“An Evening in Cathay”, 1938–1939

California Arts and Architecture, October 1938

Chinese music-dramatists from Shanghai present “An Evening in Cathay” in public and private performances in southern California at various times during the month. This group of eleven young Orientals have modern ideas of internationalism in art. The musicians are professors of the Ta-Tung National Music Research Institute and the Shao Chao Institute. They play on instruments used in the time of Confucius.

North-China Herald, October 26, 1938

Tong Troupe Makes U.S. Debut with Acclaim
Los Angeles, Oct. 20.
The Chinese group of society girls and expert musicians under the leadership of Mrs. Ernest Tong, wife of the secretary to General Wu Teh-chen, Governor of Kwangtung Province, presented their first American performance tonight in the fashionable Wilshire-Bell Theatre.

Their presentation, entitled, “An Evening in Cathay,” was well received by both the audience and press rites. The critics praised the Chinese girls and men for their fine dancing and music played on age-old Chinese instruments, many of which were viewed by Americans for the first time.

The performance was attended by a capacity crowd. The cream of local society was present, while Chinese representatives of the local Chinese community were also on hand to see the debut of this trouble of their countrymen and women.

The Tong group is staging performances for raising funds for war relief work in China.—United Press.

The New York Times, December 3, 1938, “Chinese Group Here to Give War Benefit; Bring 40 Trunks Full of Old Costumes”; photograph of Mrs. Ernest S. H. Tong, Virginia Chang and Ethel Chun in costume

ABMAC Bulletin, January 1939

Projects and Activities of the Medical Bureau
... B. The Chinese Cultural Theatrical Group will give a series of performances [“An Evening in Cathay”] at the Mercury Theatre in New York, February 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5th. The Premiere night is being sponsored by the China Society of America. The itinerary throughout the rest of the country will be sent to the various agencies when it is ready. The proceeds will be used for medical relief; 60% for the National Relief Commission, 20% for Madame Chiang’s War Orphan Relief and 20% for relief work in the Kwangtung Province.

Brooklyn Eagle (New York), January 22, 1939, “Chinese Artists to Give Entertainment for Refugees”

Brooklyn Eagle (New York), January 29, 1939, “Chinese Players to Do Scene from ‘Lady Precious Stream’”

The New York Times, January 29, 1939

The New York February program is here.

Brooklyn Eagle (New York), February 2, 1939, review of “An Evening in Cathay”

The New York Times, February 2, 1939, Brooks Atkinson’s review of “An Evening in Cathy” plus photograph of Virginia Chang

North-China Herald, February 8, 1939

China Theatre Group Popular in U.S.
New York, Feb. 1.
Seats at the Mercury Theatre were completely sold out for tonight’s opening of “An Evening in Cathay" which is being presented by a Chinese cultural theatre group from Shanghai to raise funds for Chinese war refugees and for medical aid in China.

Among the members of the group from Shanghai are Mrs. Ernest Tong, director, and Miss Ethel Chun and Miss Virginia Chang, assistant directors. Miss Chang’s mother, Mrs. L. M. Chang, chaperones the group. The musicians have been billed as concert artists or professors.

The performances, which will be held here every night for the remainder of the week, are being sponsored by the American Bureau of Medical Aid to China and the United Council for Civilian Relief in China. The China Society is acting as special sponsor for tonight’s opening performance.

After closing here on Sunday night, the group will tour the entire country. They have already given a number of performances on the west coast.—United Press.

Variety, February 8, 1939, review of “An Evening in Cathay”

The China Weekly Review, February 11, 1939

A Chinese musical production entitled, “An Evening in Cathay,” which was arranged by Mrs. Ernest Tong of Shanghai, is now playing at the Majestic Theater in New York. The performance was favorably reviewed by New York Newspaper critics. The cast is made up entirely of Shanghai artists and was enthusiastically received by a full house on the opening night, according to reports from New York.

Life, February 20, 1939, “Golden Age of Chinese Drama Revived to Aid War-Stricken China of Today”; illustrated with four photographs of Chow Tse-ping, Kwan Hung-ping, Virginia Chang, Ethel Chun and Mrs. Ernest S. H. Tong

Ward-Belmont Hyphen (Nashville, Tennessee), February 22, 1939

Chinese Aristocrats Help War Refugees
The Chinese Theatre Group, ten young men and women of the Chinese aristocracy, presented “An Evening in Cathay” Monday evening at the Shrine Temple. These artists are giving their time and paying their own expenses on this American tour to raise money to aid Chinese war refugees.

The artists, who have a name in China for interest in keeping alive the best of Chinese ancient arts, charmed their audience with their ancient musical instruments and their wide repertoire of solo and orchestral numbers. The “Devil Dance” was presented by one of the men of the cast; this was supposed to represent the King of the Ten Hells on the way to a festival. Mrs. Ernest Tong, the leader of the group, presented a scarf dance using a lovely old scarf fourteen yards long. Last on the program was the last act of “Lady Precious Stream,” a drama some two thousand years old.

