CHINA.

287

 

are employed in large numbers. Especial-
ly was this the case in building the North-
ern Pacific Railroad, where they lived by
themselves. They did their own cooking

and one who has observed them closely in

such a life says, that “ during along experi-’

ence he never saw a fight among them, and
that, when the day’s work was done, not-
withstanding the fact that they were beyond
home influence, they played together as
lively as children.” Although not quarrel-
some among themselves, they will fight
when driven to it, and are really dangerous
Indeed, it is said that a Chi-

naman never attacks a foe except for the

as enemies.
purpose of taking his life. The Chinaman
is industrious and sober. He is not credit-
ed with a vast amount of intelligence, and
yet he knows enough to let whiskey, “the
foe of all mankind,” severely alone. Some
of the large ranches of California employ
only Chinese labor, simply because the
Chinaman can be depended upon. He never
gets drunk, and is always ready for work.
We have stated the Chinaman is sober; this,
perhaps, ought to be modified, for, although
the Chinaman does not drink whiskey, he
has a worse habit in the form of opium. It
was the writer’s privilege at one time to
visit an opium den. Our guide took us
through an alley in Chinatown, under an
underground room not more than eight feet
square and seven feet high; the only open-

ing was a narrow doorway. As soon as we

 

 

entered the door was hastily closed, as these
We

found several Chinamen; one was melting

people did not believe in ventilation.

opium at a little table my means of a taper,
another was just sinking under its influ-
ence, a third was lost to consciousness. The
habit is a terrible one and is followed both
by men and women. The fumes of tho
opium fill one with a pleasant sensation
which grows upon him until his surround-
ings are lost and he sinks into unconscious-
ness. The habit is a terrible one; the effects
of opium are even worse than those of whis-
key. Possibly this is the reason San Fran-
cisco has laws to restrict the smoking of
opium, and yet lets men get drunk, insult
and abuse passers-by on the street, and mal-
treat and starve their families. Passing
still farther under ground, far away from
any possible connection with the outer
world, we passed into a second room small-
er than the first, and with no possible chance
of ventilation. Here was a Chinese woman
past middle age who said again and again:
“T have lived here twelve years. I have
lost my eyes!” Although the Chinese are

mocked at as pagans, they are really a very

devout people. They almost make gods of

their ancestors; they believe new ways, new
methods, new customs will displease their
fathers, who are hovering about them to
help and protect them, and so adhere with
This would

seem that their religion is more of fear than

wonderful tenacity to the old.