THE MYSTERY OF AH SING
Reading edition
By ROBERT L. DUFFUS
An editorial writer for the New York Globe, to which, on October 5, 1921, he contributed the following humorous editorial article.
As we go about in daily life various people attract our attention; their peculiarities amuse us, and we make semi-humorous but kindly remarks concerning them. Such remarks are the germs of essays like the following.
In the essay, The Mystery of Ah Sing, there is humor but not a single unkind word. The essay makes us smile, but with sympathy and understanding. Such essays, trivial as they may be, are restful and pleasing.
Ah Sing comes on Tuesdays to get the washing and on Saturdays to bring it back. He is an urbane, smiling person, who appears to view life impersonally and dispassionately. One would say that he realized that the career of Ah Sing was not of prime importance in a population so numerous and a universe so extensive. He loves to ask questions. How old is the mistress of the house? Where did she come from? How much does the master of the house earn? What does he do? Why haven't they any children? Where did they get all the books and pictures?
Ah Sing always wants to know about the vacations, both before and after taking, and looks intelligent when places like Nantucket and the Thousand Islands are mentioned. He follows the family fortunes like an old retainer, and seems to possess a kind of feudal loyalty. It would be morally impossible, not to say physically, to give the washing to any one but Ah Sing. He would come for it, and the mistress of the house would sink through the floor with contrition and embarrassment. He may die out of his job, or go back to China out of it, there to live like a mandarin, but he will not be fired out of it. Never will he join the army of unemployed; never will he stand humbly asking work. He is a monopoly, an institution, a friend.
So far one gets with Ah Sing. To lose him would be like losing a beloved pipe or a comfortable pair of slippers. He belongs amid the furniture of living, and is as simple, homely, and admirable as grandpa's picture on the wall. But what is Ah Sing thinking about? What is going on across that gulf which separates him from us? How many transmigrations must we all go through before we could know Ah Sing as well as we know the family from Indiana which moved in next door last week? How shall we penetrate to the soul of Ah Sing?
If we could answer these questions we could present ourselves forthwith at Washington with the solution of the world's most vexatious problem. But the answers are dark, Ah Sing is remote, and the East and the West have not yet met.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS
In what respects is Ah Sing a mystery?
Why did the author write about Ah Sing?
What are Ah Sing's amusing characteristics?
What are Ah Sing's best characteristics?
Show that the author's language is original.
Show that the essay increases in effect toward the end.
How does the author avoid unkindness or satire?
How does the essay affect the reader?
SUBJECTS FOR WRITTEN IMITATION
1. The Janitor 11. Grandmother
2. The Peanut Man 12. The Milk Man
3. The Auctioneer 13. The Small Boy
4. The Blind Man 14. The Newspaper Man
5. The Tramp 15. The Usher
6. The Old Soldier 16. The Policeman
7. The Violin Player 17. The Street Sweeper
8. The Dancing Teacher 18. Mother
9. The Scrub Woman 19. The Neighbors
10. The Baby 20. Relatives
DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING
Write, with all kindness, about some one who amuses you. Do not include in your essay anything that will be in the nature of fault-finding or complaint. Point out, in a humorous way, the admirable and praiseworthy characteristics of the person about whom you write. Instead of writing a list of characteristics use original expressions that will indicate the real spirit of the character.