The Washington herald., 1907-05-23
NOMAD VA DEPARTS
Responds to WanderluSt Bug
-
for the Fourth Time.
LIVES IN PERPETUAL DREAMS
Washington Laundryman who Has
Grown Old Contributing to the
California and China, Packs His
Bundle for Another Voyage.

Chna's weird fascination for one Of its
own c0untTymen has again won one Of
Washiugt0ns Celestial laundry workers
Lee Wa. a Chinaman. has left for
hls old home Three times before Lee
Wa has returned to his native land, ia-
tending 10 remain until death. Each time
ne has remained q year or So worrying
about what is going on in America, and
eventually coming back and again taking
up his duties al the tub.
Lee Wa, in other words. is a n0mad
When he finally arrives in the land Of his
birth and makes up his mind 20 settle
down for the rest Of his days. he seems
70 get the moving fever, Always the
pesly little micTobe OF wanderlust stirs
him 70 be up and away. Then Lee Wa
packs his duds in a sack and takes a
steamer
Victim of WRnderIust Bug.
When Lee is in Washington, having
again established himself in business.
made friends with the Americans, and re-
newed acquaintances with the dealers and
the other denizeus Of Chinatown, he is
not exactly satisfied when he was far
away across the Pacific he used 10 picture
the Avenue and Chinatown. and an the
other hauuts and dives that he knew all
about But when he got back here and
settled, he soon began 20 dream OF his
own country II was simply the work of
the pesky little micrObe OF wanderlust
againg boring around in his brain.
When Lee Wa is in Washington he
dreams Of H3ngkong. When he is 10
Hougkong he dreams Of Washington.
And 90 realize his dreams Wa generally
sells out his business. bids his friends
gogd-by, and Is soon on his way FOR one
place or the other.
Wa has been q resident Of this city for
many years. More than twenty years
ago De landed al San Francisco, ana
having friends here came on 10 Washing
ton. His profession has always been
that OF a laundryman. OF course. Lee
Wa had q little business on the side. but
it never paid to any great extent About
all the business on the side ever amount
"a 20 was % occupy bis time on Sunday
and late 40 night. Sometimes De would
win and sometimes he would lose. But
Lee Wa liked the business on the side
better than hc did the business at the tub
But the trade gt the tub seemed TO pay
better and more regularly.
Lee Wa didn't live in Chinatown. No
indeed. he was too aristocratic He was
q resident Of the northwest section uf
Washington, where the uotsbles, the
Cabinet members and the society people
dwell III a little, tImble-down shack.
clean. and I'm good ucighborhood. Lee
Wa made his home near Seventeenth and
L streets. Here 1t was Lee Wa ironed.
washed, iroued passed out qUeer-loobing
slips 90 his customers and dreamed az
night Of the Orieut-of his own music in
his own country and ~ the things his
friends were doing AT hat very moment
on 20 the Land Of Ills Dreams.
only a few DAYS ago Lee Wa went TO
Chinatown, looking Tor customer for his
business Was trade Is good and plenti-
ful. the fact was well known. and con-
ssquentiy he had no difficulty in locating
"a prospective buyer There was some
figuring in strange letters. AN agreement
i1 words that only Chinaman can un-
derstand, and the deal was closed.
The next day Lee va shook hands with
lie IS getting old. his
friends say. but they have no idea that
NE viii remain in the land of his dreams.