The entire performance was marked by rich satins and brocades used in costumes and in settings. So completely was the genuine Chinese motive followed that the audience felt as though they had truly spent “An Evening in Cathay.”

Musical America, February 25, 1939

The Clark University Fine Arts Course offered an extra program on Feb. 7, ‘An Evening in Cathay’, given tor the benefit of Chinese war sufferers, which brought forward a company of a dozen dancers and musicians, many ex-professors in Chinese colleges, whose work and equipment were wiped out by the bombardments. The exquisite costumes, Eastern subtleties of pantomime, and the strange music of the Classical Orchestra, were all most charming.

Vogue, March 1, 1939, “An Evening in Cathay” performers, Mrs. Ernest Tong, Virginia Chang and Ethel Chun, photographed in color by Edward Steichen; article on page 115.

ABMAC Bulletin, March 6, 1939

Acknowledgement
Miss Laura Jee of the Bank of China for her outstanding performance as narrator during the New York run of “An Evening in Cathay.”

Brooklyn Eagle (New York), March 12, 1939, “Chinese Group Brings Classic Dances to the Academy of Music”

Brooklyn Eagle (New York), March 15, 1939, “Chinese Cultural Theatre Group Presents ‘An Evening in Cathay’ for ‘Music and Dance’ Series”

The China Weekly Review, March 25, 1939, “China Drama Group Makes Broadway Hit” and photograph

The Newton Graphic (Massachusetts), April 14, 1939

Chinese Theatre Group at Jordan Hall This Evening
At Jordan Hall this evening the Chinese Cultural Theatre Group will present “An Evening in Cathay” in the only Boston performance of this Chinese cast, the eleven members of which are members of the Chinese Social Register. The presentation, for the benefit of Chinese Relief, is sponsored by the Museum Aid Committee of the Children’s Museum of Jamaica Plain. The play is coached by the famous Mei Lan-fang, greatest of China’s actors, who made a sensational tour of the United States a few years ago. The cast offers a rare opportunity to indulge in the magnificence and fantastic lore of the Orient. ...

The China Weekly Review, October 14, 1939

(Next post on Wednesday: A Few Details About James Zee-min Lee / Li Shimin 李時敏)

Seong Moy aka Eddy Moy in “The Federal Illustrator” Part 2

Fall 1938

Announcing Prize Winners 1938 Annual Exhibit

Grand Prize—Cartoon—$50.00—Mr. Eddy Moy, 

413 Robert St., St. Paul, Minn.

Winter 1938–1939

Related Posts

Seong Moy in Life Magazine

Seong Moy’s Johnny Penguin

Seong Moy in Print Magazine

Seong Moy’s “Chinese Love Poems”

Seong Moy’s “Dream of the Red Chamber”

Seong Moy’s “Three Ways of Thought in Ancient China”

Seong Moy’s “Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings”

Seong Moy’s “Zen Buddhism”

Seong Moy aka Eddy Moy in “The Federal Illustrator” Part 1

Seong Moy’s “The Tale of Genji”

Seong Moy’s “The Tale of Genji Part II: The Sacred Tree”

Seong Moy’s “Stories from Old China”

A Few Details About Seong Moy

(Next post on Wednesday: Helena Kuo’s “I’ve Come a Long Way”)

Graphics: Henry Low’s “Cook at Home in Chinese”

Reprint edition, no date; originally published by Macmillan in 1938

The preface in the 1938 and reprint editions said 

... In this book the author has compiled the recipes for Chinese dishes of wide appeal and has also included some of the better chop suey and chow mien recipes. He has had forty years of cooking experience and is considered an authority on real Chinese food.

Evidently, Low started cooking around 1898. On the first page of the reprint edition is a photograph of Low and the phrase “60 Years of Cooking Experience”. Evidently the reprint edition was published around 1958. 

Reviews

New York Post, September 20, 1938, page 11

Chinese Dinners at Home.

Those who can wind their way in and out of Chinatown and take you to the best twelve-course—or maybe it’s sixteen—Chinese dinner know Henry Low, head chef of the Port Arthur at 7 Mott Street. Now after forty years of Chinese cooking, and Henry Low doesn’t look much older than that himself, we have his favorite recipes, all geared to American markets and kitchens, in “Cook at Home in Chinese,” published today by Macmillan ($2.50).

Lin Yutang, who writes the introduction, comments: “Let the meats and vegetables be combined and ‘married,’ instead of meeting each other for the first time when served on the table in their respective confirmed bachelorhood and unspoiled virginity, and you will find that each has a fuller personality than you ever dreamed of.”

Mr. Low’s earnings at present go to the relief fund of refugees in China, still another reason for owning this unusual cook book.

