Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-05-11
A CHINESE BRIDE.
une Who Was Born. Reared and
Wed on American Soil.

Wed on American Soil.
Two square chests, neatly covered
with bright new canvas which was
fastened at regular intervals with lutte
brass, oblong buttons, were noticed
week ago, one on the other, all stamp
ed and sealed ready for shipment to
San Francisco, in the Office Of the
Northern Pacific Express company
away up here in Seattle, w. T., writes
a correspondent Of the st. Louis Globe
Democrat.
"Those trunks belong TO Gee Heels
laughter" volunteered the obliging
agent, land she is going down 10 San
Francisco to be married."
! Indeed! And who and where is
Gee HeeP"
20, he is a wealthy merchant. You
can find him over on Third street, in
/ Chinatown"
After the lapse of few days, when
! Gee Hee had about time to hear of his
| daughters safe arrival in San Fran
cisco, called upon him and enjoyed
very pleasant talk, which was ended
with the courtesy that the Chinaman,
especially the wealthy Chinaman,
never forgets-the presentation of fine
cigar. This merchant from China has
been in Seattle for more than twenty
years. His firm, Wa Chong & Co.,
built the first. or, at least the second,
brick structure in the city. He talks
very fair English and is. a shrew5
fnancier He talked without reserve
about his family relations, and always
Inn oh
ter with happy and bcaming face.
Little Fong Sen was born here in
Seattle in 1871, and when she was a
little over ono year of age her parents
went back to China. The mother was
going to join wife mo. l." because
when Gee Hee returned he brought
wife mo. 81 with him. and she still
presides over his home in this city.
The other two wives still live in
China, with two or more children each,
all of whom are being carefully pro-
vided for by the husband and father,
who tries to visit them al least once in
eve two years
1 Baby Fong Sem did not go to China
with her PARENTS. She was taken as
lar as Victoria, B. c., and there she
was placed in the keeping of trusted
| friends, who continued to care for her
for ten years. Then the father, on re-
4 burning from some OF his voyages to his
old home, called for her ana brought
her to his home. He brought with her
little servant girl who was only two
years older, and the two little China
girls became inseparable.
The daughter was now eleven years
Of age. and had come to that period in
her life when, in the belief of her peo-
pie every virtuous girl must shut her.
self away from the gaze of all human
beings except those OF the immediate
household. So for five years she did
not leave the few rooms over the mer-
chants store which constituted her
lather's home. Pale and delicate Fong
Sen grew, and was contented with her
life. She knew no other. But one
morning there came a sudden change.
Her little servant companion announced
that she was going to be married to the
merchants trusted agent, but she would
not leave Fong Sen: she would stay
right along as though nothing had hap
pened, only she was TO be married.
Fong Sen went to her father and told
him she wanted to be married, too.
Her father, nothing loath, consented,
and Immediately began seeking a hus-
band for her. He soon found one who
met his approval, and the daughter was
informed that her husband was found,
and preparations for the great occasion
began without delay. Costly garments,
made of the best of silk, were carefully
and richly embroidered; valuable pres
snts of gold and precious stones were
selected, and it seemed that the idea of
expense did not enter. the fathers
mind.
The only white persons allowed into
the presence OF Fong Sen during the
1--we years of her maindenhood were
two missionary ladies Mrs. Thomas
and Mrs. Parkhurst. These ladies had
spent much time and patience in teach
ing Gee Hee and other Cinnamon the
mysteries of the English nouns and
adjectives and he did not forget. When
ali was arranged for his daughters de-
parture he procured a closed carriage
and drove with his daughter out to the
homes of these ladies that she might
pay them the courtesy of a farewell
visit. The father then managed i'll
some way TO smuggle his daughter into
her state-room on the steamer Nc
one is known to have caught a glimpse
Of her.
Fong Sens husband is Jee Chong
Tun. He is wealthy, and talks and
writes very good English. He is an
agent OF the Ding Yung Company, one
Of those influential. famous and ex-
lremely wealthy concerns grouped I'M
der the name of THE Six Companies. ;
Fong Sen, while he was reared in
about the same way that all good and
virtuous Chinese girls are reared, was
fortunate in two things. She was no
born in China, and she had an elder
sister. These prevented her from be
ing maimcd by having her feet wrapped
tightly in fine cloth while in infancy
and kept so confined in order that sh,
might be the fashionable daughter o
{ rich parents. and all the world woulC
, know it by her small feet.
, Gee Hee's eldest daughter is in Chin;
{ with one of his wives. She is eighteen
, years OF age, and has waited two year
for her father TO come home TO her 81
! that she could be married. Mex
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