly. The reason was plain. Each had in a few weeks of pa tient application, with the honest aid of a few earnest souls, equipped himself with what, in his limited sphere of usefulness was all sufficient for the great mercenary struggle in the big Metropolis. Chinamen, except in a few isolated cases, do not depend on their race for their money-getting, and the wily Celestial having received from his philanthropic Caucasian brother the necessary means for business intercourse and -incidental financial emolument, is, as a rule, satisfied to consign the future salvation of his soul to indefinite postponement. Many years of newspaper labor, which have necessi tated hundreds of visits to Chinatown and contact with its people, have but confirmed the long-lingering suspi cion that the Semites are not the only race who possess the commercial instinct uppermost. The moral is plain. John Chinaman, as we have learned to familiarly call 322 A SU-BOCK-UP. him, is a thrifty and naturally domestic individual, of a stolid, suspicious, secretive disposition, a man of feAV enjoyments, industrious and honest in business affairs, and to those endeared to him, generous to a fault. Re ligion — the Christian religion — is usually to him an easy and ready means of launching him on a straight course of prosperity, and then — well, nine hundred and ninety- nine out of a thousand of these aliens live in the hope of accumulating here a sufficient competency to enable them to return to the Flowery Kingdom and pass the remainder of their days in comfort and the worship of their favorite Joss. There is little or no humor in his composition, although one will occasionally meet one of the Christianized stamp who has sufficiently absorbed our civilization to appreciate a jest of the mildest order, and it was such who christened the writer one sweltering summer day as he mopped the perspiration from his heated brow — "Su-Bock-Up" — which in the patois of the Cantonese means "Boiled Pigeon." C*. POLICE AUTHORITY IN CHINATOWN. ::-sy, POLICE INSPECTOR BROOKS. 324 INSPECTOR BROOKS' OBSERVATIONS. POLICE INSPECTOR BROOKS, GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHINATOWN— THE PREVA LENCE OF VICE AND CRIME, AND EFFORTS TO SUPPRESS- IT— WORK OF THE POLICE IN THE LOCALITY. There are about 1,500 Chinamen living within the Chinatown district, of whom about 50 are married. On Sundays and Mondays this number is increased to about 3,000, the cause of the increase being that relatives and countrymen from the surrounding cities visit the locality for the purpose of business, smoking opium, gaming or visiting the Joss House. Of the married Chinamen about one-half have native (Chinese) consorts. There are about 50 children in this district of whom about one-half are descendants of native parents. All the children are sent to the public schools. The Chinamen of this district do not deviate from their original customs but adhere strictly to the Confu cian rites. They also wear their native dress, very few of them having adopted European ideas or clothes. The Chinamen in general are thrifty. Those inter ested in commercial pursuits are a better class. Their CHINAMEN GENERALLY THRIFTY. 325 principal occupations are laundrymen, keepers of small stores, such as groceries, laundry supplies, medicines, Chinese herbs, dealers in general merchandise, teas, silks, curios, etc., cigarmakers, barbers, tailors, and a few car penters. There are about 15 Chinamen, each employ ing three or four hands, engaged in agricultural pursuits on Long Island. Their principal stock is vegetables raised from seed brought here from China. They bring the product of their farms to Chinatown where they dis pose of it. Gin-seng, a herb Avhich grows in large quan tities in this country, is largely exported to China. There are about four or five firms exporting gin-seng. One firm claims to have exported $150,000 worth of it dur ing the past year. It is worth about $8 a pound. Gin seng is supposed to have qualities for renewing lost vigor. Chinese shoes and material for their dress are imported, the Chinese tailors making up the material to conform to the Chinese style. The principal points of interest in Chinatown are the Joss House, at 16 Mott Street; the Chinese Theater, at 7 Doyers Street; Chinese restaurants, at 11 and 16 Mott Street, and 22 Pell Street; Chinese Masonic Hall, at 4 Mott Street; the Mission, at 17 Doyers Street; Chinese printing office, at 3 Doyers Street, and the offices of the Chinese Six Companies, in the rear of the Joss House. Barber shops are also worth visiting here. The Joss House consists of one large public place of worship, a portion of which is sub-divided into small Joss Houses, one for each clan or family. Small Joss Houses are visited as frequently as the majority of us attend our churches. Upon each visit an offering of food or other material is given to Joss. The large Joss House is used on holidays. The Chinamen has only one holy day and 326 POINTS OF INTEREST TO VISITORS. about twenty holidays. The holidays are principally births of statesmen, etc. Their only holy day is their New Year's day, which comes sometime between Jan uary and April. On this day every Chinaman, no mat ter how sinful or immoral he may be, visits the Joss House, burns incense and appeals to Joss, who gives him a ticket which reveals his fortune for the ensuing year. They have elaborate and extensive celebrations lasting. for about two weeks. During this period the Chinaman does no more work than is absolutely necessary to supply him with food. No banking or other work is done. The Chinese Theater is opened daily from 6 P. M. until midnight. The prices of admission vary Avith the time that you visit the theater, viz: if you enter at 6 P. M., you pay 50 cents; at 8 P. M., you pay 35 cents; at 10 P. M., 25 cents, and at any time after that, 15 cents. The play generally lasts from six weeks to six months. The restaurants are patronized principally by China men. Shimmers drop in occasionally to see the natives eating their food Avith their chop sticks, and generally order a native dish so as to be able to say they ate in a Chinese restaurant. The Mission in Doyers Street for the conversion of Chinamen to the Christian faith and for their instruction in the same is conducted by Americans. Occasionally a Chinese convert will relate his experience or hold the services. The printing office at 3 Doyers is now used principally for the printing of laundry tickets. A weekly Chinese paper was issued from this place, but through lack of subscribers and advertisers it was forced out of existence. The office of the Chinese Six Companies is visited by BUSINESS AND POLITICAL AUTHORITY. 