Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-13
Followed by a Single Mourner.

LEE SINGS SIMPLE FUNERAL-HOw A CHINESE
WASHER wASHEE BURIED HIS FRIEND.
philadelphia Record
The dead body OF q native OF the Celestial
Empire lay In coffin on the ground floor back
room OF Chinese laundry Oh Sd street, above
cambridge, yesterday morning. The face was
long ana emaciated, as though the dead man
had passed through months Of suffering before
has earthly career was brought to a close. For
covering the body had thick cotton underwear
over which was Calico nightdreSs. Around
the coffin dozen peculiar wax candles, which
emitted still more peculiar odor, shed a flicker
ing light on the face OF the corpse. Presently
hearse, followed by solitary carriage, drove up
TO the door. Then Joe Lee. the proprietor of the
laundry, approached the head OF the dead man
and repeated Few sentences in his native Ian
guage. When hehad finished the undertaken was
ready TO put on the lid, the coffin was borne to
children, men and women who blocked up the
sidewalk, Joe Lee entered the carriage alone
and one OF the shortest funeral professions ever
seen in Philadelphia went on its way to the
cemetery.
The man who thus went to his grave with
but solitary mourner, was known among the
Chinese colony as Lee Sing. He came to this
city nearly seven years ago, and, so say his
countrymen, was the third Chinaman to Settle
in Philadelphia. For years he had been more
or less ailing with rheumatism and conSunp-
ton OF the lungs, which early in the year made
such inroads on his system that he was forced
to take his bed. His sleeping apartment was
ON the second foor. of Joe Lees laundry, and
when it became evident that his felloW-country-
man was nearing his end Joe was unremitting
in his attentions to him. Neglecting his
''washee-washee," Joe went around among the
Chinese and collected what they would give to-
procure Lee Sing what was necessary to soothe
his dying hours. When the cash thus obtained
was insufficient Joe himself drew upon his
slender store In order that his tenant should not
want. Last Tuesday morning Lee Sing expired,
and, unwilling that he should find a pauper's
grave, Joe at once went to an undertaken gave
orders Tor decent burial, and personally as
sumed the financial responsibility.
The interment took place at Machpelah ceme-
terry, 10th and Washington avenue. On the east
side, near the ratings, grave has been dug.
Into this the walnut coffin, with It's silver
plated mountings, was lowered. Joe Lee, in a
neat suit OF black, stood at the head OF the grave
and watched the operation with stolcal coun-
tenance. There were no ministers in attend
ance and no religious ceremony. When the
coffin had touched bottom Joe Lee requested
that the grave should be filled up In his pres
ence. He didn't want the body -snatchers to get
at 1t. he explained to the grave-dlgger and
then, after parting injunction to the latter TO
lcok out for the body thieves, he jumped into
the coach and was driven away.
The reason that only Joe was present at the
funeral Is explained by the fact that THURSDAY
Is John Chinamans busy day. and none OF them
could De found willing to leave their laundries
even fer single hour.