The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-04-10
WEE WUNG'S
PREDICAMENT

II has been two or three years since
Wee Wung returned to Pekin. but fond
FecollectiOns Of his great genius stiu
finger In the hearts Of the people of
chinatown He was considered BY the
Chinese OF San Francisco the very best
female impers0nator that had ever trod
the boards Of theater outside of the
FlOwery Land He was honored and
olned by the wealthiest Mongolians In
chinatown, and admired by all as the
prince OF comedians, during his wears
engagement with the local stock com
pany-
wee Wung, who was a gcOd-Iookinc
little man Of about twenty-five years
always appeared In the leading female
role OF play, and always made the
MT OF the performance. HIS makeup
n gentle little belle was a work Of art
and his portrayal OF the feminine role
was even more artistic. With his beau
dfui wig Of oily black hair adorned with
many teweled pins and tiny chains.
with his rouged cheeks, rosy-red uDs
and peneiled eyebrows, and with his
lovely gownSand tiny sIIken shoes wee
WuHg Deeame q yery adorable person.
ndeed-so adorable, In fact that Ocea-
sionally 4 masculine heart n the audI-
ence made the riciduIous mistake OF
throbblng with loving admiration
OneeVening. during the continued run
OF the highly successful comedy .-rba
Emperors Favorite Peacock" Wee
Wung arrived at the flaeater earlier
tnan usual, and, after he had donned
his feminine garments and given his
face the usual maIdenIy Appearance
he discovered that he had mistaken the
hour. and had come to the play house
long before the time when be vas 10
make his hrst entrance upon the stage
II was not yet s o'clock, and as Wee
WunS was not TO appear In the pIay nm
I'll after Q, the little comedian concIud-
Cd to enjoy his spare moments I'm n prn-
tonged smoke. So he rolled IN several
cigarettes with his rice paper and to-
bacc0 and sauntered down to the stage |
door, where he might stand on the stems |
and inhale the refreshing night AIR to
getber with the smoke.
he leaned against the doorway and
directed his gaze toward the star-Ii, skv
while bis thoughts wandered awav 20
his beloved Pekin- He pictured In hIs
mind his return to his native Ia nd Nr-h
60 with artistic triumphs on American
soil. Lbs purse overlooking with Ame,.
lean doliarA For Wee Wung. like most
Of his fellow countrymen who xaII IN
America, had come with but one oltac4
In view, and that was to carry hsck
home with him just a. much money AZ
be could possibly secure. A he stoossJ
there In the stage doorway, dreaming
Of coming riches. his cigarette became
smaller and smaller, until n burned
bis fingers and was rexretfulIy tbrown
into the gutter.
Wee Wung was about to Light another
when cab came rafting along the
bouidered street The driver brought
the horse 70 q staDdstflI at the curb
stone. directly in front Of the u,tls
comedian. and a woman stepped on,
upon the sidewalk Wee WupS vas
greatly surprised when she turned tn
him and said. MY good woman. womb
Tou like TO earn Eve doiIarsYs
"a SVSAS1 Aoo Atug supposed Wee |
Wung to be a woman. and the actor
Imiled to himself at the mistake. He
understood English fairly well, al
.hough be spoke II poorly. and be COM
'rehended the fact that the strange lady
Il the cab wished him to perform some
erviee for money. He nodded bis
lead. indicating that he was perfectly
Wiling 10 earn Ave dollars-a sum
rhieh Is not to be laughed at by any
and certainly not by MERGE A.,
AIRY little Wee wung.
There ID no work expected Of you ,
aid the lady. IAN you have to do Is ,
, come with me at once, as 1 am in ,
reat hurry