Letter of a Chinese student (1)

Introduction

“Letter of a Chinese Student” (1) is a short story from 1924. It was written for the Yellow Jacket, the student paper of Howard Payne College. The story is a humorous and satirical account of a Chinese student’s experiences and observations in America, conveyed through a letter to a friend back in China.

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

Summary

The story is presented as a letter from Ling Fu, a Chinese student currently residing in San Francisco, to his friend Chong Fu Sin in Hong Kong. Ling Fu describes his struggles with frequent studies and infrequent money but notes his progress in mastering English. He recounts an evening when he and his friend Fong Li, driven by curiosity, stopped to observe a lavishly lit hotel.

Inside the hotel, they witness what Ling Fu initially perceives as a chaotic scene where young men and women are involved in what appears to be a struggle. Fong Li explains that the activity is dancing, a form of amusement in the United States. Ling Fu is bewildered by the sight of scantily clad women, which Fong Li clarifies as evening gowns or dancing dresses, worn by wealthy individuals attending a ball.

The conversation shifts as they walk through Chinatown, where Fong Li mentions an ongoing Tong war between the Fu Ching and Fan Li Tongs. They witness groups of men from each Tong emerging from opposing shops, armed and ready for confrontation. Ling Fu, preferring to avoid the violence, decides to leave the scene, noting his preference for reading about such events in newspapers rather than witnessing them firsthand.

As Ling Fu continues his walk, he briefly visits an art museum, where he sees a tapestry made by his uncle, Ah Chung, misidentified as an ancient artifact from the Ming dynasty. The letter concludes with Ling Fu signing off, promising more news in the future.

Characters

  • Ling Fu – The protagonist and narrator of the story. He is a Chinese student studying in San Francisco and the author of the letter.
  • Chong Fu Sin – Ling Fu’s friend in Hong Kong, to whom the letter is addressed.
  • Fong Li – Ling Fu’s friend and companion in San Francisco. He explains American customs to Ling Fu and reports on the Tong war.
  • Ah Chung – Ling Fu’s uncle, a tapestry maker in Ning Po, whose work is misidentified in an art museum.

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