The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-17
THE WHITE WIFE OF THE
ChlNAMAN OF TODAY

They say about 200 white girls in
Chicago are married to Cinnamon, ard
that on an average OF over one a month
the Celestials OF the Windy City con-
tinue 10 win white brides
But the Chicago Tribune, which has
been investigating the matter, finds
that this wiping out OF racial preju-
dices is not given by the brides therl-
selves as their reason for choosing
Cinnamon, and twenty-five OF the most
recently welded gave the following as
the object Of their action: Love, money,
opium. home. kindness.
But back Of these assigned reasons is
another and deeper reason. That IL,
that a Chinaman. when he takes n
white bride, wipes out her past entire
ly and. no matter what she might have
been, she. las his wife is honored
The Chinaman never considers mar
riage until able to support a wife, in
which he differs from the white races;
but, like the whites, he believes in the
power OF money to make courtship,
easy-and he spends lavishly. 1t may
take him weeks to attract the atten-
tton OF the object OF his love to him
self, but once he has made her ac-
quaintance and broken down the racial
barrier. his progress is rapid.
He spends money. he banquets her In
the private rooms OF chop suey restau-
rants, and-it is alleged--if then she
does not agree to marry him, he does
not surrender and mourn the loss, but
he inveigles her into smoking opium
and, having once tasted the charms of
"the pipe" she is his
The girl knows that once married
she can smoke hop as long as she
pleases. in her own home. secure from
molestation by the police and secure
and certain of opium as long as she
may want IL. So she becomes the bride
NJ N ~ M 1asan t.. -
gllded den he fits up for her. scarcely
ever caring to go out-even were she
permitted, which she seldom is, ex-
cept in company with her lord and
master, who during his leisure moments
delights in taking her out. attired in
her most gorgeous gowns, to dine with
him.
Naturally the Chinamans chances OF
meeting white women are not numer-
Gus or auspicious. They meet them
sometimes in chop suey restaurants.
at the counters of stores downtown and
in the missions. An investigation OF
the old tradition that white women and
are won by Cinnamon revealed the fact
that so far as the mission workers
themselves and tn Chinese know there
is but one such case on record in
Chicago.
When questioned as to why she mar
grew a bit indignant:
opium had nothing TO do with IL.
My husband does not smoke and not
one OF his friends who married the
white girls that I know smokes. I
married my husband because ! liked
him and because he is kind and gener-
Gus. I have plenty of money and plen-
" OF clothes. ] have my own ser
want and Hop insisted on my mother
coming TO live with us. She cares for
him almost as she would for her own
son.
True. I don't go out much. except
with him. / married n Chinaman. and
I intend TO live as he wants me TO live
My friends and I exchange calls. We
go TO the theatre. and have my baby
TO care for. ] am happy and have COM
forts that no white man would have
given me"
The social life of the white brides Of
Chinaman is limited in the extreme.
Not only are they barred from any
intimate social life with the Chinese
wives but the lines between the tongs
are closely drawn. IL white girl
marries a Chinaman and her chum hap
pens TO marry a Chinaman OF another
company they cannot meet except as
strangers.
In their own households they rule
~ they prove good housekeepers there
II no trouble. They are supplied with
plenty OF money TO spend for house
hold wants and with more than enough
for themselves. They dress beautifully
and In most cases the only complaint
uttered by them Is that they are forced
TO live In squalid neighborhoods.
The Chinaman's idea OF comfort at
home means tho Interior. He does not
care about the exterior. how dingy or
even dirty II may be. and he never Is
in the market for exclusive residence
property. for an alley appears TO suit
him better than street, and he seems
to prefer a downtown street, the mar
rover the better, TO suburban property.