The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-25

Lounglng in a chair behind a big cash
register in the Port Arthur restaurant,
5l3 Ninth street northwest, is Ing zee Yue,
otherwise ing Wah, the p0rtly proprietor.
who smiles at his customers, looks the
world In the face. and blandly admits he
is the man whom a Chinese girl in New
York City accuses of dealing in slave
traffic.
Ting Wah Is a remarkable man, and he
smiled broadly at a reporter while telling
Of the sojourn OF Miss Fung Choy under
the spacious roof Of his restaurant.
ing Wah laughed so loudly when asked
If he feared arrest that one or two cus--
toners turned from their bowls Of yet-ko-
men and looked at the jovial restaura-
teur
Yes. Miss Fung Choy says your son
bought her in China and sent her to
America with his friend Pang Sam" ing
Wah was told. "and she says the price
paid FOR her was $50 in gold She declares
she lived here nearly two years and was
taken 70 New York and SOLD f5f $500 b
Chin Sing IN October last"
Aagan the side-shaking laugh OF Ting
Wah flied the restaurant, but whether he
was laughing at the absurdity OF the
story or the enormous profits in Chinese
slave traffic none but himself knew Then
between laughs ing Wah explained just
how Miss Fung Choy came 10 America.
throwing sidelghts on his relations with
the girl
Mrs. ing Wah Was Lonesome.
Miss Choy, said ing Wah. was known
By the American name Miriam Then he
snickered outright. Mrs. Ting Wah was
lonesome In Washington and was pining
away for lack Of feminine companionship
until she was no larger than the little
ivory god on the shelf over the cash
register ing Wah passed the reporter
a big, black cigar and then laughed at
him. not because he was q reporter, but
because he was a representative Of the
"heathens." those foolish Americans
So Miss Fung Choy came TO America TO
keep company with Mrs. Ting Wah and
She came properly accompanied. said ing
Wah. Yes. he declared, she was escorted
by a gentleman attached 10 the Chinese
Legation and what more would a mere
girl wish for?
Miss Fung Choy became Miriam"
about twenty minutes after she unpacked
her silks. hair OH. and jade beads and
became a member Of the ing Wah house
hold She was a good girl" yes. very
good said ing Wan. until she first saw
a moving picture show. ard then INK
Wah laughed 50 heartily he had to rest
his head on the keys Of tie cash reg
lister and wipe big. glistening tears from
the corners OF his eyes.
she velly good no more" and ing
mirth. after which he caught his breath
and explained that Miriam developed
such fondness for moving picture shows
that she forgot everything, her noble
honorable father. her esteemed honor
able brother, her honorable trip across
the big water" and even the Jade beads
IL was moving picture shows with Mir
lam morning, noon and night, said ing
Wah. and she was away from the res
taurant nearly all the time. so that Mrs.
ing Wah was again without a COM
panion of her own sex and began 10 pine
away until she was almost as thin as
a rice stalk. which used 70 grow near
ing Wah's home when he was a boy.
So Ting Wah sent Mrs. ing Wah back
70 China because he knew she would
pine away and die n Miriam did not for
sake the moving picture shows and be-
come the good little companion which
she had been. Ung Wahs son also went
back TO China. but Miriam did not want
to go because there we're no moving pic
ture shows in China.
Miriam Would Not work.
Then. thought ing wah, what was the
necessity Of her remaining in Washing
ton. She ate and slept in the restaurant.
ard saw moving picture shows. but she
would not work. and so ting Wah de-
cided to send her 10 New York. SO Mini
am went 70 New York Did you receive
any money for the grip
The question provoked another outpOur-
ing of laughter. which trickled in little
smiles all over the broad, round face of
ing Wah.
"Me glad she went" and ing Wan
literally forced the words from his lips,
so hearty was the merriment which
gripped him.
ing Wah did not know Miss You Toy,
the gin who is being cared for by the
Gerry Society with Miriam Me nleveh
see her" and by the twinkle IN ing
Wah's eyes It could be seen he was Won
dering II You Toy also loved moving-pic-
ture shows
Considers Charge a Joke.
ing wah apparently accepts the accu-
satlOns OF the girl as a joke which no
Chinaman who has the distinction and
fame he posses should overlook ing
wah does not fear the police. for once
when he was chef on the Presidents
yacht Mayflower he purpOsely deserted
so that he might be arrested and tried.
ing Wah wanted TO test the validity of
the law, which provided that Chinamen
who enlisted in the navy should have to
serve out the entire time. 4
Wah was not the least bit afraid Of the
courts, Pand carried his case to the SUI
preme Court OF the United States. AS
has been the case In nearly everything
he has tried, ing Wah was successful. I
and the decision was in his favor.
But ING Wah does not care as much
for the distinction he won in the law
courts as for the title Of the best Chin
csc chef IN washington" He would prob
ably prefer saying he mas superintendent
state dinners at the Chinese legation for
several years, which IS true, than claim
ing the ownership Of many many thou
sands of American dollars. which he
keeps in a bank in this city.
ing Wah Is probably the richest
Chinaman in business in the National
Capital. and the brain which accumulated
the fortune also comprehends that Ting
Wah is in no danger Of arrest. So ing
Wah smiles, and tells about Miriam and
the moving picture shows.