Letters from the Far East . us back. February 11 was Chinese New Year. We took atrip into the city, all the way by chair, and found itmost interesting. The streets had all been thoroughlycleaned, and the houses as well. Strips of red paperinscribed with Chinese characters, were posted overall the doors. Every one was out, dressed in their passed many Chinese houses, and looking in couldsee the New Years decorations. In many instances the rooms were small, cheerless,and dark; a large number of them being without win-dows or any outside light, except what was ad-mitted through the front
Letters from the Far East . us back. February 11 was Chinese New Year. We took atrip into the city, all the way by chair, and found itmost interesting. The streets had all been thoroughlycleaned, and the houses as well. Strips of red paperinscribed with Chinese characters, were posted overall the doors. Every one was out, dressed in their passed many Chinese houses, and looking in couldsee the New Years decorations. In many instances the rooms were small, cheerless,and dark; a large number of them being without win-dows or any outside light, except what was ad-mitted through the front door which opened onto thenarrow, dark street. Some of the better homes, how-ever, had a sort of skylight overhead. The rooms were decorated with tinsel and paperornaments, and sometimes a Chinese lily in full bloomadded to the attractiveness of the interior. Also asmall table was generally seen, set with fruit and can-dies; while joss was burning before the idols, whichalways occupy the conspicuous place in a heathen LETTERS FROM THE FAR EAST 57 The air was fragrant with the odor of burning jossand sandalwood, and a great improvement to the odorswhich we found filling the air the time previous, whenwe had visited the city and the streets were beingcleaned for New Years, and the accumulated filth ofa whole year was stirred. We saw New Years callers entering the homes, andboth visitors and hostesses would bow and shake theirown hands, saying, Koong Hei (Happy NewYear). We also saw the hopelessness of the poor and help-less in a heathen land; for while all these gaieties weregoing on in the homes, the beggars still begged in thestreets; and among others, we saw an old man, clothedin rags, lying by the side of the road, shaking withpalsy, and holding out his poor withered hand, cryingto the passers by to Have pity ; but the crowdsmoved on, apparently untouched by this most commonsight. No poorhouses, asylums, or free hospitals forthe unfortunate ones in China! Nothing but a
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