The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-08-09
Lin Lee and His
cousin"
t0. 1921. Western Newspaper Union)
By FREDERICK CLARKE

laundry until we met LIN LOU.
Everybody liked Lin Lee. He had
cut Off his pigtail and he attended
the Episcopal church. Like all CHINA
men, he had q natural genius for the
washtub.
SO Lin Lee became a resident OF
our village and, as l said, everybody
thought he occupied his shanty alone.
We thought so until the evening wheh'
, having brought home the laundry IN
its usual highly starched condition,
and having received the red paper
with its mysterious hieroglyphics
which he always left as security, he
turned round and whistled and an
other Chinaman came out Of the dark
ness
"My cousin, Lin Loo" he vOlun-
teered. "He washee well-as well as
me. He take your laundry tonight"
"Where are you going, Linz asked
my father.
Lin grinned. "Ie going to China"
he said. "Me fight in grand army OF
the republic"
Lin Lee disappeared just as mys-
teriously us Lin Loo had come, but
! that made no difference. Lin Loo
was lust as capable laundryman as
Lin Lee. The ladies Of our family,
i'm fact, maintained that Lin Loo had
special genius for interpreting the
laundry needs of their own garments
and, as result, Lin Loo was to be
seen ironing until far into the night
in his little store on Main street.
Lin Loo was also an Episcopalian,
we found, and when he made his first
visit to our church everyone sat up
and gasped. He was attired in quite
the extreme Of fashion, In SILK hat
and frockcoat and patent leather
shoes. He carried silver-headed
cane, too, and was very devotional In
the responses. The rector took
great fancy to him and invited him
to his home to discuss theology. Mrs.
Stubbs, his wife, was equally attached
| to Lin Loo.
Yes, it was odd what q general fav-
orite Lin Loo became. Lin Loo was
astOnishingly well posted In western
ways. But he wouldn't drink and
didn't swear.
"Any news Of your cousin, Loo"
we would ask, as we stopped In to
watch him bending over his iron and
pressing with his scrawny arms. And
Loo always looked up and smiled and
shook his head.
And when year had rolled by
and Lee had become only a men,
ory, he still maintained the same
assurance. Imperturbable. suave,
courteous, jolly, Lin Lee was q soclnl
asset in our town.
And then the missing cousin turned
up lust as unexpectedly as he had
gone. One evening Lin Lee stepped
into our parlOr, his basket on his arm,
as though he had only left us the
night before, and received the red
pnper from my mother. Then he an
nOunced:
"Me going to leave tomorrow. No
more wash. My cousin, Sam Hong,
has bought my shop"
"And your other cOusin-Lin Loop
was asked.
"He go away" replied our visitor.
"NO see any more"
1t must have been nearly year
after our friends departure that bust.
ness called mo to Richmond. l was
strolling down one of the side streets
when | caught sight Of Lin Lee be-
hind the glass window of u laundry,
ironing as hard as ever. walked
In.
He greeted me with the same cheer
full smile as ever. We shook hands
and discussed old times.
"Why did you leave us so suddenly.
Lin Lee?" l asked. 1--WE all miss you
In our town. What was the matter!
Didn't we treat YOU wellI"
"Sure-fine," answered Lin Lee with
broad grin. II come to Richmond
to open bigger place. more business
] get married"
At that moment the door opened
and Chinese woman, with little
ack-haircd, squint-eyed baby In her
arms, pecrcd out. knew her. too. II
was Mrs. Llns Lee-once Mr.. Lin Loo
She nodded and smiled and shut the
door In my face and said goodbye
quickly and went out.
Now l hold no brief for or against
Cinnamon. but Will say l was Of
Tended at this horrible deception at
the time. But afterward / began
thinking; could he huve been assured
of his wife's safety, living alone In
our town, the only Celestial within
twenty miles? i think he could;
know he could. But l can imagine
what dangers he may have feared fol
her--the young husband, called bacl
eight thousand miles to fight his
c0untry's battles, with all he loved
dwelling alone among whlte-faced bar
barlans.