The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-14
VALUE OF CHINESE TITLES.
How New York CeIestiaIs Received
the News From Picking


NEW YORK. Oct 1.-THE rich men Of
Chinatown. New York, did not know
what 10 think when a reporter brought
them news from Picking that commission
ers were about 20 visit this country for
the purpose Of selling them "honors and
titles" The despatch said that Mr.. Con-
ger, the United States Minister at PekinE
had yised the passports Of the commits
sioners and attendants. and that they
would leave Picking soon on their solicit
ing tour
The news from Picking did not state
positively the purpose for which the title
money was 10 be used. 1t was originally
Snnounced that the money would be used
70 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 70 Chinese officials prddIiuE
'honors and titles abroad. and condemn
ed the plan as immoral OF course. the
American Minister had no ohfer-ion 10
make In his official capacity as an off
Ger cf a democratic Republic titles meant
nothing 20 him
To the Cbilsese rich Of this city-ana
there are number who are rich enough
% indulge In the luxury Of titles ami
hc norS the morality Of the plan IS az
no Importance The question with them is
anything after they bought IT,
What good would a title do me in this
country asked wealthy Mott Street
merchant when ne heard the news
How much Do you suppose they win
charg was the very practical question
put By another man. If they have some
nandarins Tor sale cheap il might De a
Sood IDEA 70 buy ] could cali this the
Imperial Restaurant and double my
Gee Sue. known through the .uarter rs
k TF
Interested n the news from China He
lives At 36 FeIl Street and owns Iaundrirs
IN various parts Of the city and has mort
cages on many others His fortune is
estimated at So Gl0- He is curious AS To
y hat sort Of titles the commissioners will
have 70 offer OF course IL is hardly 10
De hoped that they viii have titles admit
LlE one into the imperial elan. Even the
King Of the Landowner cannot hone
10 purchase the right 20 the title Of
prince or marquis. or 'vicerOy-" But
that does not by any means exhaust the
list Of Chinese titles There IS "taotai 90
Tor instance. which might be translated
20 mean duke II the Interpreter was
caTei5ss, and half a dozen time honoref
be made into lord" or count that
Americans might understand how much
dignity they conferred.
Lee tnDUg- q merchant NJ - Mott
street IS said 10 be the richest Chinese I'm
this city He has AT least SI25. go I'm cash
ana good securities. according 10 the
less Doe offered an expe nsive title and
might DE persuaded 10 purchase a pink
or yellow jacket with a few rooster feath-
ers. for he makes frequent trips 10 China
Then there Is QuOn FOy. a merchant az
is PeU Street who Is said 70 have 800 .O0E
lie would hardly miss q thousand or two
n - would make him the owner Of a Chi
uese title Lee Yick Ghue OF a PeIl
Street. has almost as much money and
viii doubtless be- solicited. He is said TO
have a tender heart. and the suHerIngs
Of his starving cOuntrymen IN Shensi may
appeal 10 him.
Some Of the most wealthy men in Chi
natOwn are connected with the big gamb-
ling firms. The EWOng Lung Jim. which
has palatial quarters and runs many
games at - Mott Street. might get "A title
for one Of the firm members now that
Tammany is run by squire who prOba-
himself If a EwOnE Lung Jim man be-
comes one of the nobility" there is no
doubt that the rival firm OF QuOng sun
Chong would make a purchase Both of
these firms have at least S2p00I0 backing
ana II would take but q few 'iackpOts''
TO pay for a title IF the latter firm goes
I'm for this royalty business Harry Hoy
would probably hold the hOnOrS He has
not cut of his queue. though he general
ly wears an American wig over IL
Tom Lee, Mayor OF Chinatown. and one
Of the six Chinese voters in this city.
laughed when he heard that emiSsarieS
Of the Emperor were going 70 peddle to-
ties around this city
BUY a title exclaimed the venerable
Chinese. 4 should say mott I am an
American citizen He threw back his
head and strutted all the way down Mott
Street until he was lost in the Chatham