ways a full moon on the 15th, no moon on the 1st, etc. Consequently the moon always presents the same appearance on the same day in any month from year to year. This plan is particularly convenient for farmers and sailors, whose memory is thus materially assisted in remembering the changes of moon and tides. The spots on the moon which we call the "man in the moon" suggest to the Chinese mind the idea of a small animal shelling rice, their chief staple of food; and a common saying in China is, "There is a little white rabbit in the moon pounding out rice." The era used by the Chinese in their histories is, next to that of the Jews, the oldest employed by any nation, as for over four thousand years they have for chronological purposes made use of a series of daily, monthly, and yearly cycles of 60. Each day, month, and year has its own name in its cycle, and by compounding these names a single one is made to express the date employed. A new cycle began in 1864, so that the present year is the 17th year of the 75th cycle. But the common events of every-day life amongst the Chi nese have during these last twenty centuries been dated from the year of the accession of the reigning emperor. Some particular name, usually that of the new sovereign, is given by official proclamation to each reign, the years being number DAWN OF NEW-YEAR. ed 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. The present emperor, Qwong See, came to the throne in 1875, consequently we are now living in the 6th year of Qwong See. A record of these eras is kept, called a Catalogue of the Nienh-hao, by reference to which the chronological date of any event is deter- | above and beside the doors mainly exmined. Some hundreds of years hence pressed the hope that the five blessings in an inquisitive Chinese student, wishing which are summed up all the elements of to place the historical date of some occur- human felicity-health, riches, longevity, rence in this year, such as some barbarous love of virtue, and a natural death-might acts of legislation against his countrymen be the portion of the indwellers. The larin California, would turn to the Nienh-ger ones contained such sentences as these: hao, and so ascertain the historical bear- 'May Heaven give happiness!" ings. never be without rich customers!" hope." "Good will come to us. one another." "Peace be to those who come out and go in." "May we never be without wisdom!" "May I "Good "Love Devout Chinese avail themselves of this On the last evening of the old yearFebruary 8 in the Gregorian calendar"Chinatown" presented a busy, bustling, weird air, which plainly betokened an impending feast of importance. The signboards, with their curious hieroglyphics-season to settle their accounts with the well adapted for decorative effects--had generally been repainted and regilded, most of them being draped with bright scarlet cotton cloth-a favorite material | for festooning. Red is the Chinese festal color, and is believed to be efficacious in keeping away evil spirits, and it is not unusual to see strands of red silk braided in children's queues to prevent them from being cut off by malicious spirits. Many of the shops displayed within and without sprigs of kinhwa, or golden flowers, 和氣致 祥 gods, and the walls of the hall and staircase of the principal Joss-house were covered with colored slips of paper, about twelve inches long by four wide, containing the names of the donors to the idols. Besides these records of generous fidelity to a national creed, were scrolls on which were written antithetical sentences referring to the attributes of some favorite god. Ornamental tablets of wood are also presented by admiring votaries, and hang from the ceilings or against the walls of the temples. Gorgeous lanterns were suspended in front of doors or hung in rows from the which are merely numerous balconies. The flags of the Conbunches of brass tinsel sulate, of the Six Companies, of the sevwire and foil twined and eral temples, etc., fluttered in the breeze, cut into floriated forms; and the occasional crackle, crackle, of firethese are principally used crackers gave warning of the coming bedas offerings before the lam at midnight, when gongs, tom-toms ancestral tablet and in (drums), bombs, and unlimited quantities the temples. The lin- of fire-crackers were to unite in driving tels of the doors, the win- away all evil spirits from the birth of the dows, and blank spaces new year-the 6th of Qwong See. At on the walls were already nearly every window was to be seen a covered with new color- dish of the favorite Chinese lily, the nared papers, principally red cissus, in full bloom. The shops displayand orange, of various ed tables covered with them to tempt tarsizes, on which sentences dy purchasers, and the streets were crowdappropriate to the seasoned with "Celestials," some carrying a Neware printed. White paper Year's offering to friend or master, others denotes that the inmates hastening to make final household investhave lost a parent during the past year; ments before the shops closed-not to reblue or yellow signifies a second year's open until the first three days of the holimourning for father or mother; the death day season were passed. of a grandparent is indicated by dark carnation; but the joyous red predominated, and mingled with them were many red and orange papers stippled with gold. The advertisement boards were freshly covered with clean notices printed in the same style-black characters on red ground. The writing on the papers pasted NEW-YEAR'S MOTTO: Glimpses into interiors and down basements