The Portland daily press., 1884-09-26
PRICE THREE CENTS.
Chinese Actors in Court.


Among the Chinese habeas-corpus cases
that came up for hearing before Judge Hoff-
man yesterday were those of four Chinese
actors, Hi Sic, Long Kwong, Quong Wa
and Lee Tong. The four claimed that they
had been employed previous to 1881, when
they returned to China, at he Chinese
theater on Jackson street, near Dupont.
During the course Of their examination some
doubts were cast upon their respective abill-
ties 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 Jumper" and
rising and placing his chair to one side he
stood on one leg, holding the other out
straight, and raising both arms heavenwsrd
with the fingers of his hands outstIetched,
he hoped around to the infinite amusement
of all 10 the courtroom. He displayed such
agility that no one disputed his claiu and
he was discharged. Quong Wa was sweet
singer from the ''rice and chOpsticksv dis
tricE, and he commenced a Chinese render
ing of the Babies on Our Block" beginning
in low, fog-horn key and rising suddenly
to shrek that caused the building to sha Ike
and his honor to order him discharged at
once and removed from the neighborhood,
for fear he might be tempted to tackle
another bar of the song. All Sic was a
female impersonator, and went through the
performance of forlorn maiden with an
imaginary villain still pursuing her. Ac-
eording 10 Sizes rendering, the forlorn maiden
OF the 1owery kingdom, when she sees q
villain approaching, holds her arms out
straight aud whirls around like top at the
same time utteriDg shrieks of terror that are
supposed to pierce the Villains heart like
arrows. Judge Hoffman ordered the versa
tile Sic discharged 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 in
terpreter winked at Mr.. Cook and explained
that the last man was clown. Judge Hoff-
man was beginning to look aghast at the de-
liberation with which the socalled clown was
preparing for his exhibition. A space OFF,
feet having been cleared, the clown stood In
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 their seats. 1t was only for a
moment Immediately after the Chinaman
gave 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 it. he was up in the air, then
at this end of the room, then at the other.
The "Beggar's Dance" which Kin ku-keevis
danced at Hiawatha's festival was nothing
in comparison with this display of agility.
Fearful that the zeal of the actor would lead
him too far, and that he would expire from
exertion, Judge Hoffman declared himself
satisfied that the clown was really peer in
his profession, aud other evidence of the
clowns former residence here being ad-
Quoted, Judge Hoffman ordered him dis
charged and bail exonerated.