The herald., 1893-07-20
THE TWO WONGS BUY WHEELS.
Cinnamon Create a Sensation
With Bicycles.
MOngOlians Who May Become N0ta-
BILE Record Breakers.
Ono of Them Learns to Ride in a Re-
markabiy Short Time-The Ex-
element They Caused on
Tho Streets.

~ OaO otOlpkO WOnuClACk q Ohihuludu
is the same the world over, whether he
be in San Francisco, New York, Los An
geles or the Flowery Kingdom. He is
nothing but pain, almond-eyed
heathen to tlem and that is the best
that can be said OF him.
However. case has just been devel-
oped in this city this week which en-
tirely disproves the above idea of the
Celestial and proves that be can catch
on to the enlightened American ways.
Last Monday morning an intelligent
looking Chfnaman walked into Tufts
Lyon Arms company's store and after
gazing about approached one of the
clerks. The clerk, knowing the weak
ness Of the Chinese for big navy revolv-
ers, approached the showcase contain
ing those weapons.
| He was stopped by the Chinaman ex-
claiming:
"No MOI I no lfkee him; wantee
slee bislykle."
"All right" replied the clerk, cup
posing that the Chinaman desired to
crafty his curiosity; "there they are !;
look at them"
After examining the wheels the China
man saw one that caught his eye, and
asked the price. He was told, and
replied:
"All lite; I got 'em clousin likee buy
'em wheel; l bling i'm in today"
Sure enough, in the afternoon the
visitor of the morning marched into the
store, accompanied by another China
man, whomshe introduced as his cousin,
All Wong. Wong was shown the wheel,
and after learning the price, said he
guessed he would buy it, and immedi-
ately handed over the cash.
Wong cooks for family on West Pico
street, and as he did not know how to
ride, had the company deliver the
wheel. The same evening Wong started
out bravely to learn to ride his "safety."
OF course he barked his shins and took
several headers, but at last, to the sur
prise of the neighborhood which had
assembled to,see him learn and to his
own delight, he got the wheel started
and kept 1t going all right, having
learned to ride in an hours time, beating
the average American in this respect.
Wong was as proud of his new bicycle
as ia a boy with q kite, 80 after finishing
his work for the evening he jumped on
the machine and rode down town. He
pedaled up to Chinatown, smiling all
over and his eyes dancing with sup
pressed excitement. Wong and his
wheel were soon surrounded by crowd
OF wondering celestials.
For a while there was as much hub
bub and noise as at the raiding of
Chinese lottery game. Finally Wong
persuaded his countrymen to lend him
their ears, and after impressing upon
them the necessity of being silent, that
they could hear, sailed in and began to
explain the mechanism Of his new pur-
chase.
Wong next mounted the wheel and
gave the settlement an exhibition of
oriental riding. His efforts were we'll
received ARA Alhhaflh be owned Chinatown for the
night. 'N
The proud fellow took his wheel home
and after oiling it went to bed to dream
of headera prospective medals and glory
galore. s e.,
Tuesday, Wong was up bright and
early trying his new wheel again. Yes
terday, however, he made his real debut
as rider and the accompanying eciat
was something terrific. Up Spring
street and down Main be went, his queue
flying in the air at an angle of $50 de-
grees. He wore the regulation blue
blouse, overalls, soft felt hat and black
slippers, and altogether he cut quite a
swath.
The pedestrians were startled by a
yell from the lynx-eysd newsboys who
sighted Wong as he came down the
street. There he was with the genuine
bicycle hump already, leaning over the
handle bars and working away
as hard as he could. It was
true he wobbled from one side of the
street to the other, but what did that
matter? The wagons all got out of the
road, and the street cars came to stand
still. In fact, every one stopped work
and business was as effectively stopped
as though every bank in the CITY had
closed its doors. But through it all
Wong pedaled along. True he struck
the car track at the corner of Main and
Second streets and bounded nimbly over
the handle bars of the machine, but he
picked himself together, however, and
went at it again.
About 3 80 O'Clock in the afternoon he
drew up in front of Tufts, Lyons store.
and dismounting from his wheel went
inside. Here he met the Ohinaman who
showed him the wheel on Monday and
whose name is Wong Ngin. With Wong
No. was another Chinese named Wong
Fook, who cooks for physician on
West Seventh street. All three of the
Chinese are cousins. Wong Fook was
shown some wheels, and finally selected
one which suited him and turned over
the necessary money.
Ah Wong then left his two cousins.
and mounting the wheel rode home
amid the laughter and cheers OF the eur
prised pedestrians.
The two other Chinamer, after exam.
ming the tool bag and having the ma.
chine oiled, took it out by the back wav
and wheeled it down towards the
Chinese mission on Wilmington street.
of which they are members. What sue.
cess Wong Fook has had in learning
to ride is not yet known, but one fact is
positive that he will not master the art
any sooner than did Ah Wong.
Wong Fook was quite facetious, how.
ever. A HERALD reporter asked him. IL |
he knew how to ride, to which he re.
piled, Eyes, learn to ride in China y