SIXTUS 444 SIXTUS this country, but they now ship back to China the bones only of those whose fam- ilies desire those relics buried in the sa- cred earth of the Flowery Kingdom. They began in 1850 and 1851 hiring men in China to meet the demand for labor in California. The business grew and other Chinese firms went into it. Then the agents of all these firms found it neces- sary to unite for self-protection. There were six of these agencies, and they called themselves the Six Companies. A con- tractor in need of newly imported labor goes to one of these companies and gives his order for so many men. He pays the fees for that number to the company he deals with. If he hires laborers already here they will be members of the com- pany, and the charge will be only the rate exacted for the service. The names of the Six Companies are: the Ning Yeung, the Hop Wo, the Kong Chow, the Yung Yo, the Sam Yup, the Yang Wo. The Six Companies have added arbitration bureaus and banking operations to their original scheme. SIXTUS, the name of several popes: Sixtus I., successor of Alexander I. in 119; martyred in 127. Sixtus II., the successor of Stephen I. He is stated to have been an Athenian and SIXTUS IV. pagan philosopher before his conversion to Christianity. He was one of those who suffered martyrdom in the persecution of the Christians by Valerianus in 258. Sixtus III., successor of Celestin I. in 432. He endeavored to reconcile the dis- putes existing in the Eastern Church, particularly in the case of Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, and John of Antioch. Some of the epistles which he composed with regard to those controversies are extant, and are included in the collection of Con- stant. He was also a munificent patron of learning, and is stated to have left 5,000 silver marks to be expended in the embellishment of ecclesiastical structures. He died in 440. Sixtus IV.; born in Savona, July 22, 1414; was the son of a fisherman on the coast of Genoa, but became a monk of the sixtus v. order of the Cordeliers. His abilities pro- cured him the chair of divinity at Padua and other universities of Italy. He also became general of his order, and was hon- ored with the cardinalship by Paul II., whom he succeeded in 1471. He is ac- cused of having been a participator in the conspiracy of the Pazzi, the object of which was to destroy the Medici family. He also endeavored to raise a new cru- sade against the infidels, but without suc- cess. He died Aug. 13, 1484. Sixtus V. (Felice Peretti), Pope; born near Montalto, Dec. 13, 1521. He entered the convent of the Cordeliers at Ascoli, and by his natural good abilities and his popularity as a preacher made his way rapidly, notwithstanding a petulant tem- per and frequent contentions with his as- sociates. He was successively Professor of Theology, commissary-general of his order at Bologna, and inquisitor at Ven- ice, whence he fled to Rome and obtained still higher honors and offices. A remark- able change appeared in his character or manners — he showed himself meek and amiable. Pius V., who had been his pu- pil, got him chosen general of the Cor- deliers, named him his confessor, and in 1570, created him cardinal. He was not in favor with Gregory XIII., and it is said that in his retirement he feigned great feebleness. These signs of old age van- ished the moment of his election as suc- cessor to Gregory in April, 1585. He threw away his staff, and made the place ring with his loud Te Denm. His first care was to repress brigandage. One