Watertown Daily Times (New York), November 7, 1938, page 5

Cook at Home in Chinese

Probably enthusiasm for Henry Low’s new book “Cook at Home in Chinese” published by the Macmillan company would be greatly simulated could the chef at the Port Arthur serve the reader such a meal as he recently laid before three epicures from the Macmillan company. 

Seet Yu Wan Tun, (Snow fungi and Chinese ravioli soup) began it, followed by Hung Yuen Gai Ding (Diced chicken with almonds), Wor Siu Op (Brown stewed duck with chopped almonds), Mr. Low’s own recipe Tchun Guen. Foo Bok Gop (Chinese fried squab; Chow Loong Ha (Lobster Cantonese style) with tea. Bamboo sprouts went into these dishes, gourmet powder and rice wine.

But as the title of the new book suggests you can cook Chinese food with its help in your own home and the result will be that since such food is more carefully prepared than American you can eat more of it. For instance Mr. Low uses Chinese water chestnut flour which makes a deviously flavored flaky covering for the egg rolls known in Chinese as Tchun Guen. So successful has Tchun Guen proved that now nearly all Chinese restaurants serve some sort of Tchun Guen.

At the Port Arthur classical Cantonese cooking has prevailed, and thus far the war in China has not interfered with the Post Arthur supplies. Other people, too, can purchase them at herbalists on Pell street and at almost any Chinese vegetable shop on Mott. The oyster sauce, for instance, does not need to be restricted to Chinese dishes but this mouth watering condiment may be added to the butter melted on steaks or chops.

Richmond Times-Dispatch (Virginia), December 4, 1938, page 13

Mr. Low Cooks in Chinese

Henry Low, who has been chef at the Port Arthur—one of New York’s best known restaurants—for the past 10 years, is polite but unenthusiastic about American cookery. You can eat a lot more Chinese food and not know it, he says. This is because it’s more carefully prepared. Mr. Low’s new book of Chinese recipes has just been published by the Macmillan Company under the title of “Cook at Home in Chinese.”

He considers that his principal contribution to Chinese cookery is a new sort of Egg Roll called Tchun Guen. He discovered about 30 years ago that by using Chinese water-chestnut flour he could make a deliciously-flavored flaky covering for the rolls, more palatable than the ordinary dough used by his rivals. This innovation has found favor with gourmets everywhere. Nearly all Chinese restaurants now serve some sort of Tchun Guen. But in general Mr. Low feels it’s better not to experiment; the classical Cantonese cuisine reigns at the Port Arthur.

Mr. Low says the war in China hasn’t interfered so far with the Port Arthur’s supplies. Though prices have gone up (some of the rarer ingredients cost $5 or more an ounce) they are still being exported safely through Hong Kong and he has no fear of a famine in New York’s Chinatown.

Three epicures from The Macmillan Company visited the Port Arthur and Mr. Low gave them a delicious Chinese dinner, consisting of Seet Yu Wan Tun, (Snow Fungi and Chinese Ravioli Soup); Hung Yuen Gai Ding (Diced chicken with almonds); Wor Siu Op (Brown stewed duck with chopped almonds); Mr. Low’s Tchun Guen; Foo Bok Gop (Chinese fried squab); Chow Loong Ha (Lobster Cantonese style), and of course tea and more tea. The ingredients of these dishes ranged from bamboo sprouts to gourmet powder and rice wine. The result was a delectable meal, and the guests went home fired with ambition to “Cook at Home in Chinese,” especially as the recipes for all these delicacies are included in Mr. Low’s book. 

ABOUT HENRY LOW

Little is known about Henry Low. In the 1900 United States Census, there was a Henry Low born in May 1855 in China. He immigrated in 1875. When he arrived in New York is unknown. The census recorded him and his Caucasian wife, Jennie, in Chinatown at 20 Bayard Street. His occupation was chef. (See line 21)

The 1910 census had a Henry Low born around 1878 in China. He immigrated in 1879 and resided in Chinatown at 65 Mott Street. He cooked for a family. 

On September 12, 1918, another Henry Low, born February 13, 1879, signed his World War I draft card. He lived at 45 Mott Street and was a cook at the Bun Hurn Restaurant. The restaurant menu is here. 

A Henry Low restaurant employee, in New York City, has not yet been found in the 1920 census.

In the 1930 census, a California-born Henry Low was 37 years old. He lived at 62 Essex Street near Chinatown. He cooked at a restaurant. (See line 41)

Low was at Port Arthur Restaurant when this postcard was postmarked on November 6, 1933.

A Henry Low restaurant employee, in New York City, has not yet been found in the 1940 census. The New York Times, April 30, 1940, said

Two Restaurants Lease in Midtown

Riker Chain and Henry Low Sign for Eating Places in West 49th Street

Among the commercial rentals reported by brokers yesterday were two restaurant leases in West Forty-ninth Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.

