The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-27
All SIN IN COURT.
A Habeas Corpus Case That Brought
Out Celestial Talent.
Some Specimens of Opera, Dramatic
Art, Athletics and Humor-
His Honor More Than
Satisfied.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 27-Among the
Chinese habeas corpus cases that came up
for hearing before Judge Hoffman the other
day were those of four Chinese actors All
Sic, Long Kwong, Quong Wa and Lee Tong.
The four claimed that they had been en-
ployed previous TO 1881, when they returned
to China, at the Chinese theatre on jackson
street, near Dupont. During 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 him
self tc display his dramatic worth. Long
Kwong was a Jumper" and rising and
placing his chair TO one sida he stood on one
leg, holding the other out straight and rails
ing both arms heavenward, with the fin
gers OF his hands outstretChed he hoped
around to the infinite amusement of all
i'll the courtroom. He displayed such
agility thatno one disputed his claim and he
was discharged Quong Wa was sweet
singer from the "rice and chopStick district,
and he commenced Chinese rendering of
Babies on Our Block" beginning in a low
fog horn key and rising suddenly to shrek
that caused the building to shake and his
removed from the neighborhood for fear he
might be tempted to tackle another bar Of
the song. All Sic was female impersonator,
and went through the performance
of a forlorn maiden with an imaginary vii
lain still pursuing her According to Sizes
rendering the forlo1n maiden of the Flowery
Kingdom, when she sees a villain approach
ing, 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
Hoffman ordered the versatile Sic dis
charged and sent to find the sweet singer.
The remaining actor, when called upon
to show his abilities, astonished every
one. First of all he kicked off his shoes, and
then proceeded to clear the chairs from the
center of the courtroom The interpreter
winked at Mr.. Cook and explained that the
last man was a clown. Judge Hoffman was
beginning to look aghast at the delberatior
| with which the so-called clown was prepar
| ing for his exhibition. A space of twenty
| feet having been cleared, the clown stood il
| the middle of the space and glareC
around with such a demoniac griI
and roll of his eyes that several of the at
| torneys moved uneasily in their seats. L
was only for a moment. Immediately after
the Chinaman gave bound in the air anC
almost touched the large chandelier; then h,
rolled over and over this way and that AMI
all that was visiable was black ball Will
legs and arms flying around it. He wa
| up in the air, then at this end o
room, then at the other. TIL
| "Beggars Dance" which Pan-ku-keevi
danced at Hiawatha's festival was nothing il
comparison to this display of agility, Fear
ing that the zeal of the actor would lead hin
too far, and that he would expire from eX
haustion, Judge Hoffman declared himsel
satisfied that the clown was really peer i
his profession, and, other evidence of tn
| clowns former residence here being adduced
Judge Hoffman ordered him discharged an
| hail eyOneratad