327 every Chinaman before he begins speculating or starting in business of any character. Their visit is principally for advice, or to get an endorsement from the company which gives them as much commercial standing as a rat ing in B'radstreet's or Dun's would give to one of our firms. The Mayor of Chinatown is elected and takes office on their New Year's day. He holds office for one year. His principal occupation is to settle disputes, etc., no lawyers being alloAved in Chinatown. There are no surgeons in this district and the only medical practitioners are herb doctors. In almost every case of sickness, whether from a headache, broken arm or leg, fracture of the skull, or any other sickness or injury, a decoction of herbs and reptiles (lizards, snake skins and mud turtles being principally used) is admin istered to the patient. The business firms are of a co-operative nature. All of the stockholders who a.re employed in the business receive a salary. At the end of the year the balance is divided equally among the shareholders. Many of the large firms are at present upheld with the money from the small laundrymen, who, in addition to the profits derived from their laundry, get a dividend yearly from these establishments. Vice and crime is prevalent in Chinatown to a degree that astonishes Americans. This is largely clue to the different notions of morality the Chinese hold from those of Christian nations. With them gambling is not con sidered wrong, nor is the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes. They are largely addicted to opium smoking, which may be said to be a national vice. I was appointed to command the Sixth Precinct, 328 CHASING THE WRONGDOERS. which includes Chinatown, on January 24, 1891. At that time the locality was overrun with gambling dens and opium joints, and I determined that, so far as it lay in my poAver, I would drive them out. Accordingly I instructed my wardmen to procure all the evidence they could against the principal dens of iniquity, and on the sixth of February I made my first raid on a gambling den at 24 Mott Street, where we captured twenty-four prisoners. On March 17, I again made a raid, this time on an opium JDint at 104 Park Street, Avhere eighteen men arid women were arrested and a number of opium layouts and quantities of opium were confiscated. On April 21 I raided the dens at 6, 10 and 12 Doyers Street and 13 Pell Street, where I captured 40 mon and women. After this raid the Chinese got together and formed an associa tion which they called the "Fan-tan Players' Associa tion." It Avas formed with the express purpose of warn ing the gambling dens of the approach of the police, but was not successful in its object. I received complaint on Julie 24 that there was a young girl 15 years of age in a den at 11 Poll Street who was being outraged by the Chinamen. Accordingly on tlie 26th I raided the place and rescued the girl from her aAvful position and made a number of arrests. The Chinese were by this time in a frenzy of fear on account of my raids, and whenever a policeman put in an appearance in citizen's clothes the cry would go up: "Mock-a-hi!" which means "Lookout for the police!" Despite all they could do, though, I continued to raid their joints, and on August 5 I raided the joints at 32 Pell and 13 Mott Streets, and captured thirty-six China men, twenty layouts and some money. At both these SOME NOTABLE RAIDS. 329 places there were watchers on the outlook for tho police, but Ave fooled them by getting behind trucks and making a sudden dash into the place. When Ave entered the joints tlie frenzied Chinamen made an effort to put out the lights, but my men were too quick for them. They then made a dash for the windows, and some of them escaped, but were afterwards found hiding in a closet in the back yard and taken to the station. On September 7, I raided the opium joint at 6 Doyers Street and arrested forty men and women. On Septem ber 27 I raided the den at -104 Park Street, where I res cued a little girl who was held prisoner by the Chinamen. When my men appeared with the prisoners the ctoavcI went wild on learning that the little girl had been held in the den. They threw stones at the Chinese prisoners, and some one threw a lasso at one of them, but it landed on a policeman. The biggest raid I ever made was on November 8, when I captured ninety-one prisoners, a large number of opium layouts and a big copper boiler full of opium. The places raided were at 105 Park Street and the base ment and second floor of 21 Pell Street. During the fifteen months I had command of the pre cinct I continued my raids and Avhen I left the place was pretty well cleaned out. ii^«.T } Kn*. LWviL«X<5 ^ tJU» io-U^-i£wj-u^y,^c^.» ui^> "^ " *¦¦*¦? i **s£> L/&*/ & zr^riue 33 J MOSES H GROSSMAN. Mr. Moses II. Grossman, an American attorney, -of the law firm of Friend, House & Grossman, has played no small nor unimportant part in the business affairs of Chinatown. He has searched and passed upon the titles to almost every inch of ground in the Chinese locality, as counsel for many of the heaviest property holders. As a result he has made himself thoroughly conversant with Chinatown, and has, upon many occasions, escorted select circles of visiting friends through the streets and alleys 332 and into the temples and apartment houses of that inter esting quarter. He is universally popular, and so well liked by the denizens of Chinatown, that his visits, which though now quite infrequent, are ever welcome, and those who have the good fortune to visit Mott and its adjoining streets under his able guidance, never want for interest or enjoyment. Mr. Grossman was formerly a neAvspaper man, and as such originally made the ac quaintance of the then Mayor of Chinatown and his con ferees. When he was graduated from college he was the valedictorian of his class, and Avhen he was admitted to the bar, the esteem and respect of many of the Chinese officials and property holders, compelled them to entrust him Avith the management of their property and legal affairs. 180 1 LZ.900 2006