The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-02-09
PIGEON ENGLISH.
Wong Lee, an Intelligent Denver Celestial,
Spins Yarns to g Reporter.

Wong Lee is quite an intelligent
Chinaman, but not without some su-
perstitions of his race. He speaks En-
glish indifferently, but manages to
make himself understood. He can
also read English so as to understand
it passably well, and what he can't
understand he gets some friend to in
terpret for him. Wong was much in
terested in the trial of the Anarchists,
and was enthusiastically wild the day
Of their execution. In conversation
with NeaOs reporter the other day,
Wong said:
'Velly glad to see 'em swing Nell
can Highlander, Chicago"
DO you mean the Anarchists"
''Yes; allie same bad like Chinaman
Highbinder."
do the Highbinders use bombsP"
"Long time ago, not now, Chinaman
make bombs long befo' Mclean man
make bombs. You know itP So one
time long ago Flenchman come to
China. Chinaman tell Flenchman go
back. Flenchman not go back. China
man lite Flenchman letter say you no
go back Chinaman kill. Not cut him
off head but blow up. Flenchman
laugh, say Chinaman not fight, China
man woman. Flenchman go out on
plain-6,00 Chinaman get him heap
bamboo stick big as leg. Fill him
with blow-up and bullicks. Stick him
in fuse, and belly him in ground.
Next day Chinaman say we now ready
TO fight. Come on. Flenchman come
on. Get him light on ground between
Chinaman and Flenchman had been
night befo'. Big Chinaman captain
tell him go back. but he not go back
Bang! Boom! When wind blow him
smoke away, no mo- Flenchman, allie
gone"
When Wong told this story he was
as excited and wrought up as any
amateur elocutionist. As he seemed
to be in humor- for telling stories he
was allowed to go on.
he said. 'Chinaman might whip
Flenchman if he go to Fiance, but
Chinaman don't want to go to Flance.
Chinaman hab his hoss ont on plain.
Chinaman hab his hoss tlained to
come and feed him when he ling
and hOss got nothing else. but come
4dSb " uoA Ou q Dc1I. SulIdudn
let 600 hoss out on plain. Build him
big stable hold all hoss. Make him
wide, do just so hoss lun in, den hang
big knives ova' do. Flenchman take
all 600 hoss and put big captains on
him. Chinaman get on top stable and
ling bell. Flenchman can't hold him,
lun SO fast to the stable to get him
meal. Hoss he go in stable. Big
In off -
he fall, one on dis side, one on dat
side. All Flenchmans dead. Big cap
tains. Den Chinaman let lest Flench-
man go home. No want to kill him
all. Kill big captains.
You know how Chinaman tell when
partner cheat?" asked Wong. changing
the subject.
No, do not"
''Chinaman go in with partner,
maybe cousin. At end OBJ year both
must go to joss house and tell joss all
about him. If Chinaman lie, big snake
come down fom tlee in joss house and
bite him and Chinaman die. Some
time both Chinaman die Both cheat.
Some time Chinaman tink his partner
cheat and he say to partner get in boat
and go acloss libber. If Chinaman
cheat when he get in middle of ibber,
big ting, fo' legs, bite him mouth"
Wong here had to go into panto-
mime to describe what he meant.
Turtle" suggested the reporter.
Eyes, dats him." answered Wong.
He snap Chinaman and Chinaman
die"
"How is it when you cheat white
manP"
| No sin cheat Mclean man. Must
not tell Mclean man what anything
cost, can't. sell him. No snake bite.
no ting snap. But you come down
my cousin Jim's house some time he
tell you mo- stolies dan 1 can. Jim
speak and lite good Mclean"
Wong explained before taking his
departure, however, a curious custom
among the Chinese. He said that
when one contracted debt and did
not pay it his children and children's
children to the fourth generation were
responsible for it. He said that some
times hard-hearted creditor would
exact his pound of flesh. and he had
heard of the last of debt Of 800 be.
ing paid 100 years after it was con
tracted. -Denper Net0s.