New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-08

/ Jump out OF the window she could not have
/ looked more horror-struck you know I'm
/ Chinese myself" I added. and walked
away. Several times during the course OF
| the afternoon did poor little Kitty look my
/ way. but from anything beyond looking
she was restrained. Once I heard the
woman say to her husband, And she came
out so boldly with it--not a bit ashamed
/ She mightn't have meant me, but. How
/ ever. enjoyed my stop at the next station
/ S. 7. j., a public school teacher pro-
/ fessed profound admiration for the Chinese
as a nation. and almost gushing affection
for myself, as a friend She was q bright
and interesting woman. and I liked her well
/ for over year. Yet when we had a differ
ence, In which I got the better OF her, she
revenged herself upon me by telling me
that a relative OF hers, who was also a
teacher, was very much annoyed with her
because she would persist in being my
friend, and cooingly added: isn't IL mean
OF her? I tell her you are Such a dear
little thing But she won't listen, only
says: I'm sure she eats rats. All those
Chinese do. And you needn't bring her 10
dinner, because don't know how 10 cook
rats"
Although the two women quoted are pub
lie school teachers, they are the daughters
Of laboring men, and have seen them eat
fish with a knife mot silver, ether II is
the educated sons and daughters Of unedu-
Gated parents who are the most bitterly
prejudiced against the Chinese. I have yet
to meet a man or woman from home OF
refinement and culture who. when worsted
in an argument, resorts TO the vulgar and
cowardly weapon Of race prejudice. I have
noticed. however, that common people who
, wish 10 appear aristocratic and superior
are usually the greatest race ranters and
patriOts-probably because that is the only
way In which they can distinguish them
selves.
When I last returned from the West
took up my residence in an Eastern town
Of some note. The house I'm which I lived
was kept by a public school teacher who
was not teaching regularly. one day this
teacher who declared that she had taken
a special liking to me, began TRADE
against the negro race, and concluded it
with: But though I despise and have the
utmost contempt for the negroes, yet 1
hate worse the Chinese. who have such
torted: well. / am Chinese" She gasped
a little and said. You're testing. aren't
you?" No I replied, 'I am half Chi
nese." She told me she would never
have guessed IL, which she expected
me 10 take as a great compliment.
Then she begged me not 10 en-
tighten any one in the house as TO
the fact OF my nationality as she had
said it would ruin her business should
they know. 1 suggested that I leave her
and take a room elsewhere, but she almost
cried at the thought, and so, as 1 do not
ike TO grieve people, ! agreed to remain
quiet; but at the same time reserved to
myself the right TO speak the truth should
they ask me any questions.
As. when lodging around, I like 20 keep
10 myself. and dislike gOssipiHg with neigh
Dor roomers, e was no difficult matter
TO keep my nationality a secret from the
other dodgers. but I soon discovered that
my Iandlady, while begging me TO keep
olliet on the subject. made II her own busi-
ness 20 inform certain persons telling
them. as I subsequently learned, that she
was allowing me TO remain in the house
ont OF pity. and because / really did seem
like q white person. IN some respects. I
srso hogan 10 observe that whenever she
came into my room or 7 ran across her, II
aIone she was very friendly and Intimate.
Rrt when met her IN the company Of
others she was : different person alto
conference.-the dignihed and remote.
have very sharp ears, and once heard her
ss.,,. IN a teacher from the South: I'm polite
~ bsr but would not think Of treating her
a. AN equal" and the teacher from the
south returned THE only way is to keep
tbar, down and order them about. That's
~, ,,e manage the negroes, even the whit
est blooded."
r-nlike my landlady. the woman from the
south was true TO her principles ! can say
tha+ much for her II nothing else Inc
eo,o,ying morning ] met her IN the haH'
80 though I had never spoken a word TO
80 mr. she 10 me. without any preliminary
- Eve me this peremptory order: Run
-,r,gtsirs and bring down the green card
$50 box which / have left on the bu-
-, in nv room" Needless 70 say the
order was not obeyed.
Among the dodgers were several men
..,.bers and professors. These, 10 Whom
-, nationaIity had also been whispered
- ip the habit Of talking about me-
10 voce. ! heard that they could ho'
....dorstand how "A person Of inferior race
-.,ld earn her living In America, throusH
~, ,vercise Of her mental faculties "HHio
49,. horn daughters. lectured, schooieu
"a colleged. were sweeping out rooms anu
,,i,o beds for a living. The whole street
,.bich 1 lived and many other s'iee's
- were full OF lodging houses kept