The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-24
a PASSPORT FOR HIS BRIDE.
The Chinese Exclusion Act Parts MI.
and Mrs Lee Hong Kwo-g

and Mrs Lee Hong kwo-g
From the Philadelphia Press.
Lee Hong kwong is a bridegroom with
out bride. As his name indicates, he Is
/ Chinaman. He claims Philadelphia as his
home. rs is one Of the wealthiest chinese
merchants in the city, and IS proprietor OF
the extensive Chinese supply store at No.
| 926 Race street. He has been resident OF
this country for fifteen years, and OF this
city for more than half that time.
Last year he returned TO his home IN
| Canton, China, to purchase goods AT thaI
time he was bachelor. few days ago
| he landed at Montreal benedict Ills brlde
/ was with him, but the American authorities
/ gould not allow uer to accompany him 10
this country. Husband and wife protested
| that she was q native born American cltl-
zen. but their protestations we're Of no avail.
! She was detained under the exclusion act
and is still a virtual prisoner IN Montreal
Mr.. Kwong took the first steps toward
regaining his bride yesterday. ln company
with Billy Lee, better known as Texas
Billy" the Chinese cowboy, the merchant
went before Court Clerk Charles White
Yesterday and made an affidavit to the fact
that be had lived in this country for fifteen
years and that his wife was born in San
francisco, where he met her eleven years
ago. Councils Clerks Joseph Paist and
Mort johnson made affidavits TO the effect
that they knew Mr.. Kwong to be an ex-
emplary man, a resident of this city and
man worthy Of belief.
Armed with these documents, Mr.. Kwong
Jumped the o'clock train for New York,
where he expected to meet the Chinese con-
sui and secure papers to the Chinese minis
ter at Washington, and through the latter
a passport for bis bride to this country.
On all these prosaic details hinges pretty
little romance with an oriental flavor. Mr..
Kwong was a man of wide political infiu-
ence In China many years ago, and was a
judge of the empire before coming to this
country. The stories Of liberty and of the
easy acquisition Of great wealth in America
came to him from cOuntfymen who had
gone before, and he concluded to come to
America. He came, and after looking over
the field of business in the west and east,
concluded to locate in Philadelphia. He
secured the building ct 926 Race street and
started Chinese supply store, where he has
prospered to the present day.
While he was in San Francisco fourteen
yea ago he net a pretty little Chinese
maiden named Loo Tuin. He knew her
parents, who we're well-to-do, and advised
them to send her back to China to be edu-
Gated. Loo was then years old. When
she was 8 years old the parents followed
kwongs advice, and the child was sent to
Canton to receive the education of Chinese
lady.
Last year Mr.. Kwong, who had become
an American citizen, returned to Canton for
the purpose of bringing goods tor his Amer
lean house. While there he again met Loo.
She had received her education and was a
blooming. blushing bud. He was 40 years
old. She was 10. He called on her as
friend of the family. he left her lover.
He pressed his suit and was accepted. Loo's
father was dead. but the consent of the
mother was received and they were mar
ried.
Then the husband asked, "where will you
live, in Canton or American Il will go
with you," she said, Take me back to
America" So they sailed away to America,
landed at Montreal, and there were ported
by the United States officials. The bride
groom hurried home to secure a passport
for his bride, and every one thinks he will
have no difficulty in getting 1t.
Mr.. Kwong, or as he is known to Amerl-
cans, Mr.. Quong, arrived in this city on
last Sunday. At the Broad street station
he jumped into a hanson cab, drove to his
store at 926 Race street, where he met with
an ovation. He Is tall. broad-shouldered
Chinaman, with full, round face, benev-
client pair of eyes, and an energetic air.
He dresses in full Chinese costume aud is a
great favorite with his countrymen.