St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-09-12
LING TING.
A Ill1sefstiea q the Progresslvsoeo0 -
John Chlnamaa.

LING TING.
A ln1sefstisa Of the Progressavsaess -
John Chinamaa.
He was my first acquaintance among
the Chinese in Denver. One morning in
autumn he presented himself at my
door looking. as Miss Moloney says,
for all the world - II he had Just
stepped OF tay box, his brown face
shining above his loose, brown gar
ments, o ''pig-tail'' of unusual length
dangling down his back. and . pole.
from which hung two baskets, extend
ed across his shoulders In very broken
English he gave me to understand that
his calling was that of washernan,
and he solicited my patronage, nami.g
terms so moderate that was fain to
close at once with his offer.
The linen that he returned to me q
few days later was laundricd in the
most approved style, and became a
convert on the spot to the employment
Of Chinese cheap labor.
On that occasion essayed to hold q
little conversation with him. Wishing
to know whether. for the purposes of his
work. he used aqueduct water or OBJ
tanned his supply from well (which is
apt, in this region, to be imprrgnated
with alkali), l asked: no you use soft
water or hard?"
The question was evidently b tax up
on his understanding, but selecting the
word which he probably thought had
the widest application in the land OF
pilgrimage, he responded with shake
OF the head. ..HurJi! Hurtir' His next
venture, however, was not rs success
full
"What do you do to break the water?"
lqueried.
The familiar western expression was
evidently new to him. He gazed at me
for q moment with perfectly blank
face, then, rallying his faculties for
supreme effort, faltered. Hit it with
rock or something"
Obviously he felt that his answer had
covered all possible difficulties of break
age. and with n smile of the utmost
complacence he bowed himself away
from my door.
For some months Ling Ting was my
faithful and devoted washcrman. At
Christmas he presented me with a Chi.
nese lily bulb, which sprouted luxurs
antly in . vase of water and lowered
with a profusion of delicate, white
blossoms
Perhaps he foresaw that the gift wound
have an effect to moderate my resent
ment when, a few weeks later, in the
height of its blooming, he lapsed from
his usual diligence and suffered my
clothes to remain unwashcd during the
prolonged celebration of the Chinese
new year.
But Ling Ting was too progressive
spirit to long remain satisfied with the
simple gains of his calling. One morn
ing he presented himself at an unusual
hour. and informed me that he had sold
his business to a comrade. one Lu Wah,
whom he hoped would patronize in
his stead. He did not state the consid-
Grafton for which the sale was made.
hut some 1 ght was thrown upon his mo-
tive by q suggestion he saw 1T to give
me, which he was able to make with toll
cradle clearncss. thanks to the instruc.
ton he had received in English at
Protestant Sabbath school.
It seemed that his successor. being .
heather of large ideas, was not accus-
toned TO give his patrons family
rates." but charged by the Dozen"
system which would make my weekly
bill twice rs large rs formerly. This,
Ling Ting realized, would not please
me, but he humbly hoped I would pay
the price for once without protest At
this point he drew . bill from his pock-
ct and extended it towards me with an
expression of more than usual sweet
ness. explaining that he himself, desir-
ed to make up the difference in price
for the first washing. After that he
suggested that could insist upon
cheaper rates with Lu Wah, or dis
charge him. hint which was followed
by another to the effect that should Lu
Wah prove obdurate, he, the accommO-
dating Ling Ting, might be induced to
return 70 my service.
The serenity with which my late en-
ploye invited my cooperation in this
extraordinary scheme SO Overpowered
me that in my reply ! was quite unable
TO do justice to the subject or my own
feelings believe, however. the inn
preston was left on bis mind that I did
not think well of his plan.
He did not appear at my door again.
but had ono subsequent glimpse of
him. Dressed in a suit of American
clothes. with his pig-tail twisted into an
iuconspicuous coil and his hat set on
the back of his head, he stood in the
door way Of frame building on which
was blazoned the sign,
IL TING, LAUNDRY"
Whether he has enriched himself by
speculation. or amassed q fortune in the
pursuit of his calling, can not say, but
that his talents are eminently fitted to
insure his progress alongside of the
''Melican man." no acquaintance Of his
an, for an instant, doubt-Dctroit
Free Press
The Use Of Rocking Chairs.
Rocking chairs are not conducive to
health, because in sitting in them the
muscles Of the body are relaxed. the
chest thrown forward and fiattened, and
A. - al h. vn~>~~1n,