1871: Broken China in Oregon
…He must’ve talked Chinook Jargon as well as Chinese Pidgin English…
Image credit: Christmas Countdown
Here’s a fun angle on a German immigrant employee at a local drugstore, who was quite a polyglot:
“PUTTING ON FRILLS.” –Within the past few
days Messrs. R. C. Hill & Son have received sev-
eral thousand dollars worth of fresh drugs, per-
fumery, medicines, etc., at their drug establish-
ment on First street, which the polite and urbane
Col. Fred. will be pleased to throw in sight for
your inspection, or any other man’s, whenever
you put in an appearance. They have also in their
employ a German druggist, a gentleman of culture
and first-class reputation, who will be pleased to
deal out prescriptions or candy, toilet goods or
castor oil, soda powders or horse medicines, in
any known language, for cash. Fred. converses
fluently in all the Indian languages he under-
stands, as well as “broken China” and tolerable
fair English, so that none of our people need go
unsupplied with needed articles in his line,
through the fear of not making themselves under-
stood. Want of time prevents further remarks
on this subject now. Drop in and see the new
outfit.
— from the Albany (OR) Register of July 29, 1871, page 3, column 6
