The Arizona champion., 1890-11-22
LAUNDRYMENS' HUMOR.
A Description of Some Fea.
 lures of Mongolian Life.
" SAM SU" AND CHINESE SANDWICHES.
A Chinaman Who Became Slave to
 his Voice.

1.-The first Chinaman ever had dealings with" said the old bachelor, twas little weasened up fellow, not more than five feet high, who had 0 store on Washington street. Next door to him was an Italian shoemaker. Lee, for that was the laundry mans name, was a most taciturn indl- vidual, even for one of his race, but he had a peculiarity He used to sing, not only in his shop, but also, in lower voice. when he was walking along the street. It 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 1 last knew him he was 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 1 had satisfied Hop that 1 had no intention of patroniz- ing his rival across the street, for whom he entertained a profound yet pitying contempt, he told me some of his history. He had been ten years in America, and about six years in Brooklyn. asked 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 decease was good deal of Q joke. He went to Sunday school regu- larly, and this accounted for his prof. ciency in the English language. He went to Mott street quite frequently, too, as he informed me, and in his way l think was a rounder Happening one afternoon to notice a God Bless Our Home motto of the regulation pattern fastened to the wall alongside of a Chinese almanac, asked him if he was a Christian. He shook his head very emphatically, and then laughed so that thought he would fall off his high stool. When 1 said that it seemed queer to find Christian motto in a heathen place of business, he winked at me with great deliberation and re- marked, jerking his thumb in the direc- tion of the card, Catch trade; everything goes' Certainly there were no flies on Hop, and his knowledge of current slang was both profound and aptly applied. By and by he got more notices. and in short time the shop inside looked like a mission school.
 "One very cold afternoon last winter 1,, oh ho1f xr-ha hn aI 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 he looked affectionately upon a glass of hot whisky and water which I had just brewed for myself, l asked him if he would have one. Hop didn't mind if he did, and by the manner in which he got away with the steaming beverage I was led to believe that it was not by any means his first attempt. After this 1 got into the way of offering him horn when ever he happened to find me in, and l can't recollect that he ever refused. One of his weekly visits was made the day be- fore last Christmas. l was feeling at peace with the world myself, and when Hop had got away with his customary re- fresher l suggested that another would not hurt him. He agreed with me, re- marking quite 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.
 Not to be outdone in generosity he of fered me cigar, which he took out of his hat, and which delined, having already had experience of likewise cigars. l think Hop must have struck hospitality in other quarters before reaching me, for after the second glass of whisky he took a chair by the fire and put his heels up on the mantelpiece. He was remarkably good humored and growing confidential. Said he was about tired of work, and thought that he would soon go back to China, where he would marry and settle down to life of ease. At the reference to mar riage he stuck his thumb among my ribs and chuckled after the fashion of Asiatics When he arose 10 go l saw plainly that in addition to his large bag of clothes ha would have to carry home with him a very well developed jag. He waved his hat at me 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 a catapult. He was not hurt, at least he did not appear to be, for, picking himself and his bag up, he let himself out, and from the window next saw him tacking rather unsteadily down the street in the direction of his home. He made no reference to his mishap when he called again, nor did l say anything but Hop got no more whisky.
 "Early ill the new year he called one morning before l 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 feast day among his people and he wished me to have a share of the good things going Finding the Sam Su too rich for my stomach. placed it on top of a con venient ash barrel in the street. If any one drank it, l pity him sincerely. The sandwiches were quite a novelty and taken before breakfast found them to be quite appetizing 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 night of it. Last May Hop sailed for Hong Kong, taking with him in the inside pocket of his silk blouse ] $2,0OO in American gold. He called to wish me good-by, and expressed his hope that if he should ever return to Brooklyn, which, however, was not likely, l would again favor him with my custom. - "C. R. c. in Brooklyn Eagle.
 The London and Northwestern rail
 way has decided, ''in deference to tn,
 prejudices of its American customers ,