revealed strange sights. The whole population appeared to have submitted its head to the razor, and an unprejudiced observer, noting the conformation of the various Chinese foreheads, could not but be impressed by the phrenological indications, suggesting at least an average intel ligence. New clothes were being extensively donned: those who can not afford to purchase a suit at this season borrow for the occasion. Clean white stockingleggings caught the eye below each blue blouse, and silk and satin had replaced the ordinary cloth or cotton attire of many a worthy merchant. A favorite New-Year's present amongst the lower classes is a pair of shoes. But the most momentous business of the hour was the settling of accounts. All debts must be cancelled before the new year, and this universal obligatory custom-not lawhas manifest advantages. The swanpwan, or counting-board, and brush pencils, were not at rest for an instant, and it was far into the small hours of the night before many merchants left their desks. Before midnight a feast took place in each household, when food was eaten with certain ceremonies, variously apportioned to the sacrifice to Heaven and Earth, the worship of the favorite family gods, and the offering to deceased ancestors. Before the ancestral tablets, or household idol, incense was consumed, punk or joss-sticks, mock money, and pieces of red paper covered with printed prayers, were burned. Many parties of Chinese whose ordinary homes are with their American employers clubbed together for this festal season, and rented rooms, where conjointly they held their midnight feasts. As the bells announced the mystic hour of twelve, the dawn of a new period was welcomed by musical strains peculiar to the inhabitants of "the Middle Kingdom," by crackers, bombs, and "flowers" (rockets, etc.). A procession of priests curiously costumed, walking in single file, with lanterns, made a tour of the different temples, where they were received by the resident priests. At an early hour on New-Year's Day Food, incense, tea, printed prayers, and the streets of "Chinatown" were full of mock money were offered to the gods, and well-dressed men, many of whom were appropriate fare partaken of by their earth- really gorgeously apparelled, blue, olively ministers. Generous hospitality is the green, and gray being the prevailing colfeature of the New-Year season, and there ors. They were hastening to pay conis a Chinese saying "that during the first gratulatory visits, although, according to part of the first moon no one has an emp-"Celestial" etiquette, it is permissible to ty stomach." And here permit the remark that there is a decorousness amongst all classes of Chinese in their manner of partaking of food which is not always seen amongst "the people" of more civilized nations. We laugh at the chopsticks of these barbarians, but a polite mandarin once remarked to an English BARBER-SHOP IN CHINATOWN. man, In remote ages, before we became civilized, we used knives and forks as you do, and had no chopsticks. We still carry a knife in our chopstick case, but it is a mere remnant of barbarism. We never use it. We sit down to table to eat, not to cut up carcasses." settle some social debts simply by cards. Friends, as they pass, salute each other with exclamations and greetings which answer very much to our Anglo-Saxon formula of "A happy New-Year!" No shops were opened. In front of some the heavy wooden doors were in place, barred and bolted, excluding most MARKETING FOR NEW-YEAR'S DAY. effectually all inquisitive inspection, but, as a rule, only the glass doors were closed, some of them being made to serve as screens by having strung half way across them scarlet cotton curtains. A complete metamorphosis had taken place within the counting-houses, which for so many days in the year appear but as trading places, with small regard for decoration or æsthetics. Every one had been swept and garnished most successfully. Carved tables and chairs, in many cases covered with scarlet cloth and satin embroideries; colored scrolls, with sentences and mottoes; pictures of gods or ancestral warri ors; and the official almanac for the new year, conspicuously framed - transformed trading shops into Chinese receptionrooms. The characters for happiness and longevity are frequently placed on the same scroll, and hung over the inside doors, as we would use the motto A merry Christmas," or "A happy NewYear"; and another usual combination is made of four characters for happiness, longevity, joy, and official rewards. In each of these rooms a table prominently placed displayed the usual festal bill of fare, such as tea, samshu (Chinese wine), oranges, lemonade, cakes-the recipes for some having evidently been secured in America-and a great variety of Chinese candied fruits and candies, these last being much less sweet than civilized bonbons, and some by no means distasteful to a Caucasian palate. One special delicacy is candied pork fat, from which all grease Or appears to have been extracted. anges are particularly popular, as the colloquial name for them-kek--is the same used to express "fortunate" or "lucky." Water-melon seeds are also "fashionable." Cigars, opium, and the appliances for "high play" were not forgotten. Gambling is indulged in during the New-Year festivities to a vicious extent, and even during a visit to a Christian Chinese boarding-house it was very evident to observant ears that some of the inmates were enjoying themselves at play up stairs. The Grand Theatre, on Clay Street, with its new green and gold sign, but otherwise |