Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-18
DEATH CLOSES
LONG ROMANCE
CHINESE WAITS 27 YEARS TO
WED, THEN DIES
ORIENTAL FOUND DEAD IN BED
IN HIS ROOM
Sweetheart of Los Angeles Aelatic
Lives in Canton and Letter from
Her Was Found in Hand
of Dead Man

The sad ending of a Chinese romance
extending through a period of twenty
seven years came to light yesterday
when the lifeless body of Lem Tun,
54 years old, laundryman at the Mari
borough school, West Twenty-third and
Scarf streets, was found yesterday
morning.
Tum was found lying on a bed in the
scantily furnished room he had occu-
pied for several years.
Saturday night he complained of be-
ing i'll, and during the night he was
heard breathing in a laborious manner
His body was found lying with the
face to the west and a crumpled letter
grasped tightly in his hand. A transla-
tion of the letter CorToborated the story
of the faithful Chinese, who frequently
stated to his friends he soon would re-
turn to his native land to claim his
BRIDE who has been faithful to him for
more than a quarter of a century.
Shortly before reaching his twenty
seventh birthday Tum, who was en-
ployed in the rice fields of Canton
province, went to Canton to make pur-
chases for his employer. While passing
along one of the principal streets he
saw beautiful Chinese girl sitting on
a balcony above her fathers tea store.
He bowed to her in the most approved
Chinese manner, and his salutation was
returned. He became interested ana
entered the store and asked permission
to pay his respects to the "beautitul
daughter of the sum-" as he affection
ately termed her.
Father Favors Youths Attentions
The father of the girl looked kindly
on the strapping young fellow, but
after learning he was but a laborer in
q rice field denied the request, and in
a naughty manner, tempered with
L would
lowed to pay his respects to the beauti-
full girl if he could produce enough
money to buy the presents suitable to
one of her station, for in China the
groom must furnish a sufficient amount
to buy presents and furnish a fitting
banquet for the relatives of the bride.
Tum declared he would earn enough
to be able to claim the girl, and when
he had pleaded with the father for some
time was allowed a brief interview in
private with the girl, Lu Gee Tam.
Each swore to be true to the other,
and after returning to the home of his
employer Tum resigned, and with the
earnings of several years work in the
paddy fields boarded a boat for
America.
On his arrival at San Francisco Tum
sought work, and after years of labor
in the laundries in that city came to
Los Angeles and with a picture of his
bride constantly in his mind shaved
over damp garments, with the hope ever
before him that within short time he
would have earned enough money TO
pay his passage back to the land of his
birth and to pay the necessary sum
which separated him from his bride.
Correspond Frequently
The sweethearts corresponded fire.
quently. Every Friday Tum received a
letter from Canton, telling him the
.r;-,I TrrI,A n1t 1crl
age, still loved him and was anXiously
awaiting his return when the bright
lanterns would be lighted and joyous
wedding feast would be held.
Tum rarely ever visited Chinatown,
and with the exception of one visit
month to a nephew, who translated the
letters revealing the story, never left
his room above the laundry where he
was employed
Several days ago Tum began to COM
plain Of heart trouble, and last Friday
when he received a letter from his
faithful little sweetheart he wept bit
terly, and as if having q premonition
something would happen to prevent
him seeing again the object of his
alteration told his employers to see
that the tender missives were taken
care of and sent back to China in the
event of his death.
The letter which was found in the
hand of the dead Chinese was to the
effect the writer was looking forward
to the return of her lover and was
counting the days when he would greet
her under the old willow tree in the
rear of her fathers home.
When the story of the unfortunate
Chinese was told the undertakers who
went after the body had much diff
Guilty in keeping back the tears as they
realized that a pretty almond-eyed
woman would look eastward in vain for
the one for whom she has waited the
best part of her life.
The body was removed to the under
taking establishment of Bresee Bros
where the coroner will hold an inquest