The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-11
rapid and who is now considered the light

rapid and who is now considered the light
of Chinatown.
1t is about wear since All Chew, the
leading man of the Jackson-s,reet troupe,
took unto himself petite and pretty wife,
in tire person of Chan Ho, vino had been
born and raised in Chinatown. The nine
yeaT-old girl, like many other petite
women, had q Will of her own. She Or
]ected to see her husband go on the stage
night after night. aTrayed il purple and
me linen, 10 p-rs0nate Chinese woman
of high rank, while she piDed obscure and
ainiy dressed, in the actors quarter.
One day Chan Ho spoke her mind, and
announced that she was going on the stage.
Tie feelings of All Chew can be better
imagined than described when he was
maue tie recipient OF this confidence. In
vain he pleaded with his wife, pointing
out The vast amount of toll and study
necessary 10 l-arn the masterpieces of
MonEolian opera. He even iutmated,
somewhat timidly, that women had no in
nate dramatic ability, but Chan Hu was
as adamant To his arguments. She was
going on the stage, and finally, 10 show
her how much she had to learn, he set to
work 10 give her lessons. Little Chan Ho
learned win a raridity that astonished
every one; four months ago she made her
debut under the most favorable aus
plces," as the dramatic critics say, and
which has never been equaled In China
town.
In order to interview her on the aus
piciOus occasion il was necessary. accord
log 10 Monaghan etiquette. to obtain the
husbands consent This tad been for
maily given beforehand; but il afterward
transpired that the leading man had given
II without consulting his lawful spouse. an
OMISSION which led 10 EN- barrassing conse-
Quences. When the interviewer, accom-
panied by IN artist, was shown to q seat
on the stage, Chan HO was already before
where the f0otlghts ought to have been.
She was demuTely gowned in black and
blue, her only adornment being a wreath
OF pearls and roses in her back hair, and
she was standing on good solid feet that
did not make any pretence to be aristn-
cratic. For the rest she had remarkably
vivacious face for Chinese woman, and
was rouged regardless of expense.
Chan Ho was impersouating the role of
a waiting-maid to lady of high degree, a
part which. like the other female char
acters in Chinese theaters, was acted by
man speaking In thin and wiry talsetto.
1t appears that this lady's meditaiions
had been disturbed by a gentleman of
exalted rank in pink satin trimmed with
mirrors. who had accidentally strayed
lotto her garden. Chan Ho, acting the
role of the cOnfidante in very naive and
pretty manner, offered TO he the 60
between, but no sooner did she find her
self alone with the gentleman in satin and
locking-glasses than she proposed that he
should marry her as the first wife and
take her mistress as number two.
The usually stolid audience in the thea
ter actually howled with delight at the
waiting-maid's nerve aud audacity. But
in the midst of il all one OF her brother
actors, with that delightful freedom from
conventionalIty which characterizes the
Chinese drama. walked across the stage
and whispered to the soubrette that a
white devil was taking her picture and
putting 1t in his magic-bOok. a thrill OF
horror and indignation seemed to shake
the actress. She at once turned her back
on the enemy, and bringing out large
blue and " bite cotton handkerchief held
it so as to screen the back of her neck as
much at possible.
Directly afterward Chan Hos exit came
and she scampered off the stage and dis
appeared into the green room, which Is
hung around with gorgeous garments,
grinning masks. flowing boards aud all
the other stage properties. For moment
It appeared as il the earth had swallowed