Letter of a Chinese student (2)

Introduction

“Letter of a Chinese Student” (2) is a short story from 1924, written for the Yellow Jacket, the student paper of Howard Payne College. The story is presented as a humorous letter from a Chinese student in San Francisco to his friend in Hong Kong. It captures a satirical portrayal of cultural misunderstandings and the dynamics among students from diverse backgrounds in a classroom setting.

This story, with its blend of humor and chaos, provides a satirical look at cultural and ethnic tensions among students in a diverse classroom setting in the early 20th century.

The staff of the Yellow Jacket:
Claude C. Curtis — Editor-in-Chief
Arthur H. Floyd — Associate Editor
John N. Jackson — Business Manager
Milton C. Dorsett — Asst. Business Manager
Millard Cope — Sport Editor
C.S. Boyles — Special Writer

Summary

The story begins with the protagonist, a Chinese student in San Francisco, writing to his friend Chong Fu Sin in Hong Kong. He recounts an encounter with Fong Li, who hurriedly left a tong battle, claiming he had a date. This sets a humorous tone for the letter.

In class, the students engage in a lively discussion. The professor asks Ah Su to define “velocity.” Ah Su, thinking of a velocipede, gives an incorrect definition, leading to the protagonist offering a humorous definition involving a man letting go of a hornet. This exchange exemplifies the language barriers and cultural differences among the students.

The conversation then shifts to Asia. The professor idealistically speaks about the unity of Asian people in pursuit of knowledge. This prompts Ah Su, Abdul Hamid, and Gungra Lal to discuss the greatness of Asia, which quickly devolves into a heated argument about religious and ethnic superiority. Ah Su suggests Asia would improve by expelling all Mohammedans, prompting a hostile exchange between Abdul Hamid and Gungra Lal, nearly resulting in physical conflict.

Kato Kimura and Galuk Noyon also join the fray, each defending their ethnic groups and criticizing others. The class further fragments into smaller arguments, with students defending their respective heritages and engaging in nationalistic bravado.

The classroom descends into chaos as students start physically fighting. Kato Kimura wrestles Galuk Noyon with jiu-jitsu, Abdul Hamid and Gungra Lal grapple, and Abdullah Khan attempts to use a Khyber knife against Rinjii Singh, who retaliates with a table. Ali Massar indiscriminately swings a Malay kris-knife at everyone, adding to the mayhem. The professor, overwhelmed and cursing, struggles to maintain order.

Eventually, the protagonist and several other students flee the scene. Despite the chaos, all students return to the next class. The professor, however, makes a bitter remark about the futility of trying to instill brotherly regard among “heathens,” suggesting some students should return to Asia.

Characters

  • Chong Fu Sin: The recipient of the letter, a friend of the protagonist in Hong Kong.
  • Fong Li: A student who avoids a tong battle by claiming to have a date.
  • Ah Su: A Siangtan Chinese student, who incorrectly defines “velocity.”
  • Professor: The class instructor, who tries to mediate the discussions and maintain order.
  • Ling Fu: Another student who offers a humorous definition of “velocity.”
  • Abdul Hamid: A student who defends Mohammedans and argues with Gungra Lal.
  • Gungra Lal: A student who suggests expelling Mohammedans from Asia.
  • Kato Kimura: A Japanese student who criticizes Tartars and engages in physical combat.
  • Galuk Noyon: A Tartar student who boasts about Tartar heritage and fights Kato Kimura.
  • Chandu Mukerji: A student who participates in the argument about the most ancient cities.
  • Togo Simuru: A Japanese student involved in the classroom arguments.
  • Mustapha Bey: A student involved in the argument about ancient cities.
  • Ali Massar: A student who wields a Malay kris-knife during the fight.
  • Abdullah Khan: An Afghan student who boasts about Afghan warriors and fights Rinjii Singh.
  • Rinjii Singh: A Sikh student who mocks Abdullah Khan and fights him.
  • Mandarin Ching Fong: A student who argues with Togo Simuru.

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