The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-18
A NOVEL CHINESE FARM
Massachusetts, Celestiais Raise
MOugOlian Garden Stuff.

Progressive John Linn, william
Chiun and Willie Dong supply
Their Brethren with DaiDties-
High Prices Paid for Produce
Chinaman has become synonymous
with laundryman by a certain constant
association of ideas. Consequently it is
somewhat of a shock to discover three
natives of the Chinese Kingdom raising
Chinese vegetables for Chinese consump-
ton instead Of starching shirt bosoms and
doing up shirt waists.
John Linn, who formerly resided in
Stoneham, now runs a farm at the In
tersection of two roads. just beyond the
path that runs tc the rifle range, at
Walnut Hill. His merry hired help con-
ssts of William Henry Chinn and Will
lie Dong. All have the Oriental cast of
countenance. Sits for eyes. and their
shrewdness in a business way is beyond
question.
They cln talk United States If they
wish. bit had rather not.
They raise a plant which they call a
cabbage for lack of better name.
The proprietor, referred to by the farm
hands as boss, was not at home on the
afternoon when visit was paid in his
honor for the purpose of permitting him
to be interviewed on the subject of crops.
He had gone to Harrison Avenue to turn
his products agricultural into coin from
the pockets of his brethren of Boston.
Willie Dong, a boy. Oriental sure
enough, clad in blue overall stuff, straw
hat, was wandering around a wide field
carrying tin pail on his arm. He looked
as if he might be working. but what at
was not so evident. At any rate he quit
his job as soon as the writer of this
character sketch climbed through a hole
in the wire fence.
What are those?"
Cabbage"
The small green leaves almost touched
the ground. Nothing of the kind was
ever connected with "a boiled dinner in
New England
Grow any bigger?"
For an answer the lad held his hand
up two feet to indicate the height to
which the vegetable would rise If left
to increase in size until next September
How do you eat emp
Soup: taste good"
Click went a camera. The photogra-
pher was on the other side of the fence.
out in the road
Willie Dong hadn't seen the black box
with the lens that was quicker than
lightning up to that moment. He watched
it as cat watches a mouse but he didn't
undertake to play with 1t.
Eaise anything else?"
Yes"
What else?"
Yes
You don't say so7''. -..t
Yes"
Willie. like an American youngster,
couldn't keep his mind long on one line
and before he knew it he was in the sun
in front of the camera hole again, and
there was a second click
His attention had to be distracted to
the place of residence" of the Chinese
farmers, which he declared to, be in thes
house with the old-fashioned light green
blinds. color seldom seen in these days.
The house stood in the fork of the high
ways. Outside hung a canary in a cage.
kitten frolicked in the yard. There was
a number on the front door.
The live stock in sight caused the cast
ing of just the faintest suspicion on the
veracity of the Oriental youngster, with
the tin pail. at this point in the CONVEX
sation. The newspaper man didn't re-
of a bird in the joints where he
is accustomed to have his collar launder-
ed once each week. But the doubt that
was created was dissipated later as will
be explained.
What does the boss get for cabbage?"
Five cents bunch
The field of the interview so far had
been hired by the head Chinese farmer
from Hill, but there was another planted
ot over next to the schooIhouse, which
was leased from Richardson. The picture
aking machine had been sufficiently fol-
gotten by willie Dong to permit him to
aScort the MEXICAN party of unlimited
yisitors to the second spot of interest.
The cabbag. pants were bisected by a
'ow of Chinese peas, not very dissimiiar
rom the peas IL. tie American markets.
which were buy-Tcr up IN the ordinary
style. The feature OF this field was a
il was beauty.
The reporter took the thing out of the
shade and stuck it in the sun, and the
pher blazed away. Then the
'carecrow was carefully replaced where 1t
vas found. The image was adorned with
woman's bonnet OF the vintage of 1910.
mans vest. tight-buttoned around a
straw bust, and the trousers were con-
tructed by cutting off the feet of a pair
# masculine socks A bent wire formed
IN arm with an elbow. The invisible fling
RS grasped a snow white flag. or rag.
marked by single Chinese character.
While this art work was in progress
Willie Dong fled to the yard of the house
With the light green blinds. across the
treot. A Yankee youth came along the
highway and stopped and a few questions
we're put to him.
Boys ever trouble the Chinamen?''
Nav
Friends of yours
Vas. Willie wanted to fight me one !
ay. though: said he could lick any two |
oilers l could bring on"
Dong, at that moment. called the Yank |
ver the yard and the Yank went and the |
wo got quite chatty.
By the way. there was another scare |
row In the pea row in the shape of a |
cad hen.
4 Chinaman, wrinkled OF face. who has |
we'd for more than half century and |
or nearly quarter of century has been |
resident of the United States, let him |
FL 1t. sauntered through the side kitchen |
DOR and meandered toward a third plant
d field of cabbages back of the house
lie little knew what he was to run up /
ganst or he wouldn't have been out of
oors.
Hello Charieyr'-that wasn't his name,
ut it answered the purpose.
He was cornered on his return to his
en-.
''Heilor'-a reply in good English.
He twisted his wrinkles into grin.
What do you do?''
Cook"
FARM"
80