THE CHINESE Of WELLINGTAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2553, 14 July 1909, Page 3

THE CHINESE Of WELLINGTAN.

A PRQGRESoIVb UPLIFT. THE INFLUENCE OF CONSUL HWANG. (By “Foreign Devil,” in the “Citizen.”) It has come at last. We read recently in the invaluab e society columns of our daily press that Mrs. Tung-liang Hwang, the dainty wife of the Chinese Consul for New Zea.antl, gave a charming tea at the Consulate, which was attended by Mrs. Do Ton, Mrs. de I’ Argent,- and other undone ted representatives of the “best people-,” or “the people that count.” “That the hostess wore,” etc., and “her little daughter, Miss Gertrude Hwang, had,” etc. The announcement seems only a trivial one. Does it not involve the virtual extension, through their omcial representative, of a sort of social franchise to the despised. Celestials of this country ? Where one has led the way others may surely follow; the humblest vegetable man, having amassed something more than a. competency, which his frugality and assiduity soon enable him to do, may. aspire to mix on equal terms with the highest rank of the social hierarchy, to drink tea with the exclusive Mrs. de I’Argent, and to press to a birds’nest pudding the adorable Mrs. de Ton. Henceforth there is a haven for the Pariah. INFLUENCE OF THE NEW CONSUL A few short months ago, this would have- .'Cemjd ridiculous, even .as a dream. During the Parliamentary elections, when wary candidates had avoided every other pitfall, they were invariably confronted with this mantrap: “Are you in favor of increasing the poll-tax on Chinese?” And the candidate who did not favor that unkindness, had to oppose John’s enemies with great frankness and audacity, or else deceive them with oracular guile, in order to escape the resentment which his unnatural views must otherwise inspire. One man has changed the fortunes of the Chinese. A Chinese consul, cultured, diplomatic, sauve, a paragon of Celestials, faultless in N frock coat and high silk hat awing the “best people” with a university degree, and charming natural aversion with his amiable slow smile, has come, and seen, and conquered. Mr. Hwang, having obvious claims to be admitted to the best society himself, was not disposed to ask concessions for his countrymen. He put them at once, by implication, on the same plane as himself. He commenced by se'tting forth to an interviewer, how much better the despised poor-class Chinaman dined and drank that the New Zealand working man; he startled a church meeting by suggesting that the Chinese fraternity in Wellington had failed, in the past, to realise their social opportunities. This was before Mns. Hwang’s reception had been attended by the elect, and the vision opened up by his calm statement came as a slight shock to ma®y persons who had warmly approved the lecturer’s suggesting for increasing the foreign mission fund, and inviting a Chinese lay-reader to minister to the aliens in this city, and otherwise conferring on the lower race those charitable Christian favors which gratify the feelings of compassionate superiority. MR. HWANG AS A LECTURER. In addressing another church meeting on. Chinese religion and literature Mr. Hwang did not burk the plain avowal that it was only a few ’-ears since the Chinese had regarded Europeans as other than barbarians. Some home truths were accepted for tho novelty and interest of the new consul’s lectures. Mr. Hwang is not a ready English speaker; he has not so much a good command of language as a very slow command of good language. After every phrase, ha seems to be consulting an invisible dictionary, from which he drags, at last, the vocabulary, of his next phrase, reinforced, -with triumphant readiness, by more or less synonymous phrases in conformation oh elucidation, just as they are given in a dictionary. But Mr. Hwang is a unique personage in New Zealand ; he is earnest and a thinker; lie is superlatively well-dressed, and lias a captivating, smile. As a lecturer, therefore, he is much sought after and praised. WHAT HAVE THE CHINESE DONE. Meanwhile several hundred humbler Chinamen are selling vegetables and ironing shirts in Wellington, not widely recognised as yet as a potential social force, but, if they have aspirations, aspiring now not without hope. There arc many Europeans in Wellington who would not allow them even to sell vegetables and iron shirts. In other parts of the Dominion its Chinese colony, and their command of tho fruit trade,, are regarded as the greatest stigma upo,n Wellington. I know of nothing that the Celestials have done, or do, to incur sncli shame. Ido not take tea with Ah Foo, but he serves me excellently with greens; far better than A — B—., and C — D —, and several other Europeans, whose shops I rashly tried, at various times, in deference to a foolish theory. He does not blaspheme at the street corner, or reel out of the hotel when I am passing with my wife; if he plays fan tan in the dark hours behind his silent shutters, at least he does not play two-up in broad day-light, oil the King’s Wharf, to an accompaniment of lurid language; if he over beats bis wife, she does not mako' a scene in the street. Tradition, more than the police court records, does indeed credit him with certain vices; they are very popular vices, with the European. His frugality, his industry, and other virtues, are far more probable causes of liis-unpopularity. THE EUROPEAN GREENGROCER. When I discovered my first European greengrocer in Wellington, I thought I had found a friend. Yes, I was welcome to have anything in the window; there would not be two varieties, as in John’s shop; one to tempt the wayfarer within, the other to defraud his pence. Here, truly, there was not much in the window, but I made my choice and got mv money’s worth, contented. But after that there was everyday less choice. “Celery? No. we.don’t sell that now. It seems to us that nobody eats celery in this town. We stocked it for a " week, and it was all left on our hands.” I called on John next door. Celery? to"be sure. Penny? twopence? I might have had half »' ton of celery. After a similar experience I could understand a motto which had’caught my eye on my first arrival in 'Wellington: “European Fruiterer. Help to Drive Out the Chinaman.” It stood above an empty shop. My second European fruiterer had started in a small way. And I pitied him. But day by day he grew more tired. It was an obvious exertion to him to weigh me out a shilling’s worth of apples; still, he did it to oblige me. I reciprocated, and. .it cost me some ’domestijc unhappiness..when I continued to take! his wares. ■ 1 left.him for ansother European who bad opened down :.the

somebody was. The charges of those Chows are awful !”Now this was spoiling a fair case; I had never known a Chinaman overcharge, I have not yet found a European who can undersell them, and I do not exp ct it. 1 dealt for some days with my last European; he had no idea of dressing windows; no shining, well-il uminated plums and apples smiled a kindly, if delusive welcome, but I put -up ✓with the gloom. When I went several times to the Chinaman for things he had not got I did not for that reason desert him. His fruit was often “specked,” his vegetables wore always dirty; his celery required cleaning with a trowel. 1 gave him up at last, and in future 1 will hear no word agamst the Chinaman. THE SUPERIOR CHINESE. His windows are a kindly light, hardly to be resisted. I know that that superlative fruit is not for mo _at the absurd prices marked, but it is good to have an unattainable. .“A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a Heaven for?” There is no deception when we know that window beauties are for ocular consurrmtion only ; no grosser, animal violence shall destroy their almost preternatural charm. I enter the temple, a revered and welcomed visitant. The mild-eyed acolytes attend upon me'with respectful homage; what delays, what brusqueness I remember from my European equals! Whatever I desire is in a moment mine—short of those window dainties. There is satisfaction to both parties, and I can set down my purchases at home and not leave hurriedly. I have no grievance against Chinamen.