The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-22
CHINESE LAUNDRYMEN.
WONG CHIN FOO TELLS OF TIE
BUSINESS IN NEW YORK.
The Almond Eyed Journals; shows How
Ills Couutry,nen Arc Set Up Financially.
Tho Mysteries OF the Whey or Syndi-
cate-Thc Laundrymcn's Law.

The Mysteries OF the Whey or Syndi-
cate-Thc Laundrymcn's Law.
The question has frequently been asked
by Americans, do these Cinnamon wash
clothes in China? How is it that nearly
all who come here enter the laundry bust
ness Do they love it?" No, they do not
love Il any more than any other kind of
labor Thcy did not even know What Che
Mclean mans" shirt Looked like. much
less how to dress one before they came
20 America Laundry work in CHM is
invariably done by women, and when a
man steps into womans occupation he
loses hi, social standing.
They become laundrymen here simply
because there is no other occupation by
which they can make money rs surely
and quickly. The prejudice against the
race has much TO 10 with it. They are
fine cooks. neat aud faithful servants.
and above all, very skillful mechanics at
any trade they have a mind TO try. In
the western states. where their value IS
better understood. they are used in as
many different positions as any other
FOREIGNER and the laundry business Is
occupied only by those who fail to find
other employment.
40 JIDER ALTLPSA-irL.
Bin here in New YORK as -, there is
no other alternative MANY nm able
minded mm as well as 5killful mechanic
who c.ms "a America 10 better bis ConCi-
ton may be found welding the polishing
from III New York Chinese landry
Il to'.oo f,om seventy-iive dollars 10 two
hr.lroA dollars SD Start one OF these
Chinese wash houses. and the way most
o. these lauDIr..- aye started would give
valuable tips even % an American Wall
street deacon Tho main expenditure in
q Chinese laundry Is q stove and a trough
for washing AMI partitions for dry room
and shopping apartment. and ign
A. g yU'e il requires 500 ID open a
laundry d. New York But this amount
is fortune 70 % newly arrived China
maa. aai unless ne starts Immediately
i.to ftc laundry business. IT, world b.
c1.c. D-r.cl e. s)m0 I'll 3D., iri.-d,.
TIE Chinese Immigrant, unlike his Euro
poau campatriots. never comes here unless
be is safely surrounded by friends or
relativcs upon Lis arrival These imme-
Jiatciy initiate him into the mysteries Of
the laundry business. In some friendly
laundry the newcomer is placed under .
SIX months apprenticeship. beginning 1T
tLo wash tub until he reaches the ironing
table and las.ly the polishing board.
These apprentices begin with - per week
and board, and a gradual addition Of 81
per week after the first months. untilthcy
are able 70 take charge u laundry them
selves Then if he has money hc hires
place and hangs out his sign. ii not. mo
goes 20 enc or two friends, and they viii
call whey or syndicate Tor lis ba.o1t
ia tae following manner
>.TsrII.l- o. 1ifh VIZ"
Suppose L3ye a.. established i-Iatcy.
AL Ian. % borrow 500 d. q Ger. fl PER
ceut"m premium lut I cannot .aI amy
on ,liHamaA vino is able ,p loan he tL'
amount put rp notice in NOT
street tilt upon such and such % -.r
visa 80 make % "Whcv" %. twenty laa.
who I'll are supposed TO b. situated like
myself cch wanting ID borrow @-)j'
When Uc tacnty borrowers all Cons Co.
gcther Uc each put LoUl $40. Thoneach
one acra'lv writes upon slip ~ paper
the amo.at OF interest BE is willing 90
give o. ct the 500. These slips arc
carefully sealed and thrown into % bowl.
At given time thcy arc opened, and 20
the highest bidder goes thu $780, i'si thc
Interest. which +, invariably deilcted
irumcJ - from the principal.
Frequently as high as 81 o.lerad for
tLr u.a eft $40 for O. siu.la month. IN
such ca@cj each .! .Ae ninetccL oh. ! OQI-
r39.ars gives to the lucky 0Ae only So
apiece for the so apiece which they
make him pay next month. Then the
nest highest bidder gets the $500, less
the interest he offered, and 50 on, unIl
the entire twenty. at twenty different
times. have obtained the use Of this 500;
but the one that comes the last, having
offered the least interest Of them all,
rcaps the harvest OF the whey" THIS
method is adopted by most Chinese laun-
drymcn ia New York and other large
cities to open new laundrics. 1t partakes
of the gaming flavor which IS captivating
to every true Celestial.
No Cmncman can transfer his place OF
business into the hands Of another with
out a. least thirty days notice in China
town. ON Mott street, and the buyer is
not :o~rirol 70 pay In ,-cr' t'..l l.1G
Of tAo purchase money until the ieg2l
thirty days are past. This is 80 iluu
drymcn', law, made four years ago in
this city. t. prevent a lcundryman from
from his creditors. Upon the
Of the thirty days creditor,
and debtors must meet al the trclsfcr-,l
laundry, and when all Of the old debts
are liquidGtcd a clear title Of the laundry
is given to the new owner.-Wong ChiG
Foo IN The Cosmopolitan.