Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-25

1000. and. like their fellow countrym en-
In the United States all of them came
from Canton. They keep restaurants and
small shops, run laundries, sell fruits and
vegetables, are walters in hotels and
restaurants, servants in private families.
n manufacture toys and fireworks and are
engaged In variety of other occupations.
They practice the virtues of industry,
economy and thrift that are their ma
tional characteristics. They learn the
language very rapidly and acquire the
customs with unfiagging energy and in
terest. They are so much more capable
than the ordinary Mexican servant, and
accomplish SO much more in given time,
that they are able to command double the
wages and every family who can afford
It prefers Chinese servant whenever
one can be obtained:
Progress Of the Chinese.
They are rapidly obtaining control of the
laundry business and are monopolizing the
small restaurants There are more than
BOD Chinese laundries in the capital today,
where there were none ten years ago, and
not more than twelve or fifteen five years
ago and they are rapidly driving native
washwomen out Of the business Although
their rates are higher, they do better work
and do not ruin the clothing as the wo-
men do. The ordinary Mexican laundress
does her work by the side of some stream,
uses fiat stone for a scrubbing board and
pounds the wet clothes with boulder.
which is very destructive to buttons and
fine fabrics. The Chinese laundryman
works indoors. and uses boiling water and
machinery. Chinese cooks are very apt to
learn how to prepare native dishes, and
their restaurants are rapidly increasing in
numbers and popularity I was told the
other day that whenever a native restau-
rant keeper moved out Of place China
man always moved in, and that between
thirty and forty Chinese restaurants had
been opened In the business part OF the
city during the last three or four years.
The Celestial is equally successful In
small shop-keeping, and IN selling fruit and
vegetables Several have started market
gardens in the suburbs similar to those
around Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Chinese have an advantage in Mex
leo that they cannot enjoy in the United
States-in social relations and intermar-
rage with the natives. The latter receive
them on an equality, and their intelligence,
industry, independence and kindly disposi-
ton make them admirable husbands. They
do not beat their wives spend their
wages for pulque. They are home-loving
and kind in their treatment of their wives
and children, and as a rule Mexican wo-
man will accept a Chinese husband in pref
erence to one of her own race. Hence al
most every Chinese who has been In the
country year or two has Mexican Wife,
who naturally promotes his happiness and
contentment. Intermarriage is encouraged
by the authorities: civil ceremony is SUI
fcient, and Ii is not necessary to go to a
priest.
Under these circumstances Mexico Is not
only a favorable, but attractive field
for Chinese immigrants. They do better
here. they meet with less prejudice and
enjoy greater privileges and opportunities
for making money and getting on than in
any other country that you may name.