Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-25

SUPERINTENDENT Scnm1QC Calls TO U1nQ several
similar cases In his experience, In one OF which
death resulted from the mania Of home-slck-
ness alone.
Chinese Newspapers.
tSan Francisco Post
There are two Chinese newspapers in this
city, both weekly. In company with Inuerpre-
ter Howe, visit was recently made to both
offices. The Oriental (Wah Kee), 500 Washing
ton street. was first visited The YAH Kee
pr1etor, publisher, editor, pressman, compost
Jor, bookkeeper, reporter and offlce-boy, zee
Jenn, who was discovered seated at a table In
acters on slip Of paper. small, fine brush,
not much larger than an ordinary pen.holder,
was dipped In peculiar black ink and the
writing, Or printing. performed with great dex-
zee Jenn stated to the Interpreter that he was
50 years old; that he had been in the country
about seven years, and that he first began pub
fishing the Wdh Kee nearly six years ago. He
had no previous experience as Journalist,
ana prior to beginning his newspaper had
In operation job printing office, which he yet
maintained. OF the 81, 200 characters in the
Chinese language he could make about 5000. As
he had never been able TO import type from
China. all the characters In his paper were
formed by hand The Yah Kee had 1000 sub
scribers some circulation in China, and was
issued at 10 cents per copy, or S. per year. He
got much OF his matter from exchanges what
his readers was translated by an English know
ing Chinese friend. Although years In the
country zee Jenn had no knowledge of the Ian
guage, and he said that but about 200 OF the Chi
nese residing In this city were able to read and
understand English. The last number OF the Wah
Zee was presented to the writer by zee Jenn. 1t
was 4page sheet, about three fourths the size
OF the Post, and had columns to page; the first
page, excepting the publishers announcements,
being occupied by advertisements, mainly
double columned. The publishers announce
ments comprised the name Of the paper, In five
big characters, to be read from left to right, In
q horizontal line at the head OF the page;
notice, In vertical line, to be read from the
paper was published in the fourth month of the
seventh year OF the Ieign Of his imperial might
iness, Quong 81, emperor; a notice. at
one the a da ana @ o, toe ne
a large notice, In vertical lines, to the
left OF the last-named. which was the pros
pectus. ETC., OF the publisher. The name of
The paper, Its date and place Of publication,
were given In English under its Chinese title
The title OF each long article and Of each adver-
usement was given In single horizontal line
which was printed In vertical lines. and to bs
read beginning at the top OF the right hand
column In each article. The news matter of
column of the fourth page, was four columns
OF local news, succeeded by column of ''ads;"
then department containing news from Pc
kip, followed by another containing news fro n
Canton; next an editorial against the use of
opium, and then presentation of the news
from various countries, after " hIch come a l.
vertisements. an advertisement OF a Chinese
doctor occupying the place Of honor.
The press room, composing room, counting
office and editorial and reportorlal rooms Of the
Yah kee, and the arlor, dining room, kitchen,
panty ana n sleeping apartment OF Its propri-
about il - IS. That room was subjected to a
partitioning process by the Monaghan pub
Usher and made into three, two small ones OF
about equal slze one for sleeping, the other
odt ffY,rvo md fhn (ap ntotr iy,rr
the press and ad1unctA AS the writer was
gazing about, peeriDg into zee Jenn's tiny
bed chamber. staring at his press, 30 an
mnsty Chinese exchanges, he was aware tpe
interpreter was being told something quite in
teresttng by the gooG-natured and accomune-
dating zee Jenn. The narrative Wss this Last
markets in this City and happened to see
arge fsb, q sturgeon. which had been just
brought In and was yet alive. The Chtnaraan,
by some inherent wisdom, or perhaps by an In
In the fish. After some dickering he bought
the fish. which weighed 800 pounds, paying
Sl5 therefor, and procuring wagon transport
placed the fish therein, and had it rowed far
out into the bay and put back into the water.
He couldn't bear the thought Of having the
soul OF his mother devoured by San Francisco
barbariaDS.
The manner in which the Wah Kee Is pub
lished cannot fail to be entertaining. The
press consists OF large slab or bed OF yellow
ish- white stone. BY turning wheel frame
sheets Of thick cardboard, Is pressed down
upon the bed. The matter TO go on one side OF
the paper Is printed by hand on Sheet which
Is laid on the stone and borne down upon uni
fOrmly. The sheet Is then lifted up and the
hundreds OF characters forming Its face are
seen to be duplicated upon the stone. At the
frame noted, the wheel Is turned, the frame Is
pressed down against the bed, and In moment
or so lifted by q back turn Of the wheel, and the
sheet Is discovered printed. water-moist-
| another sheet Is subjected to the same process,
AID 30 on until the edition Is worked OF. After
the bed by the application Of chemical, aud
| another supply or characters is substituted.
The process is, in fact, that Of photography.
The Office OF the other Chinese publication, the
| "Chtnese-EDglsh newspaper" (TOn0 Fan San
| Boz SCI washington street, was next visited.
| The paper was found to be about the same size
printed the same way at the same price. and
Wdh Zee. Nun Kee. the proprietor, reporter
water-pipe. .Ho Ia" (Row do you do?) said
Engiish91 Mum Rec responded In very goo goo.
English. He stated that he was about 50 year.
old, had been In this country ID years, ana hat
published his paper. which now had $50 sub
scIioers for almost i've years. He could torn
about I, 900 characters, and 1t required him tw.
days, of ten hours each, to work on complet.
|
in his paper, as in the Oriental, was si2 pc
column. Instead OF tine title being on In
nrst page, Like the other, 1. was on tn
each other. Nun Kee, also, had %
previous experience as Journalist, ana ha
started as a JOB printer. He stated That neltne
The papers had policy, religious or polite i
al that the Chinese were great readers. A
10 the future Of the Chinese on this coast an
| at home, he said that before many years th
race would be on an equality with all other.
and would be welcomed In all lands. A ctvlliz
ing process is at work, he said, which Is boun
TO result In breaking down all race distinction:
and In merging all races into one commo
family. socially and religiously, II not political
~. He foresaw glorious future for th
| Chinese on this coast, the climate and othe
conditions being highly favorable: He verlne
| the statement recently made to the writ-r b
| 8. S. Smith, OF the Pacific, long q resident 1
China that, prior to the treaty OF last year, q
the Chinese In this country. excepting ofI1cia
were escapes, or In the same category as WEI
the slaves that escaped from their masters 1
the south In antebellum times "Ching alb
(good-by). said the writer. ''Good day." plea:
antly responded the intelligent ana Wide-aWak
Nun Kee.
| Kpnfuckv Danora cOntinu0 tn comnlafn NJ