Volume 025-1 - January 1971 (4 pages)

RELEVANT ATTITUDES AND THEIR CAUSES BEFORE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY Before the turn of the century, the basic patterns for interaction between the white and Chinese communities were established. The prevalent attitudes of each society were determined by past experiences and the predominating socio-economic climate of Grass Valley. The transplantation of customs was a natural process for the permanent settler as well as for the transient miner. No matter how far the immigrant travels, the ways of the old follow. Assimilation can partically breakdown the traditional, but never completely. The degree is often determined by the reception and acceptance of the immigrant by the host society. To begin with, a shadow of mystery often interfered with the furthering of understanding between the Chinese and white communities during the late 1880’s and after the turn of the century too. Language was probably the foremost barrier in promoting communication and in removing the strangeness of customs. The consequence was sometimes extremism in regards to action. For example, in 1874, Ah Look murdered a fellow ‘‘Celestial’’ in Grass Valley, and was imprisoned at Nevada City to await trial. The day before the trial, Ah Look committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell, because ‘‘he was overcome with dread of the dangers of a proceeding so mysterious to him.’’ On the other hand, one of the perpetual mysteries to the white man was the Chinatown, a symbol of the Chinese inhabitants themselves. It was viewed almost as an old rickety house filled with ‘‘ghost.’”’ Of the old men that inhabited one sector of ancient cabins, ‘‘..if the interior of some of those old ‘shacks’ were ever investigated some strange sights might be witnessed.’’ Therefore, demands were heard for the removal of the Chinatown in 1877 and again in 1902. These were direct threats to the center of Chinese life in Grass Valley. 4. The Chinese that came to the area in response to the gold rush had little reason to ever consider adaptation of the ways of the new world. After all, their main goal in coming to the United States was to grab quick and easy riches and then to return home. Molded by their previous environment, the only direct contact that they deemed necessity was with their fellow countrymen and even that would be a on a short-term basis, or so they believed. Thus initially, the immigrant clung to old ways for convenience, for why seek change when an adequate conceptual framework was perpetrated in the old styles of life? AH GIN, Nevada County Pioneer Chinese, and farmerin the Glenbrook area. Ah Gin came to California at the age of 14, and worked on the Central Pac{fic Railroad then in farming in the Grass Valley area. He went to China and returned with his bride to Grass Valley. They have one daughter Yuen Ching, known locally as Fannie Gin and an adopted son known as YoungSon Gin. AH GIN Its the grandfather of Laura Lee Goudge, Pershing Lee, both of Grass Valley, Harry Lee killed in Wwe2 and Alex Lee of Roseville and great-grandfather of Michael Lee, Jacqueline Lee and Stephanie Lee. Another factor which drove the Chinese to resort to their past was the lack of social stability and the primitive environment that prevailed in the town during the gold rush days. It is obvious that a condition existed in the mining town where an ‘‘incongrous’’ population grew too rapidly for existing institutions to cope with. A state of confusion, which dominated many minds at least through the 1850’s and probably sometime thereafter, was most apparent. For example in 1852 a riot erupted when foreign and white miners disputed the nomination of a county recorder, the event stemming from an outgrowth of intensive competition for claims. Also, Lola Montez exemplified the chaotic era. One of the most famous of her escapades in Grass Valley occured when editor Henry Shipley wrote an article which was critical of one of her friends. With a bullwhip in her hands, Lola Montez hunted down the newspaperman and gave him a thrashing before she could be restrained. Consequently, in an atmosphere without precise law and order and in a chaotic society lacking cultural direction, the Chinese were driven to adhering to old customs and relying upon mutual aid within their settlement. An additional reason for clinging to the past was that the Chinese in Grass Valley needed to weld a seemingly unpenetrable wall that might be lowered and raised in response to spurts of antagonism launched against them. Unfortunately, such a mechanical device is far too synthetical; they did the next best thing by seeking the security of the past and close settlement among fellow Chinese. Disdain for the Chinese appeared on all levels, most frequently during the times of economic fluctuation and social instability. The restrictive and discriminatory laws issued by the Federal Government need only be mentfoned in passing. The Act of 1882, which was renewed in 1892 and 1902, dealt a near fatal blow to Chinese immigration. It stated that the government saw the Chinese as endangering FANNIE GIN, only daughter of Ah Gin, Glenbrook farmer was photographed in 1910. Note the China lillies near the clock. These were first introduced in Nevada County by Chinese in 1860. They were grown in a cluster of white quartz pebbles and water without soil. These colorful lillies now grow profusely in this area. (Photo courtesy of Doyle Thomas) **the good order of certain localities within the territory’’ and that particular treaty stipulations, that would restrain the Chinese, should be acknowledged and employed. Two sections of the 1882 act were quite explicit on their intent. Section 14 held that no court would admit any Chinese to citizenship in order to complement Section 1 which made it unlawful for any oriental to enter the United States. In the 25 years before 1904, federal legislation totaled three treaties and eight laws. In addition to anti-Chinese legislation, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling in 1850 that ‘‘Indian included Mongolian,’’ the result being that the Chinese could not testify against a U. S. citizen. 5.

