Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-14
LAUNDRYMEN'S HUMOR.
A BACHELOR DESCRIBES SOME FEA-
TUREs OF MONGOLIAN LIFE.

A BACHELOR DESCRIBES SOME FEA-
TuREs OF MoNGoLIAN LIFE.
A Chinaman Who Became Q Slave to His
yoice-Hop Wah as Joker-Fond Of =
Social Glass-Told in Confidence-"Sam
su" and Chinese Sandwiches.
1.-THE first Chinaman I ever had dealings
with" said the old bachelor, was little
weasened up fellow, not more than five
feet high, who had 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-
vidual, even for one of his race, but he
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-
cised 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 | last knew him he
was q perfect slave to It.
"My next laundryman WAS 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 always called him Hop for short.
SOMETHING OF A JOKER.
"By degrees, and when I had satisfied
Hop that had no intention Of patroniz-
ing his rival across the street, for whom
he entertained profound yet plying
contempt. he told me- some Of his history.
He had been ten years In America, and
about six years In Brooklyn 1asked 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 deoease was good deal of q
joke. He went to Sunday school regu-
larly, and this accounted for bis prof.
cheney in the English language. he went
to Mott street quite frequently. too. as he
informed me, and in his way think was
a rounder. Happening one afternoon to
notice God Bless Our Home motto Of
the regulation pattern fastened to the
wall alongside of Chinese almanac, I
asked him II he was Christian. He
shook his head very emphatically, and
then laughed 80 that thought he would
fall off his high stool. When l said that
it seemed queer to find Christian motto
in heather place of business, he winked
at me with great elaboration and re-
marked, jerking his thumb in the direc-
ton of the card, Catch trade; everything
goes Certainly there were no flies or
Hop, and his knowledge Of current slang
was both profound and aptly applied. By
and by be got moro notices. and in q
short time the shop inside looked like q
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
hot whisky and water which had just
would have one. Hop didn't mind If he
tIlu Uy buo luAllilcI III WulCl 40 kOU
away with tho steaming beverage l was
led to believe that it was not by any
means his first attempt. After this got
ever he happened to find me in, and /
of his weekly visits was made the day be-
fore last Christmas. l was feeling at
peace with the world myself, and when
prn bod NTH hi,
fresher I suggested that another would
net hurt him He agreed with me. re-
marking quito 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
mot to be outdone in generosity he Of
fered me cigar, which be took out of his
hat. 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
by the fire and put his heels up on the
mantelpiece. lie was remarkably good
humored and growing confidential. Said
he was about tired of work. and thought
that be would soon 60 back to China,
where he would marry and settle down to
life of ease. At the reference to mar
riage he stuck dis thumb among my ribs
and chuckled after the fashion Of Asiatics.
When he arose to 60 saw plainly that in
addition to his large bag of clothes he
would have to carry homo with him very
well developed jag. He waved his hat at
mo as he left the room, and heard him
trying to whistle as he went down the
first flight of stairs. At the head Of the
second flight he lost his balance and fell
headlong, striking the street door as if he
had been shot out of catapult. He was
not hurt, at least he did not appear to be,
for, picking himself and his bsg up, he let
himself out, and from the window next
saw him lacking rather unsteadily down
tho street In the direction OF his home
He made no reference to his mishap when
he called again, nor did say anything.
but Hop got no moro whisky.
early In the new year he called one
morning before was up, carrying with
him bottle Of rice brandy, Sam Su,' as
it is called in China, and some Chinese
sandwiches. He said it was some kind Of
a feast day among his people and he wished
me to have share Of the good things
going Finding the Sam Su too rich for
my stomach, placed 1t on top Of con-
venient ash barrel in the street. If any
one drank it, pity him sincerely. The
sandwiches were quite novelty and taken
before breakfast found them to be quite
appetizins. Instead of bread slices Of
lemon were used, and in place of meat or
cheese green ginger, slightly sprinkled
with salt. These sandwiches. Hop sub
sequently informed me, were in great de-
mand in his own country by gentlemen
who had made a night of it. Last May