Wong Soong-dong Who Served U.S. for Over 54 Years Up to April 2 Mr. Wong Soong-dong, compradore to the United States Consulate General, had not asked for a vacation for'54 years, and he had worked for the Consulate Just that length of time, On that day he admitted he was tired and to go home. He never came On April 17 he died at the age of 79 years, honoured and respected by all." He had given the longest continued service in the American Government in China, perhaps in the whole world, He was known to every foreign service oticer in China who had been stationed in the Far East and he had been regarded as a valuable source of information concerning all American Court and diplomatic matters since the year 1871, Mr. Wong came to work for the Consulate on March 5, 1871, Mr. George F. Seward was Consul-General at that time and since then the ancient compradore had seen sixteen Consuls come and go.
And he had the important events of the regime of each one catalogued with precision in his mind, He served Mr, Meyers for a year. In 187, Mr. G. Wiley Wells became Consul-Gereral and My, Wong remained at the post, Mr. Wells gave way to Mr, David H, Bailey in 1879 who remained as Consul-General until 1880, By that time Mr. Wong had become thoroughly established and knew more about the United States Consulate than did the Consuls-General themselves. They might come and they might go but Mr. Wong stayed on forever, In 1880 Mr, 0. N, Denny set up his regime in the Consular chambers and it was not until 1884 that Mr, Julius Stahel took his place, Afr, Wong and Mr. *|Denny were good friends. 'They had a long time to get, acquainted and each knew the vagaries of the others' mind, Mr, J, D. Kennedy took over the Consuinte in 1886 and stayed there for three years.. Mr. J. Leonard followed him' in 1889 and put in a four-year term followed by Mr. Alfred D. Jones. Mr. Wong did' not get a chance to know Mr. Jones very well because he only remained for a few months, but when 'T. R. Jernigan took over the he remained for three years, Following him Mr. J. Goodenow slipped out of the eighties and into the nineties along with My, Wong and they governed the Americans in Shanghai together for almost eight years. A short two-year term with Mr. J. L. Rodgers at the head follow~ fed and another two-year term with Mr. C, A, Denby as Consul-General slipped by in quick succession, Still Mx, Wong stayed on, unperturbed by the change in ruler and ruled. In 1909 Mr. A. P. Wilder took over ithe Consulate and stayed for five long years. Thomas Sammons followed him remaining until 1919 when the present Consul-General, Mr. ES. Cunningham took his place and has held it ever since, Everyone who knew Mr, Wong regarded him ay the finest typo of Chinese gentleman. When General Grant came through China in 1879 on his world tour he made Mr, Wong his interpreter and guide and so appreciated hhis services that he gave him gold medal which was the chief pride and joy of Mr, Wong's life, Two years ago it was stolen and Mr. Wong was heartbroken about the theft. The medal had a raised eagle with outspread wings upon it and a shield upon which was engraved Pluribus Unum,"
No one in the Consulate ever needed to look in the old files for information concerning the past. On Jone occasion seven years ago when Mr. Cunningham wished to make speech at a community dinner on the occasion of his 25th anniversary in the service he attempted to review the various places in which—the Consulates have been located, in Shanghai. Mr. Wong knew then all and_reealled them and quickly, Mr, Wong the ups and downs of the Consulate for fifty-four years and he remem-ered them all, Wong's son is busy at the 1.8. Consul now, gathering together the files and accounts of his father. No one has as yet been appointed to seceed him and it is the sad belief that there will never be another Seompradete like Sir. Wang.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.