RELEVANT ATTITUDES AND THEIR CAUSES BEFORE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY Before the turn of the century, the basic patterns for interaction between the white and Chinese communities were established. The prevalent attitudes of each society were determined by past experiences and the predominating socio-economic climate of Grass Valley. The transplantation of customs was a natural process for the permanent settler as well as for the transient miner. No matter how far the immigrant travels, the ways of the old follow. Assimilation can partically breakdown the traditional, but never completely. The degree is often determined by the reception and acceptance of the immigrant by the host society. To begin with, a shadow of mystery often interfered with the furthering of understanding between the Chinese and white communities during the late 1880’s and after the turn of the century too. Language was probably the foremost barrier in promoting communication and in removing the strangeness of customs. The consequence was sometimes extremism in regards to action. For example, in 1874, Ah Look murdered a fellow ‘‘Celestial’’ in Grass Valley, and was imprisoned at Nevada City to await trial. The day before the trial, Ah Look committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell, because ‘‘he was overcome with dread of the dangers of a proceeding so mysterious to him.’’ On the other hand, one of the perpetual mysteries to the white man was the Chinatown, a symbol of the Chinese inhabitants themselves. It was viewed almost as an old rickety house filled with ‘‘ghost.’”’ Of the old men that inhabited one sector of ancient cabins, ‘‘....if the interior of some of those old ‘shacks’ were ever investigated some strange sights might be witnessed.’’ Therefore, demands were heard for the removal of the Chinatown in 1877 and again in 1902. These were direct threats to the center of Chinese life in Grass Valley. 4. The Chinese that came to the area in response to the gold rush had little reason to ever consider adaptation of the ways of the new world. After all, their main goal in coming to the United States was to grab quick and easy riches and then to return home. Molded by their previous environment, the only direct contact that they deemed necessity was with their fellow countrymen and even that would be a on a short-term basis, or so they believed. Thus initially, the immigrant clung to old ways for convenience, for why seek change when an adequate conceptual framework was perpetrated in the old styles of life? AH GIN, Nevada County Pioneer Chinese, and farmerin the Glenbrook area. Ah Gin came to California at the age of 14, and worked on the Central Pac{fic Railroad then in farming in the Grass Valley area. He went to China and returned with his bride to Grass Valley. They have one daughter Yuen Ching, known locally as Fannie Gin and an adopted son known as YoungSon Gin. AH GIN Its the grandfather of Laura Lee Goudge, Pershing Lee, both of Grass Valley, Harry Lee killed in Wwe2 and Alex Lee of Roseville and great-grandfather of Michael Lee, Jacqueline Lee and Stephanie Lee. Another factor which drove the

Chinese to resort to their past was the lack of social stability and the primitive environment that prevailed in the town during the gold rush days. It is obvious that a condition existed in the mining town where an ‘‘incongrous’’ population grew too rapidly for existing institutions to cope with. A state of confusion, which dominated many minds at least through the 1850’s and probably sometime thereafter, was most apparent. For example in 1852 a riot erupted when foreign and white miners disputed the nomination of a county recorder, the event stemming from an outgrowth of intensive competition for claims. Also, Lola Montez exemplified the chaotic era. One of the most famous of her escapades in Grass Valley occured when editor Henry Shipley wrote an article which was critical of one of her friends. With a bullwhip in her hands, Lola Montez hunted down the newspaperman and gave him a thrashing before she could be restrained. Consequently, in an atmosphere without precise law and order and in a chaotic society lacking cultural direction, the Chinese were driven to adhering to old customs and relying upon mutual aid within their settlement. An additional reason for clinging to the past was that the Chinese in Grass Valley needed to weld a seemingly unpenetrable wall that might be lowered and raised in response to spurts of antagonism launched against them. Unfortunately, such a mechanical device is far too synthetical; they did the next best thing by seeking the security of the past and close settlement among fellow Chinese. Disdain for the Chinese appeared on all levels, most frequently during the times of economic fluctuation and social instability. The restrictive and discriminatory laws issued by the Federal Government need only be mentfoned in passing. The Act of 1882, which was renewed in 1892 and 1902, dealt a near fatal blow to Chinese immigration. It stated that the government saw the Chinese as endangering FANNIE GIN, only daughter of Ah Gin, Glenbrook farmer was photographed in 1910. Note the China lillies near the clock. These were first introduced in Nevada County by Chinese in 1860. They were grown in a cluster of white quartz pebbles and water without soil. These colorful lillies now grow profusely in this area. (Photo courtesy of Doyle Thomas) **the good order of certain localities within the territory’’ and that particular treaty stipulations, that would restrain the Chinese, should be acknowledged and employed. Two sections of the 1882 act were quite explicit on their intent. Section 14 held that no court would admit any Chinese to citizenship in order to complement Section 1 which made it unlawful for any oriental to enter the United States. In the 25 years before 1904, federal legislation totaled three treaties and eight laws. In addition to anti-Chinese legislation, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling in 1850 that ‘‘Indian included Mongolian,’’ the result being that the Chinese could not testify against a U. S. citizen. 5.