File:The American metropolis, from Knickerbocker days to the present time; New York City life in all its various phases (1897) (14802354463).jpg

Identifier: americanmetropol02moss (find matches)
Title: The American metropolis, from Knickerbocker days to the present time; New York City life in all its various phases
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Moss, Frank, 1860-1920 Parkhurst, C. H. (Charles Henry), 1842-1933
Subjects: New York (N.Y.) -- History New York (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs
Publisher: New York, P.F. Collier
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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ch-other Society), and the feud between these twosocieties has led to affrays on the street, the useof slung-shots and hatchets, and numerous criminalproceedings. Experience among these people showsthat, no matter upon which side they are enlisted,truth is an unknown virtue, perfidy is a nationalaccomplishment, and brotherhood has no significationto them. They have no concern in our governmentor in the affairs of our Citj^ except so far as theymay be protected from the operations of our lawsupon their customs and habits. They have learnedthat money buys peace, and they have purchasedpeace at liberal prices. They have their own mayorand council, and not until recently have they beenfound in our civil courts. High Chinese officials aremuch disturbed at the recent disposition to seek theintervention of the American courts, and the aid ofthe Chinese consul has been invoked to secure arenewed allegiance to the authority of Chinatownofficials, and obedience to its decrees in all matters 406
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NEW YORK CITY TJFK of difference. Their religious practices consist inbribing niinierous gods, either to intervene in theirfavor, to send them good hick, to ward off disas-ter, or to reveal the future. Of worship they ap-parently have little idea. Joss-houses they have,anil the curious American gains admittance veryeasy, and finds the priest open to the influences ofAmerican money. Idolatrj is not evident; of theworshi()ing of images there is no trace. A China-man going to the joss-house makes his offering tothe priest, who either prays for good luck uponsome undertaking, or endeavors to divine the fut-ure upon some enterprise. Their Uttle sticks of in-cense are familiar objects to us. He lights a bunchof these, and extinguishes the flame with a waveof the hand rather than with his unworthy breath,leaving them to smolder on the altar. Then heprostrates himself before the altar, and by the shak-ing out of one stick from a bunch, he finds anumber which corresponds to an entry in a care-

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