Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-24
4 HAPPY CHINAMAN.

He Comes to this Country Hoping to Sue
cessf,llIu Introduce the Dramas Of the
FTOtcery Kingdom.
When the Chicago express train rumbled
into Broad street depot on recent morn
ing, says the Philadelphia Times, a fat
Chinaman, who had for more than an hour
peered through the gates, became strange
ly agitated. Four Cinnamon ambled out
of the waiting-r room and Joined the excited
individual on the platform. They were
there to receive Loo Chin Coon, the most
famous and popular actor that ever de-
lighted a Chinese audience in San Francis
co. Yum Lee, who has a laundry and Chi
nese grocery store on Girard avenue, head
ed the reception committee. Loo Chin
Coon and Lee are cousins. When Lee and
his friends saw Coon alight from the train
they could hardly be prevented from rush
ing through the gate to welcome him.
Coon is large powerfully built man and
wears spectacles. His dress did not differ
from that of any ordinary laundryman
out for holiday. His face frightened up
and he stepped trifie quicker when he saw
the Mongolian who awaited him at the
gate. He kissed Lee upon the cheek and
received a similar token of affection. In
half minute the other Cinnamon were
iabbering with him as Familiarity as though
they had known him for years. Having
received his illustrious cousin in what he
supposed was proper style, Lee removed
the standing linen collar which encircled
his neck. This done the party went to
Lees store, where Coon slipped the tea, ate
ii 3 h
fellow countrymen during the afternoon
and evening.
The possession of a golden Joss could
not have made Lee happier than Loo Chin
Goon's presence did. Before introducing
Times reporter to the distinguished
Thespian last evening, Lee informed the
visitor that Loo Chin Coon him velly
gleat sing-song man." plays or theatrical
| performances being ''sing- songs" in
pigeon" Coon sat upon an ironing table
gravely putting pipe, and the dozen
| Cinnamon in the room eyed him respect
| fnlly from distance. He has rich, full
voice, and speaks very fair English. In
| fact, his cousin declares that Coon talks
| English better than anyone he, Lee, ever
knew. Lee introduced the reporter as a
'chin-chin man." Coon said he has been
| du dCJOI lOI LW0uIy-S1A years. 1AO ID AAOn
| forty-one years old. Thirteen years of his
professional career were spent as strolling
player in China. He first became popular
at one of the annual theatrical festivals in
Marking, and remained in that city until
he was induced to come to America by an
officer of one of the six great Chinese COM
panies of San Francisco. His salary was
/ $4,000 per annum, and he made his first
| American appearance at the Jackson street
theater. At this point Coon was interrupt
ed by Lee, who served everyone in the
room with cup of tea and a strip of dried
sturgeon. The actor accepted the Offering
| of fish, but declined the tea.
| Coon has a great regard for the drama
of his native country, and his glowing COM
| pliments to some of the zone hundred
| plays of Yuen' made Lee forget himself
and emphatically add: ''Allee time Chinee
county sing song bully" Coon crushed
| his talkative relative with a look. For
three years Coon has received percent
age of the profits of the jackson street
| theater in San Francisco, but lately he has
| conceived the idea of starting a similar
place of amusement in New York, and
with that object in view he came East. He
says the ordinary expenses of the produc-
| ton of Chinese play that will run eight
| hours amount to about 500. This does not
! include the cost of the dresses, which are