River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-11-06
4 CIRCUS I'M couRr.
Four Chinese Actors Display Their Abilt.
ties Before the Judge.


In San Francisco. Ang. Ia, four Chi
nese actors were before Judge Hoffman.
on writ of habeas corpus, to decide
whether they fall within the terms OF
the law excluding Chinese laborers,
but admitting actors and artists. The
four claimed that they had been EN-
ployed previous to 1881, when they re
turned to China, at the Chinese theatei
ON Jackson steeet, near Dupont. Dur
ing the course of their examination some
doubts were cast upon their respective
abilities as opponents of the Chinese
DRAMA and at the request OF Carroll
Cook each of the four exerted himself
to display his dramatic worth.
Long Kwong was 4 Jumper, and,
rising aud placing his chair on one
side, he stood on one leg, holding the
other out straight and raising both arms
heavenward, with the fingers Of hi,
hands outstretched, he hoped around
to the infinite amusement of all in the
court room. He displayed such agility
that no one disputed his claim, and be
was discharged.
Quong Wa was sweet singer from
the rice and chopstick" district, and
he eomemnced Chinese rendering of
the Babies on Our Block" beginning
10 low fog-horn key and rising sud
denly to shrek that caused the build
ing to shake and his honor to order
him discharge at once and removed
from the. neighborhood for fear he
might be tempted to tackle another ban
of the song.
All Sic was a female impersonator
and went through the performance OF a
forlorn maiden with an imaginary vii.
lain still pursuing her According to
Sizes rendering the forlorn maiden Of
the howery kingdom, when she sees q
villain approaching, holds her arms out
straight and whirls around like a top,
at the same time uttering shrill shrieks
of terror that are supposed TO pierce the
villains heart like arrows. Judge Hoff-
man ordered the versatile Sic discharg-
ed and sent to find the sweet singer,
The remaining actor, when called up
on to show his abilities, astonishe0
every one. First of all he kicked of
his shoes, and then proceeded to clear
the chairs from the center of the court.
room The interpreter winked at Mr.
Cook and explained that the last man was
a clown. Judge Hoffman was beginning
to look aghast at the deliberation witt
which the so-called clown was prepar.
ing for his exhibition. A space of TWEEN
Up feet having been clear, the clown
stood ia the middle of the space, and
glared around with such demoniaC
grin and roll of his eyes that several OF
the attorneys moved uneasily in then
seats. If was only for moment. I'M
mediately after the Chinaman gave a
bound in the air and almost touched the
large chandelier then he rolled over and
over, this way and that, and all that was
visible was black ball with legs and
arms flying around 1t. He was up in
the air, then at this end of the room,
then at the other. The ''Beggars
Dance" which Pan-ku-keevis danced al
Hiawatha's festival was nothing in COM
parison with this display of agility.
Fearful that the zeal of the actor would
lead him too far, and that he would
expire from exhaustion, Judge Hoffman
declared himself satisfied that the
clown was really a peer in his profes.
sion, and other evidence of the clowns
former residence here being addueed
| Judge Hoffman ordered them discharg.
| ed and bail exonerated.