Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-04
BY BILL HILL.

japanese Occupy Chinchow Without
Fight from China" the headlines an
nounced
The reporter, sympathetic soul, felt
a twinge. Think of all the Chinese in
China, all the Chinese in America, all
the Chinese in Washington! What sor-
row they must feel! Like the Confed-
crates when Grant took Richmond or
the Colonials when the British sacked
Washington.
There would be Wing Lee, the Chinese
laundryman in the 5000 block of Four
tenth street. There would be no joy
that night for Wing Lee. Mighty Chin
chow has fallen.
The reporter wondered if the faithful
laundryman would keep his shop open.
He would stop and see-perhaps con-
sole the Oriental, for the sphinx-faced
fellow might even have some relatives
in old Chinchow.
Wing Lee was ironing when the re-
porter arrived. Occasionally he would
look up and peer out through the plate
glass window. His face bore no lines Of
sorrow-juSt the same aloofneSS.
I'VE never reveal our deepest hurts"
the reporter platitudinized. Poor Wing
Lee! His slippers flap tapped on the
floor as he glided through his world Of
soiled cuffs and collars up to the
counter.
Sympathy Appears Wasted.
The reporter swallowed lump in his
throat. What could he say? Something
to show real understanding, real SYM
pathy. Something to take away the
hurt-to be consoling throughout the
brooding during the coming hours,
brooding that would only be interrupted
by the blump-blump sound Of the iron.
wing Lee" he began.
The laundryman grinned mirthlessly.
He's brave, the reporter thought.
Wing Lee, it's certainly too bad.
don't know exactly what to say :"
he paused hopefully. The Orientals
expression didn't change. Maybe the
old fellow hadn't heard.
Wing Lee" he tried again. I'm
mighty sorry. 1 suppose you've
heard"
Something wrongP" the old Chinese
queried with an effort at sympathy.
"Oh, you haven't heard then. The
japanese took Chinchow today. The
Chinese army had to give in to them"
The ancient enigma in the Orientals
face deepened. He didn't understand.
Your people have lost an important
CITY to the japanese. ChinchoW has
surrendered. Don't you read the news
papers?"
Didn't you have any relatives in
Chinchow, Wing Lee. Didn't you leave
any of your family there when you came
to American"
Never Saw China.
"Nah!" grunted Wing Lee. The
IL kNo
definite air of disgust. Me never in
China. Me born in America"
The sympathy in the reporters heart
turned almost to hate. Wing Lee didn't
have to be so unconcerned. After all,
he had almond-shaped eyes, crisp, black
hair, and an enigmatic face. The re-
porter turned and stalked out of the
shop.
Disappointment spread over him like
a consuming ache. 1t wasn't fair. Wing
Lee should be sad. He paused: There
was BENJAMIN Lee a few blocks down
the street Benjamin? That didn't
sound Chinese. But he'd try.
benjamin Lee looked bored at the
reporters graphic account OF the Man
churian situation.
II more intelested in dirty shirts, "
the Chinese said, with just a touch Of
what SOundeC, 10 tLe IePOA va AAhS NC"
York accent.
On down Fourteenth street then. He
would find a Chinese who was sad, a
patriotic Chinese who would perhaps
throw his chest out and declare, Give
nv people liberty or give me DEATH
Sing Lee confessed to an American
birth.
One Place Forbidding.
Hung Shing had German police dog
tapping at his heels and had radio In
his store. The reporter didn't even
bother to question him, but hurried on.
He became frantic, extending his
search for a real Chinese now to the
novelty shops and Chinese restaurants.
Wing Hung, Lee Sing, Wang Shung-
| They might have been Brown, Smith
and Jones for all their apparent inter-
est in what had just happened In Man
Churia.
And then came the tenth Chinese
He managed a novelty shop in the
| 1900 block Of Pennsylvania avenue.
Yes, I was born in China" he said in
perfect English. But left there when
/ was very young and have lived in
America ever since
The reporter crept home, his head
down, his nose jutting out disconso-
ltely between the lapels Of his upturned
overcoat collar.
Another illusion shattered. Chinese