… Henry Low, Chinese restauranteur and author, took a store in the building at 131–35 West Forty-ninth Street, which is being remodeled by Benjamin Winter. Mr. Low was for ten years head chef of the Port Arthur Restaurant, and last year published “Cook at Home in Chinese.” He will open a Chinese restaurant in the newly-rented space in June. …

Cookbook author Henry Low spent time in San Francisco where he was the chef at Canton Low in Chinatown. 

San Francisco Chronicle, November 1, 1940

On April 27, 1942, a Henry Low signed his World War II draft card. He was born in April 26, 1886 in San Francisco. His address was 28 Massachusetts Avenue NW, in Washington, DC. He worked at the Chinese Lantern Restaurant. 

The cookbook author Henry Low was associated with the Good Earth Restaurant, in Washington, DC, as seen in the following advertisements.

April 25, 1944

December 10, 1946

In 1947 the New York Post printed China Doll advertisements that mentioned cookbook author Henry Low.

April 29, 1947

July 24, 1947

July 31, 1947

The Library of Congress has an August 21, 1949 dated photograph of Pell Street in New York City. There was a Henry Low Restaurant at number 24 where the Chinese Delmonico once operated. 

A Henry Low restaurant employee, in New York City, was in the 1950 census. Born in California, he was 64 years old and lived at 746 Ninth Avenue. He was the proprietor of a restaurant (see line 26). 

In the New York Post, November 29, 1956, Dining Out Tonight guide, the Chinese-American category mentioned, for the first time, Low at Ho Sai Guy restaurant.

Finest Chinese-American Cuisine. Personally cooked by Henry Low, famous author of “Cook at Home in Chinese”—Family dinners, superb American foods. 223 W. 80 St. nr. B’way. TR 4-8296.

The New York Post, April 2, 1957, talked to Henry Chen of Ho Sai Guy Restaurant.

... Owner-host Henry Chen told us proudly of his chef, Henry Low, author of the book, “Cook at Home in Chinese,” with its foreword by philosopher Lin Yutang. Then we sampled some of Low’s handiwork, and we’re convinced. ...

... Chen mentioned that chef Low, who has worked in many of the city’s best places in the past 45 years, has been credited by some with popularizing such favorites as egg roll, dem sen, sub gum chow mein and wor shu duck. That distinction is claimed by many others, but it’s enough to know that the food is good, served hot and is sensibly priced. ...

The review said Low worked at various restaurants for 45 years (started around 1912). The preface in “Cook at Home” in Chinese said Low had cooked for forty years (started around 1898). In 1957, the ages of the various Henry Lows, based on the census and draft card dates, are as follows: 

102, 1900 census

79, 1910 census

78, World War I draft card

64, 1930 census

71, World War II draft card

70, 1950 census

The Henry Low in the 1900 census is too old and the one in 1930 too young. It’s a toss up among the Henry Lows in their 70s. The date and place of Henry Low’s passing is unknown. 

Related Posts

Chinese Restaurant, 1966

Chinese Tuxedo, New York City

Combination Platter

Dan Wayne Lee, Designer and Restauranteur

Dining at 14 Mott Street in New York Chinatown, Part 1: 1885–1898

Dining at 14 Mott Street in New York Chinatown, Part 2: 1899–1904

Dining at 14 Mott Street in New York Chinatown, Part 3: 1905–1915

Dining with Cartoonist Paul Fung

Eight Immortal Flavors

Howard Lee and the New Chinatown Souvenir Photograph Folders

The Illustrated New York Chinese Restaurant

Jake Lee’s Paintings at Kan’s Restaurant

Jim Lee, Artist, Teacher and Chef

Lee Ti, Waiter and Artist

Loui Ghuey, Restauranteur, Photographer, Merchant and Sign Painter

Lum Fong’s New York Restaurants

Ngoot Lee, Artist, Cook and Charter Member of the Group of the Oblong Table

Oriental Restaurant, New York City

Soy Kee & Company and Port Arthur Restaurant, New York City

Tyrus Wong’s Cookbook Illustrations

Who Created the “How to Use Chopsticks” Illustrations?

Woey Sin Low, New York City

SIDEBAR: Grace S.R. Hillyer, Writer and Designer

Opposite the preface was an acknowledgement. 

The author desires to acknowledge his sincere debt of gratitude to Grace S. R. Hillyer without whose friendly and invaluable assistance in editing and arranging these recipes and preparing the manuscript this book could not have been written.

How and when Henry Low met Hillyer is not known. Hillyer may have been an editor or an assistant at the publisher Macmillan. 

Grace S.R. Hillyer was born Grace Schilsky on August 7, 1892 in New Rochelle, New York, according to a birth record at Ancestry.com. In the 1900 United States Census, Hillyer, her younger brother, Henry, and parents, Leo and Grace, lived at 39 Bay View Avenue in New Rochelle. Her father, a French-native, was an importer. (See lines 40 to 43.)

