The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-11-18
POSES AS CHINAMAN.
FRESHMAN WHO WEARS BLOUSE
AND QUEUE.
He Took q Chinese Name-When He
Wants to Play Peddler He Wins Gus
tom by His Picturesque Costume
Easy and Comfortable.

The romantic little Sonoma county
town of Valleyford can boast the dis
tinctlon today of numbering among her
residents, one of the most unique of hu-
man freaks-a white man who dresses
like Chinaman, wears queue and
conducts laundry in approved Chi
nese style, says the San Francisco Ex-
aminer. More than this, he will tell
you that he prefers the mode of dress
and livery of the Monaghan to that Of
his countrymen or of the men of any
other country, for the matter of that
His name is John Meagher. To COM
plete his enactment of the role of a
Chlnaman John Meagher some years
ago thought he must needs have Chi
nese name and, so to speak, the last
tie of nationality was cast aside when
he assumed the name of Chin He, and
by this latter name he prefers to be
known. On little eminence off the
main county road which passes
through Valleyford, is a neat, hard
finished building with store front.
A sign in front of the porch informs
the world that it is the laundry of
John Meagher," and that his special
ties in the business of soap and
suds are washing, ironing
and fluting." The sign in bold letters
also announces that the work done is
the best. The screen door is thrust
aside and the visitor enters the iron
ing room of the establishment. At
one side of the room is a long table
upon which are number of parcels of
laundry work ready to be delivered to
their respective owners. !
rs Mr.. Meagher at homer" inquiries
the visitor of big, burly Chinaman,
who is industriously ironing at the
board. His queue Is wound carefully
on the top Of his head and his green
blouse is spotlessly clean.
"Well, am he," came the reply
shortly. ...-z- -.
The surprise of the visitor can be
imagined. After explaining to him
that the purpose ef~his call was to
have talk with him concerning him
self, the interviewer was invited to a
seat. This done, the host picked up an
empty box, set it up endways and final
ly settled down and gazed at his visi-
he began:
Il was born right close to the
old Mission Dolores, in San Francisco.
about forty years ago. My father and
mother were Irish. I went to school
in San Francisco. Born, as you might
say, with a desire to make money,
struck out for myself early in life.
II made lots of money at working at
different things and would have been
pretty we'll off but for the fact that I
have been robbed of everything I had
three times in my life.
And now come to the part of my
story which discloses why have adopt
ed Chinese ways. When 1 was quite
young was thrown in contact with
Chinese continuously; so much so that
I found myself nourishing a desire to
emulate a part at least of their mode of
living. These Cinnamon were mostly
cooks or laundrymen. I particularly
noticed how free and easy they looked
in these nice loose blouses. After
while adopted the dress you find me
wearing today. like it in the business
I'm in"
"How do like wearing queue? Oh.
I don't know. It's part Of the dress
and I don't mind it. Sometimes 1
travel as Chinese peddler. I go all
over the country dressed in the fancy
Chinese costume you have frequently
seen worn by the wealthy merchants.
tell you, it helps me in my business"
The man is happy in spite of the
comparative solitude in which he lives.
His face has a kindly expression, his
voice is soft and he gives one the i'm
preston Of being fairly well educated.