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Show CHINESE M-.W V EAR 3 fEB'VAt CaJtotna an.t trmmtf 1ht tnaa-n. rale Ilia llrlrnlal Alinliaraarr, The New Year a festival of the CM. ni, said to he the moat complete holiday hol-iday Mason kept by any nation of th earth. Is celebrated wherever a single Chinaman la found, whether in Vektn or New York, write llelle It. Hraln In January Woman's Home Companion, discussing "New Year's Customs lu the Orient " It la a movable festival, falling fall-ing on any dale between Jan 11 and Ken. 18 reparations for the ureal holiday begin weeks beforehand. The accumulated dirt of many months disappears dis-appears ns If by magic. Kten tho Chinaman himself passes through tho cleaning proiess, washing his elothea nnd bathing his person the latter being be-ing a great event In the live of a few, since It occurs but once a )sar' llulld-Ings llulld-Ings of every descriptions are elaborately elabo-rately divorated Kloners am lu great demand, the faorlte being the Chinese narcissus, the prunpect of happiness for the ear Is believed to lie lu proportion pro-portion to the number of flower stalks produced from a single bulb. During tho closing days of the old year Chinese Chi-nese streets present a busy and animated ani-mated scene Rhopa are thronged with customers engerl) laying In large quantities of food, clothing and New Year's gifts. Debtors and creditors are seen hurrying to and fro, endeavoring to settle their accounts, for according to a mot commendable custom nil debts must be paid or settled In some satisfactory manner before tho new year dawns. To meet theso liabilities shopkeepers offer their goods at un-heard-of-prlicn and families frequently frequent-ly part with odd bits of bric-n-brac, curious relics and valuabto ornaments for a sum pitifully small No dligraca Is equal to being found on New Year's morning with an unpaid debt. On the oilier hind the creditor who falls to collect his debts at this time may press them again for many months. He therefore pursues his debtor far Into In-to the night, continuing hla search Into In-to the New Year's day If necessary This he may do If he carries n lighted lantern to ludlcnto that he Is still engaged en-gaged In last night's business nnd hat not discovered thst the day bat dawned! |