During the latter part of last week our Chinese friends amused themselves by firing off rockets, bombs and crackers, much to the disturbance of those who would sleep. The "air was lighted up,' as our Chinese friends say, and crakers and bombs were in extraordinary demand from the shops by the Chinese.
In order to make a few pennies, some enterprising men went round the streets, banging hollow bamboos and holding lanterns, crying out shrilly "Chien meng kuan kuan, Ho meng pei pei, Ho Tsok dong sing.' This a warning to all householders that all must Close your front doors, close your back doors, and take care of the fire.''
Half a dozen young loafers have been going round with a tom-tom drum and clanging brass cymbals. They approach an open door or shop, making as much noise as they can. They sing a song wishing the inmates every good luck. A few cents is generally given them and after making more noise they take their leave. But woe to the shopkeeper or householder if no money is given them, they sing out songs wishing that all sorts of bad luck may come to them for their stinginess.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.