In the 1910 census, their address was 57 Woodland Avenue in New Rochelle (lines 28 to 31).

The 1915 New York state census recorded the Schilsky family (lines 11 to 14) in New York City at 829 West End Avenue.

Their residence in the 1920 census was 231 West 96 Street (lines 34 to 37). The census said Hillyer was an art student. 

According to the 1930 census, Hillyer was a widow (line 96). At the time her married name was Ridenour. Details of her marriage have not been found. Hillyer, her mother and an uncle, also widows, lived in Maurice River, New Jersey. Hillyer’s occupation was illegible on the census sheet. 

During the war between China and Japan, Americans were providing aid to China. Hillyer was involved with the American Bureau for Medical Aid to China. Her letter was published in The Christian Leader, August 12, 1939. 

In the 1940 census, Hillyer had remarried to William H. Hillyer, a factor in finance. She was a freelance designer (line 62). Also living with them was her mother. They lived in Manhattan on Lexington Avenue near East 28th Street. 

Her letter was published in the New York newspaper, PM, December 26, 1941.

Dear Editor:

I have satisfactorily solved my blackout

problem without spending any money and would like to pass the idea along to your readers.

I have equipped the wrong side of my scatter rugs with drapery rings, sewn on to leave upper half of rings free, and placed about two inches from one end of each rug. These rings are not in the way and are not marring my polished floors. I have placed screw hooks at the tops of my window frames in such a way as to enable me to hang the rugs on them. The rugs being somewhat heavy, they may be pressed against the windows so that not a ray of light can escape. Where the rugs are not large enough they may be lapped and pinned with heavy safety pins. Table oil-cloth, if of a dark color, is often opaque, and may be easily handled if equipped with rings and hung from screw hooks.

She was thanked in her husband’s book, Keys to Business Cash: A Guide to Methods of New Financing (1942). 

Hillyer’s “Chinatown New Year” was published in Westminster Magazine, Winter 1949–1950. 

High heels click-tapping with weight of tray burdens

   Punctuate pauses in Cantonese gossip; 

And quick cleaver blows staccato from kitchen

   Resharpen the rhythm of phonograph love-song:

      Falsetto, ear-thrilling.

Three voices dispute split of gee foa winnings;

   Additional tones swell the theme of new choices.

A door-slam proclaims the collection of money.

   Two choruses foretell two gambles as certain: 

      “Elephant—Dead Man!”

“The crash of a bottle is greeted with laughter

   While child-squeal is smothered by murmurous pity.

A wine-gladdened toast hails Triumphant Republic—

   Is answered by banqueters’ New Year’s greeting: 

      “Goong hai, fat choy!”

The 1950 census recorded Hillyer and her husband in Manhattan at 332–340 East 84th Street in apartment 2A. She was a self-employed writer and designer (line 30). 

Hillyer was mentioned in The Office, March 1953. 

The New York Times, October 27, 1959, published her husband’s obituary. He had three daughters from a previous marriage. 

The Social Security Death Index said Hillyer passed away in November 1977. Her last residence was New York City.

SIDEBAR: Leja Gorska, Dust Jacket Designer

Leja Gorska was born Leandra Podgorsek on June 22, 1897, in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia. The birth name was on her marriage certificate and birthplace on a passenger card. Gorska immigrated around 1910. 

On December 30, 1921, Gorska married Nickolas Muray in Manhattan, New York City. 

Their daughter, Arija, was born on August 11, 1922 in New York City.

The 1925 New York state census listed Gorska (line 34) as unmarried and a resident at 428 Lafayette Street in New York City. She was a dancer who was in the United States for 15 years. 

According to Billboard , May 29, 1926, Gorska danced in the film “The Rainmaker”. 

On September 23, 1928, Gorska and her daughter (lines 11 and 12) departed Havre, France and arrived in New York City on October 1. 

According to the 1930 census, Gorska was divorced and a self-employed artist. She and her sister (lines 10 and 11) lived at 428 Lafayette Street in Manhattan. Their immigration date was 1913

The Tenth Annual of Advertising Art (1931) featured art by Gorska. 

Gorska designed the dust jacket for “The Quiet Shore” which was published by Macmillan in 1937. In 1938 Macmillan published Henry Low’s “Cook at Home in Chinese” with a dust jacket by Gorska. 

On October 15, 1939, Gorska and her daughter (lines 2 and 3) returned from a visit in Europe.

Gorska and her daughter (lines 6 and 7) were counted in the 1940 census. They lived at 124 Waverly Place in Manhattan. Gorska was a painter. 

Gorska learned photography from her former husband. Advertising Age, February 10, 1941, said 

Leja Gorska and Dushan Hill have formed Gorska-Hill, with offices at 52 W. 52nd street, New York, taking over the photographic studio formerly headed by Ben Pinchot at the same address.

