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Oakland Tribune November 21 1905
"Son of a White Woman and Chinese
Goes to Father's Old Home to Take a
Bride"
That for ways that are dark
And for tricks that are vain
The Heathern Chinese are peculiar
--from poems by
Bret HartHAYWARD, November 21
Here's a strange story of a Chinese romance interwoven with matter of fact American life.
It began in the sunflower kingdom, far across the sea, neath the apple blossomed trees and is carried over to California's sunny shore and finally out to Hayword to grow amid the unromantic surroundings of a common place Chinese laundry.
And yet the final chapter is yet to be written in the Emperor's realm.
Long years ago, when it was yet the vogue for everyone in China to wear pigtails and flowing blouses,
CHONG YAT
YEE was a prosperous merchant. But the spirit of the immigrant was in his soul and he determined to see what the future had in store for him in the far off United States.
CAME TO
CALIFORNIASo CHONG YAT
YEE bartered off all his posessions, bade goodbye to all his friends and relatives, put his gold in his pig-skin bag and sailed for
CALIFORNIA. He arrived here in the early forties, before discovery of the glittering metal in this state.
He traveled around a bit but finally located in
Montana, where he accumulated considerable land, which became valuable through its stores of copper. But its worth was not made known to
CHONG YAT
YEE and he disposed of his possession at a meager figure and went to Chicago.
Here he resorted to the usual Chinese American to make a living -- a Chinese laundry
MARRIED A WHITE WOMAN
And
CHONG YAT
YEE paid close attention the the ways of the "
Melican" man and it was not long before he was paying his respects to a white woman, MARTHA JANE
BRYANT. CHONG YOT
YEE was prospering in business and likewise in love. It was not long before he proposed, was accepted and made the husband of MARTHA JANE
BRYANT.
Most faithful indeed to her Chinese husband was this American-born woman. She became the mother of six children and all were happy.
It was about nine years ago that the family came to San Francisco, and there for eight years,
CHONG YOT
YEE conducted a Chinese laundry.
LOCATED AT
HAYWARDJourning to Hayard one day for shirts and collars of one of his customers, he became impressed with the surroundings there, for the blossoming trees and the warm sunshine reminded him of his home far across the sea.
Then Mr. and Mrs. Chong
YEE gathered their worldly belongings and took up residence in
HAYWARD and there purchased the controlling interest in a laundry.
But here is their first real sorrow. Their eldest daughter, GIM
YEE (Laura Lee), as she was called, was taken from them by the stern authorities, who said
CHONG YOT
YEE household was not fit a place for her occupancy.
The pleadings of the father and tears of the mother availed nothing "the girl must go" said the mission authorities, and so she did.
Legal efforts were put forth by
CHONG YOT
YEE to regain custody of his daughter, but without avail. and from the time she was taken away from their home, the parents have not since seen her.
The father in his own Chinese peculiar way, said nothing, but when alone with his long stemmed pipe, he gave way to grief and soon wore to a mere shadow. And six weeks after being separated from his daughter, he passed away.
Many punks were burned and little slips of paper, filled with holes, for the devil to slip through, were distributed about, as all that was mortal of
CHONG YOT
YEE was put beneath the earth, while on the grave there was a fat roasted pig and all the delicacies, which to the Chinese mind, pleased the Gods.
AN AMERICAN WIDOW
The American widow and mother assumed full charge of affairs and it was learned the
CHONG YOT
YEE after the custom of his countrymen, had arranged that his eldest son YOT
YEE was to wed a fair Chinese maid living in far-off China.
Now the young man has never seen his bride to be, nor the girl her intended husband, but in real Chinese fasion they have been bethrold by their parents for the American mother will continue the Chinese customs of her late husband, even though he is dead.
GOES FOR A
BrideAnd that is why they sailed from San Francisco on the steamer Magnolia last Thursday. YOT
YEE and his little sister GNON
YEE for the flowery kingdom.
YOT
YEE goes to claim the bride chosen for him by his father and mother MARTHA JANE. MARY
YEE accompanies him to keep his brother from lonesomeness on his journey over the seas and to participate in the ceremony.
Punks are burning and prayers offered at
HAYWARD for the safe arrival of YAT
YEE and MARY
YEE in the little village of Thin __
Kee where the former is to look upon the face of his sweetheart and bride-to-be for the first time.
Then too, punks, smoke and prayers are being laid before the ---josh in the little Chinese village for YOT
YEE and his sister so they may arrive without mishap.
And so this Chinese romance is drawing to a close. Soon there will be clanging of cymbals and the chanting of the priests, the drinking of much tea and Yat
YEE, son of a full blooded Chinese immigrant and American born woman will be married.
FRUGAL FAMILY
Now the
YEE family has been very frugal and Yot
YEE carries with him a snug fortune to his bride. After marriage they will settle down in the home relatives picked out for them and live according to the customs of their fathers.
Meanwhile Mrs. Martha Jane
YEE will direct the affairs of the laundry in
HAYWARD, continue to bring out the shirts and collars spotless as snow and day-dream of her Chinese son and daughter across the sea.