New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-26
THE DOOM OF SING LOW
From The Argonaut.

From The ArgOnaut
Twenty years ago Sing Low had been thin
meek Chinese cooic. toiling in the rice fields OF
the Soo-Chow Province. Insult cienty clad ahd
insufIiciently fed. he had many times been weary
Of life and but for the VOWS Of his secret So
cety forbddng would have put a summary
end to ia double quantity of opium in the pipe
is an easy way. But Sing Low had persevered
and starved until one day there was an exodus
Of many Of his own society (now renamed Sons
Of the Silver Land') to the western coast OF
Mexico. With them journeyed Sing Low and his
newly married wife Fay Lee for there was de
mand for Chinese colonists, and the promoters
ted it loudly that there was plenty Of money to
be- made in the silver land" For once the
truth had been spoken 10y a promoter, Had you
ten years after ;hc exodus known the China
town Of Madre de Dios and the restaurant and
.tca Mace" Of Sing Low you would better APP
prcciate the fact For the Chinese colonists had
made unto themselves a place of their own in
the western part of the city. out beyond tho
marshes; many narrow streets were filled with
the shops Of the Chinese. who were no longer
colonists but full nedged citizens.
In he very centre Of the Chinese civilization
and fronting a view Of hot blue gulf water
Sing Lows name was hazored in gaudy Chinese
sorpt over tea shop and opium den, while up
town. where Mexcans and mining men most did
ccngragate. another building, made Of yellow
adobe and pine boards, bore the legend: chi
nose Restaurant Of Sing Low: American Pies.
In front of this restaurant generally sat sing
Low hut not the Sing Low Of the Soo-Cho"
rice feIds-far from it, This was very rat aho
,nportant Sing Low in full and flowing ChlheS'
garments pigtaii neatly wound about sleeF
and shining head. and silkshod feet thrust ln''
nanninr embroidered slippers. y large E"ic
American watch danglcd from his SASH aho
yellow Mexican diamonds glittered on his pudeI
nrgcrs-truly had Sing Low, head Of the Noi''
NJ the Silver Land" prospered and waXed TAT il
q far land
Inside the restaurant many Chinese Waller'
and cooks rushed about serving all sorlS am
conditions of men at the manta covered 'ao'eS
For Nadrc de Dos was steamer town. whence
hides and silver and bullion were Shippeu "
Lower California and even San Francisco ah'
many men Of many sorts ate chill con oarhe
and tortillas and american pies In the res
taurant Of Sing Low. There were dirty greaser'
and svaggering bearmed MeXicans, who dram
bottles upon bottles Of fiery mescal ana CAIN
deliberate, mining Americans who consumed
untold numbers OF pies and American canhe'
beans while Sing Low smiled from afar, Will
keen eye upon collections. For twenty years
had he saved and toilcd. but another year Woui'
see the end Then. with Fay Lee, who was nov
old and fat. and the twenty thousand Mexican
dollars that they had made he would so t
San Francisco. Back to China? No! Fay Lee
had once tmidy proposed it-for she had NJ
children. and her heart was sick for her nativ
land-but Sing Low said n decided NO II
had not yet forgotten the rice fields. Ana, be
sides. in these American lands even a cooli
OF low birth could be as mighty as mandarin
he Sing Low had been Of no import in China
nor would even his $4,000 make him might!
p1an there. In other words better to reign il
hell than T. serve in heaven, or ones nativ
land
TO all Of which poor Fay Lee had to consent
Of course, Sing Low being husband Of no small
persuasive power, particularly when aided will
bamboo stick. And he hesitated not to chastis
the wife Of his bosom when occasion needed, 70
did not even the laws of the Christians say
wives obey your husbands in the Lord? No
that il often became necessary TO impress tn!
latter fact upon Fay Lee for she loved the fat
pompOus Sing Low now, in the midst Of hi
prosperity. even as she had once loved humid,
Sing Low Of the rice fields. IL IL the way o
many women. And though there few
friends, and no children for her TO Carcss Will
affection, she was content to live the life tina
her husband babe. embrodering his costly gar
ments and waiting on him as though she wer
his bonded slave, instead Of his wife And durini
the long hours that he spent in the opium hous
Or In the secret lodge Of the Sons Of the Silve
Land" che cnnsoled herself with many cups q