The Washington herald., 1907-07-19
OLD JOHN PAYS DEBT
Honest Lee Jung Lives Up
to His Name.
TAKES TEN YEARS FOR TASK
Former Merchant OF Washington'S
Chinatown Returns 10 Native Land
After Failure, but Leaves List of
Liabilities and Money to Settle
Them When He Dies.

Old honest John owes no living man.
John is a Chnaman. He formerly lived
in Washington, and was a successful
merchant for many years. until his
health eventually failed him. Almost at
the same time his business began to run
down, and AZ last John Lee Jung was
compelled to retire, owing q thousand
dollars. He tried hard work in an effort
to pay his creditors. Failing in this, he
finally took his departure for his old
home in China. From the first and until
he failed in business, and now, he has
always been known as "Old Honest
John"
John Lee Jung left Washington nearly
ten years ago. His health was poor
when he went away. and even the old
man himself expected that he was going
home to die. within a few months at the
most. But with his arrival In China,
among the surroundings he had known
in boyhood and the climate and the fas-
cination Of the Orient, John took d new
lease on life, and was soon himself again.
Keeps Creditors in Mind.
II WAS nearly q year DGlDfG lllG OlQ man
was ready 20 enter the field Of labor
again. With the one thought in his mind
TO pay off his creditors back in the
States-he began the tolls and the savings
which he knew would take years OF ac-
complishment 10 eventually bring about
his purpose Old John went into the in
terror Of China, back IN the hills miles
away from HongkOng. and started in
business anew with his American learned
ways among his native countrymen.
Conditions were different there than he
had been accustomed TO in the United
States and in Washington. and several
years passed before even so much as the
representation of an American nickel was
saved. But after a while the business
began paying little more and more, and
old honest John was soon on his feet
again. He was not forgotten here, though
his friends remembered him more on ac-
count Of his personality than because Of
the fact that he owed several of them
money.
All these years the denizens and the
merchants Of Chinatown have frequently
mentioned the name of old John Lee
Jung and wondered what became OF him.
II WIS inquired LldL ne mad died, been
buried IN the land Of his birth, and that
they in this country had simply never
heard of the old mans demise. They had
forgotten the debts.
Leaves List of Debts.
Not long ago word was passed around
in Chinatown that John Lee Jung had
only died a few weeks previous. Among
his effects was found a list Of his cred
itors in Washington, and opposite each
Of their names was the exact amount
that lie owed them Stored away in his
belongings, in Chinese money, was found
enough cash 10 satisfy all Of his former
business associates who had trusted him
years and years ago in this country.
Els relatives took charge Of his prop
erty and have sent it On 10 Hi Par Jung
here. 10 be distributed among the late
merchants creditors.
Old Honest John is no more He left
this country owing men who naJ trusted
him. a little note In Chinese hieroglyph-
les gave the directions as 90 the disposi-
ti0n Of the old mans savings.
Old Honest John has made good his
namc-he owes no living soul.