|
James Cox - My Native Land
disappeared, as well as several of the steps leading up to the front. Hundreds of people have cut their
names in the stone work, and the monument, which ought to be preserved in perpetuity, looks so
disreputable that little regret would be caused were the entire fragment to be swept away by some
unusually heavy gust of wind.
More than 1,500 soldiers were buried in the Chalmette Cemetery after the battle referred to. Since the
war it has been well nigh forgotten, but several duels and affaires d'honneur have been settled on the
historic spot.
CHAPTER XIII. THE HEATHEN CHINEE IN HIS ELEMENT.
A Trip to Chinatown, San Francisco - A House with a History - Narrow Alleys and Secret Doors -
Opium Smoking and its Effects - The Highbinders - Celestial Theatricals - Chinese Festivals - The
Brighter Side of a Great City - A Mammoth Hotel and Beautiful Park.
Chinatown, San Francisco, is such a remarkable place, and contrasts so strangely with the wealth and
civilization of the great city on the Pacific Coast, of which it is a part, that its peculiarities cannot be
ignored in a sketch of the most remarkable features of our native land. Writers and artists have for years
made this blot on San Francisco's splendor the subject for sarcasm and cartoon, and, indeed, it is difficult
to handle the subject without a considerable amount of severity. Californians are often blamed for their
harshness towards the Chinese, and the way in which they have clamored from time to time for more
stringent exclusion laws. It takes a trip to Chinatown to make it clear to the average mortal why this
feeling is so general in San Francisco, and why it extends throughout the entire Pacific Slope.
There are about 25,000 Chinese in and around San Francisco. A small proportion of these have
abandoned the worst features of their race, and make themselves comparatively useful as domestic
servants. In order to retain their positions they have to assimilate themselves more or less to the manners
and customs of the country, and they are only objectionable in certain respects. But the one-time dwellers
in the Celestial Empire, who make their homes in Chinatown, have very few redeeming qualities, and
most of them seem to have no tangible excuse whatever for living.
They adhere to all the vices and uncivilized habits of their forefathers, and very frequently add to them
equally objectionable vices of so-called civilization. At one time all the streets in Chinatown were little
more than elongated ash pits and garbage receptacles. The public outcry at length became so vigorous
that the strong hand of the law was brought to bear, and now the principal through streets are kept fairly
clean. The side streets and alleys are, however, still in a deplorable condition, and no American or
European could possibly live many days in such filth without being stricken with a terrible disease. The
Mongolians, however, seem to thrive under conditions which are fatal to civilized humanity. They live to
quite the average age, and the children seem to be very healthy, if not conspicuously happy.
Chinatown covers an area of about eight large squares, in the very heart of San Francisco. Again and
again attempts have been made to get rid of the drawback and nuisance. But the "Melica Man" has
allowed himself to be outwitted by the "Heathen Chinee," who has secured property rights which cannot
be overcome without a measure of confiscation, which would appear to be scarcely constitutional. The
area is probably one of the most densely populated in the world. The Chinese seem to sleep everywhere
and anywhere, and the houses are overcrowded to an extent which passes all belief. It is known as an
actual fact, that in rooms twelve feet square as many as twelve human beings sleep and eat, and even
cook what passes with them for food. The houses themselves are so horrible in their condition, and have
been so remodeled from time to time, to meet Celestial ideas and fall in with notions which are but a relic
|
