The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-10
HOP LEE, THE WASHERMAN.
THE UNDRIES ESTABLTsHED ny
CH.NESE IN NEW YORK
An Example Of Reon-EngIish mbi, Gus
Removal from BeIlcvilie, n. -. some Of
the New unsiness PInna Of n MnnnnIirn.

tH-N ESE IN NEW YORK.
An Example Of Pigeon- English mbi,i Gus
Removal from BeIlcvilie, n. some Of
the New Business Plans Of Monaghan.
Three or four years ago Chinese laun-
dryw established At Belleville. N. j., and from
the start II met with great success. Its work
men were sixty quiet, industrious Cinnamon
and Tor long time they worked peaceably and
contcntcdly by the side OF twenty or more
IRISH 81 j., gave no trouble 20 their EMPLOYERS
and became favOrtes with the people Of the
neighborhood. But one day an evil spirit Of
greed broke loose among che Cinnamon, and
many OF them, believing hat they could adj
vance their fortunes more rapidly In New YORK,
removed to this city. Some went to selling
cigars, some To vending candies. but Roodly
proportion invested their earnings In the little
wash shops. Most OF these failed for want OF
patronage f; but some lived, and among the lat
ter Is mat VI Hop Lee, who occupies Grand
street basement
Areporter found Hop Lee In his laundry yes
tertav al ernoOn. lie sat ON an ironing bench
taking lesson In English from q wee German
boy " eight years. The small basement room
WIS neat and clean. It sent forth none Of those
permeate the attn osphere of the ordinary wash
room, but WAS ~ free from them ~ If no wash
tuh with It's appliances had ever been seen with
In It's walls. brisk. bright looking young
Chinaman was scrubbing at the washboard in
~
ful Of the garments which he mad already
cleansed and wrung out At his left was table
on wnich lay pile Of sDuw-whte shirts that he
had iruned
Hon Lee 2" inquired the reporter. Ms he de-
seconded the stairs aud entered the room.
" All ", ves,' said the brown faced, almond
eyed little Cnnauan on the bench. " Me. l.,
Hop Lee. Come along 10 washer"
what do you charge for washngY was
asked.
Then came in answer to this question one Of
the most pulling series Of attempts at n spoken
INIT fIar nr RI h. A hai. rH
hey ran sufnewh II thus:
III. vi ~ SHIRT, one duz. coll. cufee,
sock. one doll quart. Habee good washee TO-
Mclean councilman, all same 10 Cninnvman.
Heap wasnee, heap so pee. heap wat. Wukkee
nh!hdi cneapee. chckee quick hkee, devil.
Wukkec day, wukkee night. wukkee all time,
rhcn he stopped for breath. "what do you
charge for linen coats and underclothesY" was
L" Ling ' coaiY W tee call nne-v coat ?" the
TnGiSSiSi % 'sSa' ca M!H puzzled look
Here his assistant came to hi4 aid and by dint
OF handling his own integuments and expl lining
IN thinese, he was soon enabled to make Hop
LIE understand.
- rru-fy cent TO coat" he replied; "qucnty-
" 10 undle-ciO.'
a." How long does 1t take you to do a wash ?"
Ihis question was "A staggcrer. He could not
be made to comprehend II. until his visitor
translated IT into the best Pigeon English at his
command. ana accompanied his speech with
app,Ypriate signs.
Me bringee wash 10 you, now, to-day, Tues
daN. what time you trlnree wash to me Z"
ION, h. vi said the Chinannn with a laugh
lie hlingee To-day, me blngee Iurday, all
lsht, good washce."
:, After This ne conversation was carried on IN
l'lgcun- English. In answer to "A number ~
questions tne httle Chiniman managed e. make
himself toierahly well understood. ihis - about
the ~uns alce OF his replies Us nearly thei can
be reproduced
"Washee Beilevllle2 Ill., Vi. yes. you bet
Come NOO Nokec. washee To- me. Makre
money (Shrugging his shoulder~.) Littee,
llttcc. some tine heap, some time belly
iittee. some a time no washee. Byme by Hon
Lee he makec heap. come up topside. tAlkt e
much liz English. uduee ~, III ATTY, huud wash-
man Chinaynan NdNee plenty heap, 20
Chlnly. Come tackY No come back Likee
Mehctt Yes lace lille bit. Belly MIC.
Chiutv mo hkee. much. Elty III, VI. eat lice
Ciccl, eat VIZ, eat chickee, eat bled, dlink con
some time. much a time heap dlink vat Wat
good. belly good dinkee. Dliuk cor. dhnk
money lat LAT rauf No (witu digusU. Pa
! Cnlnhyin IA eat lat. Hop I.,- no pig"
Hop Lee WAS once M California, but became
| di~gusted with the hoodluns OF san Frtucisco
| and emigrated To New York, where, he says. he
has been well treatei men he learus to tull>
"muchee hg English" he viii succeed Ia his
! business. will IN Ike fortune. md then bic
homeward TO The land of his fathers.