Hunter College High School - Argus Yearbook (New York, NY)

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V I Nevertheless, in a short time, Wong found himself in such a terrible financial condition that he was forced to accept the only way out. He was induced to cast discretion to the winds and take up a life of perpetual fear. Then the antique shop became merely a blind to the police. The inner part of VVong Sing's shop was the scene of uninterrupted activity. Day by day, business increased, The depression brought new patrons who wished to forget their grief and troubles through Vxfong Sings pipes of pleasant dreams. Money became Wong Sing's god! But in the midst of the joy of increasing fortune all the pleasure had gone out of his life, Wong Sing missed the pleasant mornings when he and his son rose early to put the shop in order and then, with renewed hope each ensuing day, awaited the first customer. He realized that his son too, resented this abrupt ter- mination of their former proximity and did not understand it, He allowed VVong Som to care for the outer shop but did not allow him to enter the inner portion. To each of his son's queries about the lolling music and queer noises from the rear of the shop Wong Sing maintained a pained silence, Within Wong Sing's grasp was unlimited wealth and he had not the strength of character to terminate his activities. Wong Som was the only probable agent by which Wong Sing could be forced to relent. Deep in the heart of this Chinaman who had once been noble but had succumbed in the unrelenting battle against penury, this deep love for his son was so strong that at times he had been near the point of allowing his love to overpower his greed, but life had gone on without offering sufficient excuse for a definite change in his mode of living. On his son's birthday in the early part of Iune, Wong Sing, slightly stirred by the occasion, was again attempting to settle the question of his future, He realized that the heavy brass door which separated his legal and illegal occupations was also the only barrier between the certainty and uncertainty of his son's love, If this barrier was ever passed by his son or any other feared individual! . . . . Wong Sing got no further in this debate with his conscience because from the outer portion of his shop Wong Sing heard a loud crash. The police! In an instant Wong Sing had quieted the music and lowered sixteen

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The Son Of Wong Sing by Edith Tannenbaum 0 N a remote street in Chinatown, Wong Sings unpretentious antique shop was interesting only to those who studied Chinese antiques - and Wong Sing had discovered that few people do! Wong Sing had come to America to make his fortune. I-le was the seventh son in a noble Chinese family. Seventh sons do not receive much notice in China. A man's fortune must be of unbelievable size to warrant a noticeable heritage to a seventh son after all the more important sons have been properly looked after. Thus after his father's death Wong Sing found himself practically destitute. His only conceivable method of revenge was to go to America with his motherless infant, make his fortune, and finally return to China in royal state. I-le was determined to make good! On his arrival in America Wong Sing was befriended by another Chinese merchant who craftily induced him to invest the little money he had in a small antique shop. After a year of this. innocent Wong Sing realized that his friend was becoming a rich man through some of his enterprises which were unknown to Wong Sing, while Wong Sing was scarcely earning his bread. Wong Sings son, Wong Som, was now getting older and with his advancement in years VVong Sings desire to be able to support him also advanced. The father and son, entirely alone in a strange world, had developed the sort of companionship coveted by every father. To Wong Som his father was perfection personified and Wong Sing would rather have lost anything than the devotion of his son. Although, for a time. their every day life was serenely happy poverty and hunger gradually threatened them. This induced Wong Sings friend to introduce him to his own unlawful but money making occupation. Wong Sing had been reluctant to accept this life because of his son. Although it would afford Wong Som an opportunity for a better education, his father feared that as the boy grew older he would understand and lose faith in his father. Also, connection with illegal occupation was frightening. Wong Sing feared he could never bear the separation from his son which would be the inevitable result of discovery. fifteen

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I 4 the brass door which prevented anyone from gaining knowledge of VVong Sing's dual occupations. An investigation of the crash found his son in the front of the shop staring mutely at a broken vase. Standing with him was a man whom Wong Sing immediately mistrusted. The man ex- plained that Wong Som had been showing him teakwood boxes but unfortunately there were none in the front of the store that interested him. Perhaps there were some in the rear of the store that he might see? Wong Sing's wits were sharpened by mistrust, and he realized that his son, who was as intimate with the outer shop as Wong Sing was himself, could not possibly have been looking for teakwood boxes near the vases. This man would bear watching! Wong Sing cordially invited this man to examine the rear of his shop knowing that the brass door was closed and he had little to fear. He pretended not to notice that the man was not at all interested in teakwood boxes and allowed him to make a thorough search. Finally the man was forced to leave with a seventy-five cent incense stand and all suspicions banished. There and then Wong made his decision! Deeply moved he said to his son, Cn the next boat we return to the land of our fathers. There is onething more precious than gold. For that I shall attempt to restore my honor! And VVong Sing was glad, VVong Som would never under- stand! My World A little globe - I hold it in my hand, It's round and smooth and soothing to the touch, The nations' destinies at my command And if I ruin them F- 'twon't matter much. A little globe and I f- I reign supreme, This world to be my suppliant at willy I laugh a bit and interrupt my dream To place it back upon the window sill. llma Schramm SeVQUtCeI'l