The Washington times., 1919-02-04


reason to believe that my father had
any enemy. I cannot conceive of any
reason why anyone should desire his
DEATH"
The most pathetic figure in the
whole triple tragedy is this twenty
year-old daughter Of the slain edu-
Gator. Six thousand miles away from
her home and her mothers arms, she
finds herself entirely alone in a far
country, her father the victim of
dastardly and unwaTTanted murder
and her plans of life and education
completely upset and changed.
The oldest daughter Of a family Of
five girls and two boys, Helen Wong
was the idol Of her fathers heart. He
had the same ambitions for her that
another man might have held for an
oldest son. He had determined that
her education should be complete in
every way. While the family lived
here, their residence being in Lanier
place, Helen attendSd Miss Madeira's
school on Nineteenth street. She
then attended Hanamore Academy,
near Baltimore. where she won a five
year scholarship at the University of
Michigan. She intended to specialize
in medicine at the completion of her
university course.
DR.. Wong Prominent.
DR.. Wong's prominence in his own
country and in educational circles
in this country has scarcely been
realized by the people reading Of his
untimely end. He is recognized as
one Of the foremost educators CT the
world. He translated the Bible intV
Chinese, and with DR.. NenE- the
Chinese ambassador TO Germany,
! rendered Webster's dictionary into
his own language, affording Chinese
and English students a complete
Chinese English dictionary for the
first time For these scholarly la
bors he was decorated by the
| Chinese government. other volumes
from his pen are used as text books
in the schools of China.
Because Of his prodigious labors
and scholarly attainments, DR.. Wong
was the logical man to be chosen Is
director general Of the Chinese edu
cational mission, endowed with ap-
proximately $66,O0O,00O. the United
States share of the Boxer indemnity.
More than 500 students, about 100 OF
who mwere young Chinese girls, were
studying in this country under his
supervision at the time of the murder.
He was in direct communication with
I
ceived frequent letters from them re-
porting their progress and asking ad-
vice. No one who knew DR.. Wong
can. credit the idea that a disgruntled
student might have committed tn"
crime. If there was any criticism of
Woug's attitude toward the boys and
girls under his direction il was that
he was too indulgent. When they
came to Washington he entertained
them layishly and devoted himself to
them. He. also attended all the stu
dents conferences and addressed the
Chinese members, exhortinE them to
so conduct themselves in this land Of
adoption as TO allow no stigma 10
rest on the lard OF their birth.
Had Many Friends.
Dr. Wong had a very wide circle Of
friends here in Washington. He is
remembered as first coming here over
| twenty years ago, when hc was a
student at the University of Virginia.
He became friendly at that time with
| Thomas Morrison, for many years in
| the diplomatic service. That friend-
| ship has continued through the years.
and the diplomats daughter. also a
Mrs. Morrison. OF 1872 Riggs place.
counted DR.. Wong as one Of her
closest and dearest friends.
HE was one of the most delightful
men to know" Mrs. Morrison says.
I "He was q brilliant COnversationaIist
and could speak with authority on
any subject. lie spoke oxford Eng
lish and his diCtion. without a trace
of accent, vas d delight TO the ear
myself never called at the mission
because we looked upon that as a
business establishment When Mrs.
Wong was here, they had delightful
home in Lanicr place where ] often
called. DR.. Wougs home life Wss
very beautiful and Mrs. Wong only
returned 10 Shanghai a year ago be-
cause the climate OF Washington WAS
found to be detrimental 10 her health
After that Dr. Wong and his secro-
taries kept bachelor quarters at the
mission, taking their meals out and
having a colored girl in two hours a
day to straighten out the house.
.'Dr. Wong called at my house the
Friday before his death. He was nis
usual charming self, but he sencd
little homesick for China. He eN-|
pressed the wish to go back as soon as
he could on a visit, although il was
Ionced. he told me, to see his wife
and children. especially the boys,
Winifrcd and Theodore"
In Consular Service.
As a young man DR.. Wong was in
the consular service at NankinE. III
was seven years ago that he took up
his duties as director Of the mission.
He went back TO China several times.