Evening star., 1909-06-21
is NOW IN WASHINGTON
Wen, His Classmate, Supposed to
Have Been His Valet.
CHINAMEN HIDE IDENTITY
Secretary Dickinson, at Graduation,
Talked to Immortal as Though
He Recognized High Rank.

were graduated at West Point in the
class Of 1909. believe that when Secre-
tary OF War Jacob NJ. Dickinson deliv-
cred a diploma of the United States
Military Academy to Cadet Ting C. Chen
he delivered ii into the hands of a
Chinaman of the very highest rank. and
that when he delivered a similar d.
ploma to Cadet Ying Hsing Wen he did
so to a young man who was the attend
ant of Chen.
Chen and Wen are now in Washing
ton Chen. II fs said. win soon 90 to
London. where ne will be attached for
a time to the Chinese embassy there.
Many of Chen's classmates say there
is little doubt of his noble origin. No
member of the Chinese legation in
Washington. which legation is given as
the demicile Of Chen and Wen. has ever,
so far as known. denied off1cially or
otherwise the suspicious Of the cadets.
If Wen was in fact the attendant OF
Chen he was one OF the most popuia T
students In the Military Academy, and
he was also one OF the brightest. De-
spite the handicap of his language he
managed to graduate eighty-fourth out
of a class Of. l04 members. Chen was
the Immortal OF the class. the name
given those Nhe graduate at the bot
tom of a West Point class.
AOSQeQ IN 1le DC OdyS.
Four years ago the two Cinnamon
came to West Point. At that time West
Point was a strenuous place for a
'plebe." and there is a tradition that
the upper classmen had a lot Of fun
with Chen. and Wen.
When they entered the academy no.
body knew a thing about them 1t was
known that Congress had approved
f,air fOr long time 1t
was believed that both were Cinnamon
OF high caste in thefr native country.
Wen was the nvelier OF the two. and
he took Joke with much better grace
than Chen.
Wen. il is said, saw the funny side of
everything and soon became one Of the
popular cadets of his class. Chen. on
the other hand. was slower In appre-
ciating cadet humor. but took his medi-
cine like a man. even II he did not like
1t as well as Wen.
When the members of the class of 1909
began to know each other better, some of
the more inquisitive tried to find out
something about Chen and Wen. Finally
the exact origin of the Orientals became
a problem that every member Of the class
:; tried to solve.
Little by little the investigators made
progress and when Chen and Wen had
finished their second year at West Point
tine American cadets had made up their
minds that one of them was in all prob
ability a prince of China, or at least the
son of a viceroy. The other. they say.
origin. and was probably sent as an at
tendant
But which was which? was the question.
; Was the prince "Beely." as the cadets
Washington Sing Sing" the name given
to Wen
Chen Pfince; Wen Valet.
Another year passed. and Chen and Wen
were passed into the first class, and by
that time the cadets. not only Of their
own class. but of all the other ella ssses
in the academy. had decided that Chen
was the Prince" and that Wen was the
attendant. and this is still the opinion
of those officers of the army and cadets
still at West Point who know personally
the future generals of the Chineses army.
. The cadets at West Point who say they
are in the secret will not tell how they
solved the puzzle, and the Chinese lega-
tion at Washington Is just as silent. In
the four years that Chen and Wen were
at West Point their address according to
the cadet register. was the Chinese Le-
cation, Washington. d. c.
OF course, the cadets had lot of fun
with Chen and Wen trying to get them to
admit which was which or who was who.
But the Oriental cadets only laughed In
reply to all questions, and were quick to
evade dangerous cross-examinations,
1t is believed also that there are In the
War Department some officials who know
the exact status In their own country OF
Chen and Wen.
Had you known English as we'll az
you do Chinese" said Secretary Of War
Dickinson to Chen when he handed his
diploma to him. Il would not have been
surprised to have seen you near the top
OF this splendid class. You deserve a
great deal Of credit. and ! congratulate
you.
Now. when you go home. I trust that
you will do all that is In your power
to maintain the traditional friendship
that has always existed between your
own country and the United States"
The diplomas at West Point are de.iv-
cred TO the cadets in the order Of their
cadet to get his.
When he stepped forward the cheers
of the cadet corps shook the building
and Wen was SO pleased that he winked
: all smiles. nashlight went of as Wen
descended the steps, but he did not turn
an eyelash.
AS for Chen. Secretary Dickinson held
his hand while he was telling him about
his mission to maintain the friendly
status OF the United States and China.
+. Chen was plainly embarrassed. When
he started down the steps leading from
the rostrum a second hashlight went OF
and II caught Chen of his guard. Chen
steps.
"Beely," by the Biographer.
In the 1909 Howitzer. published by the
class Of 1909. the cadet editors give lit.
tie history of each member OF the class
This Is what they say of "Beely" Tins
c. Chen:
: Chen has attained fame in several
lines
First. he is the gymnast par excel
the giant swing He has an entirely origi
nal feature in connection with this feat
which consists In landing on his head al
the end Of each swing. The only disad
vantage with this feature is that 1t takes
a week or so in the hospital for Chen t6
recover from the effects of each perform
ance.
Second. he Is a lawyer Of note Som.
OF his interpretations OF common ant
constitutional law have become deserved
ly famous.
Passing hastily over his musical per
formances. Chens greatest claim to dis
tinction lies in his record at pistol prac
tice. The members OF his section wer,
never sure whether his morning practic,
would result in manslaughter or suicide
but II was an even bet IT would be one o.
the other.
We hear he is TO enter the Chimes,
cavalry. where his varied talents. w
hope, will bring him success.
OF George Washington Sing Sing
Ying Hsing Wen. the Howitzer says
Wen has assumed a great many Amer
lean characteristics and Is even gettin,
proficient in American profanity. We ex
peet great things OF him when he returns
to his native land to apply the tactics O