Gorska’s portraits appeared in many books and magazines. 

Gorska’s daughter passed away September 19, 1941. 

Gorska was not found in the 1950 census. A passenger list said she returned from France on October 2, 1950 (see line 25).

Two months later, Gorska departed on December 7, 1950 to live permanently in France. 

She visited New York in 1958. 

Gorska passed away on October 29, 1988, in Bordeaux, France, according to the Social Security Death Index. 

Further Reading

I Will Never Forget You: Frida Kahlo and Nickolas Muray (2006)

Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, August 13, 1940

Who Was Who in American Art 1564–1975 Volume II: G–O

(Next post on Wednesday: Flower Drum Song, November 1960–April 1961)

The Illustrated Roots of “Confucius Say”

“Confucius Say” can be traced back over 160 years. Here are a few examples from the 1800s. 

The Calcutta Review, December 1858: Did not Confucius say, all within the four seas are the sons of the emperor? 

The Lutheran Quarterly, January 1879: We hear the Chinese Confucius say: “Loyalty to principle is power.” 

The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal, July-August 1879: 

What does Confucius say of the Book of Poetry? “My children, why do you not study the Book of Poetry? The odes serve to stimulate the mind. They may be used for purposes of self-contemplation. They teach the art of sociability. They show how to regulate feelings of resentment. From them you learn the more immediate duty of serving one’s father, and the remoter one of serving one’s prince. From them we become largely acquainted with the names of birds, beasts and plants.” 

Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, January 1885, “Within His Danger: A Tale from the Chinese”:

“Did not Confucius say, in answer to Ke Lu’s question about a future state, ‘We do not know about life, and how, then, can we know about anything beyond the grave?’ And if Confucius’s intelligence stopped short with life, who can possibly hope to peer beyond it?”

The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal, September 1885:  

Did not Confucius say

That sin against high Heaven

Can never be forgiven ? 

The sage knew not the way!

The Literary Digest, July 18, 1891:  

... And yet, if the exponents of Chinese political economy are not mistaken, the apparent calamity will prove a blessing in disguise, for does not the great Confucius say, “Happy is the nation that raises its own hogs and wont give nobody else none!” ... 

Here are four samples from the 1900s.

Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly, June 16, 1910: Does not Confucius say, ‘It is only the truly virtuous man who can both love and hate’? 

McCall’s, June 1921, “The Girl Across the Way”: “Life is the great riddle,” whispered Kwa Tsu. “Doth not Confucius say: ‘Life is a lock, love is its only key’? 

Houston Chronicle (Texas), April 7, 1935

A rarity featuring Charlie Chan and Confucius.

Ella Cinders, August 12, 1935

According to Life and Newsweek magazines, both cover dated February 19, 1940, the popularity of “Confucius Say” was due to Walter Winchell whose King Features Syndicate column, “On Broadway”, had several humorous sayings by Broadway Confucius. (Also, beginning in 1936, Winchell employed a ghostwriter, Herman Klurfeld, who wrote many of the columns and one-liners for 29 years.) Both magazines said Winchell’s column began in October 1938. Newsweek said paragraph was titled, “Broadway Confucius’ Remarkable Remarks”. The original title was “Broadway Confucius Speaks” and published in the Waterbury Democrat (Connecticut), October 6; October 12; October 19 and October 26. In the November 2 edition of the Waterbury Democrat, the title changed to “Broadway Confucius Say”. 

October 6, 1938

November 2, 1938

Who or what influenced Winchell to add Broadway Confucius to his column in October 1938? I suspect the influence was either Lin Yutang’s The Wisdom of Confucius or Arthur Waley’s The Analects of Confucius, both published in 1938. (The Wisdom of Confucius, with illustrations by Jeanyee Wong, was published in 1943. A paperback edition of The Analects of Confucius was published in 1960.) 

It’s not clear who made the decision to create the Broadway Confucius name and sayings. Was it Winchell, Klurfeld or the syndicate? Whatever the case, Broadway Confucius one-liners were written by Winchell and Klurfeld.

The popularity of “Confucius Say” grew slowly in 1939. Several college publications were quick to add Confucius sayings. 

“Confucius Say” recording

The popularity of “Confucius Say” skyrocketed in 1940. No industry, trade, business or profession was spared. Here are some examples (the tip of the iceberg).

