The Chinese in California, 1850-1925
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Drama
This collection includes two short plays, providing the opportunity to analyze and perform dramatic works. "The Chinese Must Go." A Farce in Four Acts by Henry Grimm tells the story of the Blaine family and their Chinese servants. The play opens with a scene in the Blaines' kitchen, in which one of these servants, Sam Gin, washes dishes while the other, Ah Coy, smokes an opium pipe:
"Ah Coy. I telly you, white man big fools; eaty too muchee, drinky too muchee, and talkee to muchee.
Sam Gin. White man catchee plenty money; Chinaman catchee little money.
Ah Coy. By and by white man catchee no money; Chinaman catchee heap money; Chinaman workee cheap, plenty work; white man workee dear, no work — sabee?
Sam Gin. Me heep sabee.
Ah Coy. Chinaman plenty work, plenty money, plenty to eat. White man no work, no money, die — sabee?
Sam Gin. Me heep sabee.
Ah Coy. White man damn fools; keep wifee and children — cost plenty money; Chinaman no wife, no children, save plenty money. By and by, no more white workingman in California; all Chinaman — sabee?"
- What does this play suggest about the virtues of labor?
- What morals are to be drawn from the characters of Frank and Lizzie Blaine?
- What is the symbolic significance of the discussion of parrots on pages 9 and 10 and of gardens on page 15?
- What does the treatment of the character, The Reverend Howard Sneaker, suggest about people who support the immigration of Chinese?
- How does the author portray Chinese characters in this play? Why do you think he has them speak in broken English? How does this affect the audience?
- What does this play suggest about Chinese labor in the United States?
- What common nineteenth-century notions about Chinese labor are reflected in this play? What does the play suggest about these ideas?
- Search the collection on Blaine and try to determine why the author might have selected this name for his characters.
A New Life for Ling Wang by Bertha Stephenson depicts Chinese slavery in the United States. Published by the Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the play tells the story of a young Chinese girl who has been sold into slavery. Ling Wang works for an assimilated Chinese woman, Mrs. Loy, providing childcare and household labor. In scene one, Mrs. Loy walks in on the 12 year old Ling Wang as she dusts the living room:
"Mrs. Loy: Not done yet, you lazy Ling Wang! An the kitchen to sweep an' the ironing to do! Mebby this will make you to hurry! (She seizes a switch and approaches the girl, who shrinks away from her and clasps her hands in supplication.)
Ling: Do-o-n't whip! I try be quick. Last nigt I sew on the buttons till twelve-one. Mebby I sleepy
Mrs. Loy: (in a fury) You com-plain that you sew on buttons! Why do you t'ink we buy you as slave girl, to sit an' fan yourself? No, you must do housework, tend baby, do laundry and at night you must sew on buttons, more an' more buttons on the overalls the fact'ry send to us. Till twelve — till one — every night! Do you hear that? An' if you hurry not, the hot iron!"
A New Life for Ling Wang, page 3
Read the rest of this short play and answer the following questions:
- Why do you think the play closes with a Christmas party?
- Why do you think the author introduces the character of Miss Howard at the end of the play? What purpose does this character serve?
- What role did Christian missionary societies play in Chinese communities in the U.S.?
- Why do you think the Woman's Home Missionary Society produced this play?
- What might the play's length, notes to the reader, and staging instructions suggest about how the Woman's Home Missionary Society hoped the play would be used?
- Why do you think the Woman's Home Missionary Society might have chosen to present the issue of Chinese slavery through the format of a play?
- How effective do you think a performance of this play would be in promoting reform?
Perform one or both of these plays with a small group and consider the differences between reading the play and seeing it performed. How would writing a play differ from writing a story?