Smyrna times., 1888-11-07

The Almond Eyed Journalist Shows How
His COuntrymen Are Set Up Financially.
The Mysteries of the ''Whey'' or syndi-
cate-The Laundrymen'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 busi-
ness2 Do they love it?" No, they do not
love it any more than any other kind Of
labor. They did not even know what the
''Melican mans" shirt looked like. much
less how to dress one, before they came
to America Laundry work in China is
invariably done by women, and when
man steps into a woman's occupation he
loses his social standing.
They become laundrymen here simply
because there is no other occupation by
which they can make money as surely
and quickly. The prejudice against the
race has much to do with it. They are
fine cooks, neat and faithful servants.
and above all, very slzillful mechanics at
any trade they have O mind to try. In
the western states, where their value is
better understood, they are used in as
many different positions as any other
foreigners, and the laundry business is
occupied only by those who fail to find
other employment.
NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE.
But here in New York as yet there is
no other alternative. Many an able
minded man as well as slkillful mechanic
who came to America to better his condi-
tiOn may be found welding the polishing
irons in q New York Chinese laundry.
1t takes from seventy-five dollars to two
hundred dollars to start one of these
Chinese wash houses, and the way most
OF these Iaundries are started would give
valuable tips even to an American Wall
street deacon. The main expenditure in
q Chinese laundry is a stove and O trough
Tor washing, and partitions for dry room
and sleeping apartment, and sign.
AS rule it requires 800 to open q
laundry in New York. But this amount
is fortune to a newly arrived China
man, and unless he starts Immediately
into the laundry business, he would be-
come burden to some of his friends.
The Chinese immigrant, unlike his Euro
pean compatriots, never comes here unless
he Is safely surrounded by friends or
relatives upon his arrival. These imme-
dlately initiate him into the mysteries of
the laundry business. In some friendly
laundry the newcomer is placed under a
SIX months apprenticeship, beginning at
the wash tub, until he reaches the ironing |
table, and lastly the polishing board. |
These apprentices begin with SO per week !
and board, and gradual addition of 81 |
per week after the first months, until they |
are able to take charge of laundry them |
selves. Then if he has money he hires a |
place and hangs out his sign. If not, he |
goes to one or two friends, and they will /
call whey" or syndicate for his benefit
In the following manner.
MYSTERIES OF THE ''WHEY."
Suppose have an established laundry,
and want to borrow 5000 at a certain per
centum premium, but cannot find any
one Chinaman who is able to loan me the
amount. l put up a notice in Mott
street that upon such and such a dav I
wish to make ''whey" of twenty men,
who all are supposed to be situated like
myself, each wanting to borrow 5000.
When we twenty borrowers all come to-
gether we each put down $40. Then each
one secretly writes upon q slip of paper
the amount of interest he is willing to
give to get the 5000. These slips are
carefully sealed and thrown into q bowl.
at given time they are opened, and to
the highest bidder goes the $500, less the
interest, which is invariably deducted
from the principal.
frequently as high as $4 is offered for
5he use OF $40 for single month. In
such cases each of the nineteen other Dor
rowers gives to the lucky one only sc
apiece for the $40 apiece which thev
make him pay next month. Then the
next highest bidder gets the 5000, less
The interest he offered, and so on. until
the entire twenty, at twenty different
lines, have obtained the use of this 5000:
but the one that comes the last, having
offered the least interest of them ALI
'eaps the harvest OF the "whey." This
method is adopted by most Chinese Iaun-
lrymen in New York and other large
titles to open new laundries. It partakes
u the gaming flavor which is captivating
10 every true Celestial.
NO Chinaman can transfer his place of
business into the hands of another with
'ut at least thirty days notice in "China-
own" on Mott street, and the buyer is
lot required to pay him more than half
y the purchase money until the LEGAL
.hlrty days are past. This is the laIn-
ryn-- As law, made four years ago in
his city, to prevent a laundryman from
'bseonding from his creditors. Upon the
completion of the thirty davs creditors
md debtors must meet at the transferred
aundry, and when all Of the old debts
re iquidated a clear title CT the laundry
s given to the new owner.-Wong Chin
FOO in The Cosmopolitan.