Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-10
LEE WONG GOES BACK
Oldest Chef Of Chinatown Returns to
His Native Land---A Unique Little
Masazine--Hsrry Walton and
His Frlends--The Capitol
Orchestra
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
&c WONG has returned to China


by GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
EE WONG has returpod tn China
l. Eor ,b;rtv .6vo yoors be vos the pre.
tonrnnt On Rnce street near Ninth. He was
the oldest resident of the colony.
The vulgar, whom Lee Wong served
through the years. called it chop suey
joint.
To this class of customers Wong was the
impassive, Indifferent, monosyllabic China
man we all know. He served them, they
paid on delivery and disappeared into the
night.
There was another class of patrons, how.
ever, that came and went ut infrequent
intervals.
To them Lee Wong was a joval and
genial host. To them the chop suey and
yock- min of the hoi polloi was barred
lie served special dishes and choice chinese
concoctions OF which the rif-raf Ind never
heard, much less tasted
These patrons were artists, illustrators
and writers. To them Lee Wong was
"Charley'
Twenty years ago there was scarcely a
night that did not witness group OF news.
papermen or illustrators at one of the round
cial guests.
In lne passing Esars lee wong Part-
ia nHrS uisu lieu or ur. went o"eN u 'h'na Until nc
"'1ne N"S ~ , ..
&c h;s otiun .ar Iure VI .h une se
u,orni,a mts A. ovMn, VI .ue VIZ "hoi % ne
dror h;r ~ bon,onarG anu '"ree 'pi'ureh
"iJH nun nolIc"aru.
ne 'ou'' "o' resist. NO" he IL gone
,
MI EMBEhS oi the late Legislature who
A'I packed the House on several evenings
during the session to listen to the delightful
concert given by the Capitol Hill Orchestra
were unaware that this admirable organisa-
tion has never performed in public for an
admission fee.
In that respect it is unique in the his
tory of large musical organizations.
At various times il has given concerts in
the auditorlums Of Harrisburg, which were.
followed by dance.
In every instance they were invitation
affairs and admittance was secured only by
card.
The fifty members supply their own in
struments, and their music is furnished
through subscriptions from friends. All the
musicians are employees in some department
Howard W. Fry, the conductor. is secre-
tary OF the Department of Highways: The
honorary president OF the organization is
pubiic Service Commissioner John s.
hii'ihg' s.
,,,,,
MAN r. lHMSEN' publisher of the Los
AVA Angeles Examiner, who died last week,
was Pennsylvania and widely known
among the older newspaper men,
He began his newspaper career in Pitts
burgh in lSSS. Just seven years later he
was an active political leader in New York
city.
1hmsen belonged to that generation of
Pittsburgh newspaper men of whom Colonel
Charles a. Rook, publisher of the Dispatch;
Alexander =. Moore, OF the Evening Leader,
md Oliver HirShman. of the Evening Press
are surviving representatives.
The lhmscns were an old Pittsburgh
family of glass manufacturers, Max belong
ing to collateral branch. Before he had
graduated from the ranks of Il district re-
porter on the Pittsburgh Dispatch he had
struck out for himself in New York.
He was n natural born politician with a
fertile IMAGINATION and tremendous vitality
Mayor of New York ll905) and his cam.
paIgn for Governor l1006):
ne went west in l4OS. following in the
footsteps of other Pennsylvanians like Sam
frazer ana Erastus Brainard to become
newspaper managers on the Pacific coast.
>-,, -
ENh1 +. WALTON had what l once
IL heard described as "a genius for friend
| ship
Few men in public life ever had as many
friends of the real sort as the late pro-
thonotary.
His was jovial personality, and he de-
lighted to be in the company of others like
| unto himself in an atmosphere that radiated
| sunshine and good cheer.
I have before me as write a monograph
| of twenty four pages entitled Clubs. COT.
| fee Houses and Taverns of Ye Olden Time
| by Henry +. Walton. The further super
| scription runs:
Read by the author. Brother Chi Mt
| the Button, where the Bachelors dined
March II, 1916"
| II is most entertaining description Of
old London coffee houses and taverns of two
and a half centuries ago 1t il more than
| that 1t is a learned little brochure ON the
| origin of these places of public entertain
mcnt Mr.. Walton traced their origin TO
| the time Of .Justinian