Chicago Daily Tribune, January 15, 1940

Daily Times (Chicago, Illinois), January 15, 1940

Boston Herald (Massachusetts), January 17, 1940

Boston Herald (Massachusetts), January 18, 1940

Kalamazoo Gazette (Michigan), January 20, 1940

Lorain Journal (Ohio), January 25, 1940

Worcester Evening Gazette (Massachusetts)

January 26, 1940

Detroit Times (Michigan), February 1, 1940

Times-Union (Albany, New York), February 1, 1940

Milwaukee Journal (Wisconsin)

February 2, 1940

Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee)

February 4, 1940

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot (Virginia), February 4, 1940

Daily Jeffersonian (Cambridge, Ohio)

February 5, 1940

Jackson Citizen Patriot (Michigan)

February 5, 1940

Worcester Evening Gazette (Massachusetts)

February 7, 1940

The Jewish Post, February 9, 1940

Albuquerque Tribune (New Mexico)

February 10, 1940

Advertising Age, February 12, 1940: Confucius say reason politicians don’t advertise more, they like much better spend other people’s money. 

The Art Digest, February 15, 1940: Confucius say: “Man who slings mud loses ground.” 

Buffalo Evening News (New York) 

February 15, 1940

Buffalo Evening News (New York) 

February 16, 1940

The Watchtower, Wesleyan College, February 16, 1940: As Confucius say—“Every darn thing comes at once.” 

News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana), February 19, 1940

Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)

February 20, 1940

Henderson Daily Dispatch (North Carolina)

February 20, 1940

Oregon Daily Journal (Portland, Oregon), February 20, 1940

Riverside Daily Press (California), February 20, 1940

Erie Daily Times (Pennsylvania)

February 21, 1940

Grand Rapids Press (Michigan), February 21, 1940

Charleston Evening Post (South Carolina)

February 22, 1940

Detroit Evening Times (Michigan)

February 22, 1940

Flint Journal (Michigan), February 22, 1940

Columbus Evening Dispatch (Ohio), February 23, 1940

Houston Post (Texas), February 23, 1940

El Paso Herald-Post (Texas)

February 24, 1940

Editor and Publisher, February 24, 1940: King Releases “Confucius Say” Daily Feature 

Atlanta Journal (Georgia)

February 25, 1940

Dallas Morning News (Texas)

February 25, 1940

Sunday Courier and Press (Evansville, Indiana), February 25, 1940

Flint Journal (Michigan)

February 25, 1940

San Diego Union (California), February 25, 1940

Evening Gazette (Massachusetts), February 26, 1940

San Diego Union (California)

February 26, 1940

Daily Times (Chicago, Illinois), February 29, 1940

Dallas Morning News (Texas), February 29, 1940

Phoenix Index (Arizona)

March 2, 1940

Bay City Times (Michigan), March 3, 1940

Buffalo Evening News (New York)

March 4, 1940

Daytona Beach Morning Journal (Florida)

March 6, 1940

Greensboro Record (North Carolina), March 12, 1940

San Antonio Light (Texas), March 12, 1940

Quincy Patriot Ledger (Massachusetts)

March 15, 1940

San Angelo Standard-Times (Texas), March 16, 1940

Trenton Times-Advertiser (New Jersey)

March 17, 1940

Sunday World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska), March 17, 1940

Worcester Evening Gazette (Massachusetts)

March 18, 1940

Scholastic, March 18, 1940

Cleveland Plain Dealer (Ohio)

March 22, 1940

San Antonio Light (Texas), March 24, 1940

Denver Post (Colorado)

March 28, 1940

The Dixie Ranger, United States Forest Service, Southern Region, April 1940: He who travel through life on narrow road in hurry, end journey with mind more narrow than road. 

The Inland Printer, April 1940

National 4-H Club News, April 1940

Bassano Recorder, April 4, 1940: Life is really simple, but man insist on making it complicated. 

Country Press or Fawcett, 1940

Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, April 2, 1940

Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, April 23, 1940

Motor, July 1940

Pep Comics #8, September 1940 and

Blue Ribbon Comics #7, November 1940 

Antioch News (Illinois), April 18, 1940 

Everyone enjoys a bit of nonsense now and then, but we rather wince at the habit of prefixing “Confucius say” to so many current absurdities. It seems somewhat boorish on our part to carelessly borrow the name of one of China’s greatest philosophers and use it in such a manner. 

However, something worth-while may be salvaged from this thoughtless vogue, as man, unfamiliar with his teachings, are now asking, “Just what DID Confucius Say?” …

Confucius Really Said

The “Confucius Say” craze peaked during 1940 and never went away. 

American Bureau for Medical Aid to China, no date

The Inland Printer, January 1941

Hong Kong printed on back cover, no date

The Author and Journalist, April 1941, “It’s the Twist That Counts” 

... During the “Confucius Say” craze, a writer with whom I am working submitted for criticism an article, partly humorous, partly a serious biographical sketch of the Chinese sage. I couldn’t see a market for it. The “Confucius Say” craze had been given such a wide play in newspapers and magazines that a super-super novelty would be needed to sell such an article —and my student didn’t have it. Further, the biographical material was practically encyclopedia stuff.

