Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-12-06
LAUNDRYMEN'S HUMOR.
A BACHELOR DESCRIBES SOME FEA-
TURES OF MONGOLlAN LIFE.
A Chinaman Who Became a Slave to His
Voice-Hop Wah as a Joker-Fond of q
Social Glass-Told in Confidence-"Sam
Su" and Chinese Sandwiches.

Voice-Hop Wah as a Joker-Fond of
Social Glass-Told in Confidence-"San
Su" and Chinese Sandwiches.
"The first Chinaman ever had dealings
with" said the old bachelor, was a little
weasened up fellow, not more than five
feet high, who had a store on Washington
street. Next door to him was an Italian
shoemaker. Lee, for that was the laundry
mans name, was a most taciturn indi
vldual, even for one of his race, but be
had popularity. He used to sing, not
only in his shop, but also, in lower voice
when he was walking along the street.
1t was when he was hard at work upon
the bosom Of some refractory shirt that
he could be heard at his best, or, as some
might put it, at his worst. Lees voice
was not pleasing one, even when exer-
clsed on the lower notes only. but when
he had got warmed up and essayed to
reach the higher key it was positively
heartrending. How his subordinates, of
| whom he had two, stood it, is beyond
human comprehension. Lees voice grew
upon him, and when l last knew him he
was perfect slave to it.
MY next laundryman was a character
He was about 30 years old, fairly good
looking judged by the American stand
ard, and spoke English quite fuently.
He answered to the name of Hop Wah,
but l always called him Hop for short.
SOMETHING OF A JOKER
BY degrees, and when | had satisfied
Hop that | had no intention of patroniz-
ing his rival across the street, for whom
he entertained a profound yet plying
contempt, he told me some of his history.
He had been ten years in America, and
about six years in Brooklyn. asked him
one day if his parents were alive He re-
piled that he believed his mother was,
and added, old man dead long time
Then he laughed quite merrily, as if the
elder Hops decease was good deal of
joke. He went to Sunday school regu-
hrly, and this accounted for his prof
cheney in the English language. He went
to Mott street quite frequently, too. as he
Informed me, and in his way think was
rounder Happening one afternoon to
notice God Bless Our Home motto of
the regulation pattern fastened to the
wall alongside Of Chinese almanac, l
asked him if he was a Christian He
shook his head very emphatically, and
then laughed SO that l thought he would
fall off his high stool. When l said that
it seemed queer to find a Christian motto
In a heather place Of business, he winked
at me with great deliberation and re-
marked, jerking his thumb in the direc-
tlon OF the card, Catch trade; everything
goes Certainly there were no flies on
Hop, and his knowledge of current slang
was both profound and aptly applied By
and by he got more notices. and in a
short time the shop inside looked like a
mission school.
Zone very cold afternoon last winter
he was about half frozen when he called
at my room with the weeks washing. As
he laid down the bundle he made some
remark about the temperature which
sounded vastly like an expression used by
unregenerate Christians and proceeded to
rub his hands vigorously. Noticing that
he looked affectionately upon o glass Of
hot whisky and water which l had Just
brewed for myself, l asked him if he
would have one. Hop didn't mind if he
did, and by the manner In which he got
away with the steaming beverage l was
led to believe that it was not by any
means his first attempt. After this got
into the way of offering him horn when
ever lie happened to find me in, and l
can't recollect that he ever refused. One
of his weekly visits was made the day be-
fore last Christmas. l was feeling at
peace with the world myself, and when
Hop had got away with his customary re-
fresher l suggested that another would
not hurt him. He agreed with me, re-
quite airily that he would have
to go me, and helped himself to his
second drink, an even larger one than the
first, and that was no tablespoonful.
GROWING CONFIDENTIAL.
''Not to be outdone in generosity he Of |
fered me cigar, which he took out of his |
nat, and which l defined, having already |
had experience of likewise cigars. think |
Hop must have struck hospitality in other
quarters before reaching me, for after the |
second glass of whisky he took chair
~ the fire and put his heels up on the
nantelpiece. He was remarkably good
lumored and growing confidential Said
le was about tired of work, and thought
hat he would soon 60 back to China,
where Lc would marry and settle down to
life CT ease. At the reference to mar
iage he stuck his thumb among my ribs
nd chuckled otter the fashion of Asiatics.
When he arose to go saw plainly that in
ddition to his large bag of clothes ne
7ould have to carry home with him very
7ell developed jag. He waved his hat at
le as he left the room, and heard him
rying to whistle as he went down the
rst fight of stairs. At the head of the
econd flight he lost his balance and fell
striking the street door as if he
ad been shot out of catapult. He was
OF hurt, at least he did not appear to be,
,r, picking himself and his bag up, he let
imself out, and from the window next
.w him taclling rather unsteadily down
le street in the direction of his home.
g made no reference to his mishap when
. called again, nor did say anything,
ut Hop got no more whisky.
early in the new year he called one
orning before | was up, carrying with
inn a bottle of rice brandy, Sam Su, as
is called in China, and some Chinese
ndwiches. He said it was some kind of
feast day among his people and he wished
g to have a share of the good things
ling. Finding the Sam Sa too rich for
y stomach, placed it on top OF con-
,nient ash barrel in the street. II any
le drank it, l pity him sincerely; Inc ,
ndwiches were quite novelty and taken
fore breakfast found them to be quite
'petizing. Instead of bread sllces OF
mon were used, and in place OF meat or
eese green ginger, slightly sprlnkleo |
th salt. These sandwiches, Hop sub
quently informed me, were in great de-
and in his own country by gentlemen /
40 had made night of it. Last May
ID sailed for Hong Kong, taking with
% in the inside pocket of his silk blouse
900 in American gold. He called to /
sh me good-by, and expressed his hope
at if he should ever return to brooRlyn, {
licb. however, was not likely. would .
ain favor him with my custom.
!. r. c." in Brooklyn Eagle.