Laundry Characters

Captain Thomas tí Smith of East One Hundred and Tweuty-fourth street, who ia somewhat of a philologist, had an irnusing experience in trying to analyze j jertain Chinese characters. lt appears ! ;bat when Cliang Lee located his 1 iry iu Harlem, the captain was bis flrst justonier. As the acquaiutance grew Chang Lee strained the red tape lann3ry laws and did not issue the usual ; licket to the captain, but called at bis apartmeut every Monday for his launjry auü retnrned it on Thursday in a package niarked with hieroglypbics. "Is that nay uame?" asked Ihe captain of Chang as he pointed at the Chiuese charaoters shortly after the laundry delivery plan was inaugurated. "Yes. He yon name. See?" The captain didu't see, but set at work to do so, and for severa] weeks studied the writiug that Chaug Lee brougbt to him on eacb ret timing i day. He searched the. libraries for such Chiuese literatura and lexicons as they held, exaruined laundry tiokets and read the signs in Mott street in the hope of being able to learn how Chang Lee 's characters conveyed the idea of the name of Smitb, but he made an utter failure. Finally he decided to appeal to Chang Lee. "Ia that my name?" he asked the laundryman on the occasion of his next visit. "Yes.5' "Can yon teil me how you get Smith out of such a lookinK scrawl?" "No, not Smith. He say 'Captain. ' Cali you captain. That your name. See?" auswered the Chinaman as be pointed at the characters, with an expression that showed surprise at the tain's