New-York tribune., 1901-10-13
TITLES THEY NIGHT BUY.
WEALTHY CHINAMEN DISPLAY INTER
EST IN REPORT THAT PEKING COM
MISSIONERS ARE TO SELL
HONORS HERE.

|
| what to think yesterday when a Tribune re-
| porter brought them news from Peking that
| commissioners were about visit this city for
! the purpose of selling them 'honors and titles"
! The dispatch said that Minister Conger had
vised the passports of the commissioners and
| attendants. and that they would leave Peking
! soon on their soliciting tour.
! The news from Peking did not state positively
| the purpose for which the title money was to
| be used. 1t was originally announced that the
| money would be used to help pay the indemnity.
! The British and Dutch Ministers objected TO
| this, so the benefit was changed to relief OF the
| famine sufferers in Shensi. Even then they
! objected to Chinese officials peddling "honors
| and titles abroad. and condemned the plan as
| immoral. OF course, the American Minister
had no objection 10 make. In his official capac-
fly as an officer of a democratic republic titles
meant nothing to him.
To the Chinese rich of this city-and there
are a number who are rich enough 10 indulge
IN the luxury of 'titles and honors'-the moral
ity Of the plan is of no Importance. The ques-
tlon with them is whether not the title would
be worth anything after they bought 1t.
What good would title do me In this coun-
try?" asked wealthy Mott-st merchant when
he heard the news.
How much do you suppose they will charge?''
was the very practical question put by another
man. IF they have some mandarins for sals
cheap II might be good idea to buy. l could
call this the Imperial Restaurant and double
my prices
Gee Sue. known through the quarter as King
of the Laundrymen." much interested in
the news from China He lives at No. 80 Pell-
St and owns laundries in various parts of the
city and has mortgages on many others. His
fortune is estimated at $5OOO0 He is curious
as to what sort of titles the commissioners will
have to offer. OF course IL is hardly to be
hoped that they will have titles admitting one
into the imperial clan, Even the king of the
Laundrymen'' cannot hope to purchase the
right TO the title of prince" or marquis or
"viceroy" But that does not by any means ex-
haust the list of Chinese titles. There is tao
tai" for instance which might be translated TO
mean duke" If the interpreter was careless,
and half dozen time honored handles any one
of which could easily be made into lord" or
count" that Americans might understand how
much dignity they conferred
Perhaps the commissioners will bring en-
tirAIv new line Of titles Knight of the
Spotted Kangaroo" Prince of the Striped
Tiger" Royal Hitter of the Big Pipe" Man
DARN of the Gold Dollar and others of the kind
would be high sounding and bring good money
in Chinatown. Indeed. if the demand is great.
the commissioners may borrow titles from other
countries and make "Beys" and 'Ameers" and
Mrs"
Lee Choup. a merchant at No. 33 Mott-st.. is
said TO be the richest Chinese in this city. He
has at least S125. 900 in cash and good securi-
ties according to the Bradstreet or Chinatown
He will doubtless be offered an expensive title.
and might be persuaded to purchase pink or
yellow Jacket with few rooster feathers, for he
makes frequent trips to China
Then there is Quon Foy, merchant At No 1S
Pell-st who is said to have 100000. He would
hardly miss a thousand or two if it would make
him the owner of a Chinese title. Lee Yick
Ghue of No "a Pell-st.. has almost much
money. and will doubtless be solicited. He is
of his starving countrymen in Shensi may ap
peal to him.
Some of the most wealthy men in Chinatown
are connected with the big gambling firms.
The Kwong Lung Jim, which has palatial quar-
ters and runs many games at No. - Mott-st.,
might get a title for of the firm members.
now that Tammany is run by squire who
proba by would not mind buying title for him
self If a Kwong Lung Jim man becomes one
rival firm of Quong Sun Chong would make
purchase Both of these firms have at least
100000 backing and it would take but few
"iackpots" to pay for a title. If the latter firm
goes in for this royalty business" Harry Hoy
would probably hold the honors. He has not
cut off his queue. though he generally wears
American wig over it
Tom Lee Mayor of Chinatown and of the
six Chinese voters in this city. laughed when
he heard that emissaries of the Emperor were
going to peddle titles around this city.
Buy a ttlet" eclaimed the venerable Chi
nese Il should say not! l am an American
citzen'' He threw back his head and strutted
all the way down Mott-st. until he lost in
the Chatham Square crowd