So, I suggested re-orientation: transplant Confucius into the field of Christianity and sell him to a religious magazine. This the student writer accomplished by showing that many of the Confucian philosophical sayings were very similar to the teachings of Christ, although Confucius antedated Christ by several centuries. Had Confucius lived a few hundred years later, he would have been a Christian, the re-oriented article pointed out. The article sold first trip out to a religious publisher. It’s a safe guess that the novel angle was half the sale—or more!

Chicago Tribune (Illinois), May 18, 1941

Amazing Stories, June 1941, “Lost Treasure of Angkor”: ... “Now is time to go to the land of my honorable ancestors,” Ta-Quan smiled. “Confucius say that man is not apt to live with enemy at his back.” 

Blue Book, June 1941, “The Abduction of Abner Greer”: ... And the future had been predicated in such nation-sweeping fads as the “Knock, knock!” era, and the “Confucius say—” era. 

Shake Hands with the Dragon

Carl Glick

McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1941

Page 213

A few years ago this country went through a period of obscene barroom jokes beginning with “Confucius say.” They were started, I have been told, by a too-clever New York columnist. But I wonder what this country would have done had our people discovered in the Chinese press similar wisecracks attributed to our great teacher, Jesus? There would have been a storm of protest, I am certain, and many harsh comments would have been made on the Chinese lack of good taste, their indecent flippancy, and their crude manners.

But the Chinese I knew did not express any great indignation. They viewed those “Confucius say” jokes with an amused tolerance. It was the most sublime example of Christian forgiveness I’ve ever seen.

The Blue Mantle, 1941, Saint Mary’s Academy,

Milford, Massachusetts

“Confucius Say” Rotor Table

The Billboard, May 2, 1942

Arcade-Sunshine Laundry

713 Lamont Street NW, Washington, DC, no date

Bottom tier, first panel

Blackhawk #26, August 1949

Bottom tier, last panel

no date; Courtesy, The Lilly Library, Indiana University, 

Bloomington, Indiana

“Confucius Say”, Pressman Toy Corp., 1955

Walker County Messenger (Lafayette, Georgia)

November 11, 1959

In 1964, “Cornfucius Say” was a joint production of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and country musicians Homer and Jethro. Homer & Jethro’s “Cornfucius Say” Joke Book was promoted on boxes of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes. RCA released Homer and Jethro’s album Cornfucius Say. Time, March 13, 1964, reported the radio campaign. Of course, Homer and Jethro performed “Cornfucius Say” songs during the tour. “Cornfucius Say” is a trade name. 

Food Topics, March 1964

RCA, 1964

Cocktail Napkins, 20 sayings

artist unknown, no date

Rust Craft, artist unknown, no date

Rust Craft, artist unknown, no date

Artist unknown, original art, 8.5 x 10.25 in., no date

The Superman Family #213, December 1981

In 1986, the American Productivity Corporation, in Springfield, Illinois, produced the Electronic Fortune Cookie with a picture of Confucius holding an enormous fortune cookie. A person inserts a quarter and pushes one of four buttons, Love, Money, Work or Pleasure, for their fortune and lottery numbers.

Dale Cards, no date

Hallmark, no date

The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food

Jennifer B. Lee

Grand Central Publishing, 2008

Pages 286–287

So what did Confucius really say?

I downloaded a translation of the Analects (known as Lun Yu in Chinese) and read through it, trying to glean bits of wisdom. It turns out that Confucius said a lot, but only a fraction of which would resonate with an American audience. ...

Confucius Says ... There Are No Fortune Cookies in China

Edward V. Yang

iUniverse, 2013

Further Reading and Viewing

Moral Sayings of Confucius, a Chinese Philosopher

A. B. & Co., 1855

The Discourses and Sayings of Confucius

Ku Hung-Ming

Kelly and Walsh, Limited, 1898

The Sayings of Confucius

Lionel Giles

John Murray, 1907

The Sayings of Confucius

Leonard A. Lyall

Longmans, Green and Co., 1909

The Sayings of Confucius

James R. Ware

New American Library, 1955

In 1925, cartoonist Sidney Smith created the character, Ching Chow. In 1927, Ching Chow was syndicated in a daily gag panel where he spouted sayings similar to Broadway Confucius. After Smith’s death in 1935, Stanley Link, Smith’s assistant, continued Ching Chow and added a Ching Chow strip to the Sunday edition of Tiny Tim. 

Sands Mechanical Museum, “Confucius Say” Rotor Table (It’s unlikely this game was produced in the late 1930s.)

Reel Life Wisdom, The Top 10 Wisest Quotes from Charlie Chan Films

Worlds Best Detective Crime and Murder Mystery Books, Charlie Chan’s Aphorisms and Sayings 

It’s not clear how much the Charlie Chan books, films and comics affected the popularity of “Confucius Say”.

Envisioning the American Dream

(Next post on Wednesday: Yun Gee’s “The Last Supper” with the Disciples Identified)