Thousand Pieces of Gold
by Ruthanne Lum McCunn
Boston: Beacon Press, 1988 (original
copyright 1981)
Most novels set in the nineteenth century American West tell stories of white settlers intent on claiming the land and/or Indians determined to defend it. But the promise of a new life in the West attracted not only Easterners of European heritage, but thousands of immigrants from Asia as well. Some came willingly, others did not. Lalu Nathoy, born in China in 1865, and later known as Polly Bemis, was one of them. Thousand Pieces of Gold, is a highly entertaining and largely accurate biographical novel that tells her life story.
Born in China in 1865, Lalu's impoverished family is forced to sell her into slavery to the bandit Chen for two bags of seeds. Whether Chen plans to keep her for himself, give her to his men, or sell her to a Shanghai brothel, Lalu's prospects appear grim.
Chen sells Lalu to a Shanghai brothel, but through a quirk of fate she is sold again to an American buyer. It is a transaction that changes her life forever.
Ultimately, Lalu is purchased by Hong King, who runs a saloon that caters to the miners in Warrens, Idaho. Lalu, now known as Polly, despises Hong King and yearns for her freedom. She is determined to be free, and is willing to take drastic steps to get it.
Through courage and determination, Polly ultimately does find limited freedom, love, and a measure of happiness in her new land. Thousand Pieces of Gold is an inspirational story, and through Polly's life readers are exposed to the trials faced by Chinese immigrants to the United States. They endured terrible discrimination, and were denied many rights. The book highlights many of these discriminatory practices.
Of course, the vast majority of Chinese immigrants were men, many of whom intended to return to China. They earned money mining, building the railroads or engaging in other work that played a vital role in building the American West. The few Chinese women, like Polly, who immigrated, frequently endured brutal conditions and were often virtual slaves forced to work in brothels.Comment
The story of Polly Bemis should be of particular interest to Idaho readers. She lived most of her life here, and ultimately settled with Charlie Bemis in a cabin across from Shepp Ranch on the Salmon River. While the original cabin burned down, a rebuilt cabin where Polly lived after the death of her husband Charlie has been preserved as a museum.
While aspects of the story, including the dialog and a few of the character are fictional, Polly's overall life story is factual. Ruthanne Lum McCunn conducted considerable research in preparation for writing the book, and in her preface she explains that she consulted "private papers, newspapers, journals and oral histories," and interviewed several people who knew Polly prior to her death in 1933. In preparing this review, Ms. McCunn graciously sent me additional information regarding her sources. It is unfortunate detailed information regarding the sources is not included in the book, as it proved quite interesting discovering how Ruthanne McCunn traced many of the details of Polly's life.
The Chinese sources related to Lalu's early life in China are impressive. However, as one might expect, they are not complete. As such, Ms. McCunn's portrayal of Lalu's youth, while somewhat speculative, is a reasonable re-creation based upon available information. Fortunately, sources are much richer regarding Polly's life in Idaho, but even these sources are not always consistent. Did Charlie Bemis really win Polly in a poker game? While the book's description of the game is based upon real sources, other sources claim the story is a myth. Fortunately, while many aspects of the book are fictional, Ms. McCunn descriptions of Chinese life in Idaho and the discrimination the Chinese endured are based on documented history.
While certainly not a reflection on the character of a woman fighting for survival, teachers should be aware the book does contain several mildly explicit sexual references.
Ms. McCunn has also written non-fiction books as well as novels describing the lives of nineteenth century Chinese immigrants. These and other books are featured on her web site at: www.mccunn.com. The site also includes some fascinating pictures of Polly Bemis.Reading Level: 5.6
Interest Level: Adult/Young Adult
308 pagesSupports the following Instructional Objectives:
Excerpt
"Those are saloons," Jim said. "Wine shops. Like your master's. Only his is empty of customers. That's why he bought you."
"There are sixteen hundred men in Warrens, twelve hundred Chinese, four hundred or so whites. And there are eleven women. Three are wives, two are widows, and a half dozen are hurdy gurdy girls. But they're all white. You'll be the only Chinese woman, an attraction that will bring men, Chinese and white, from miles around."
Like scalding water, Jim's words unraveled the casing of Lalu's cocoon, and she found herself floundering. She halted her mule. From the hitching rack edging the boardwalk, between horses patiently waiting for their masters, she could clearly see the demons inside the saloons. Some simply smoked and drank or competed at squirting streams of brown tobacco juice. Others crowded around gaming tables or hopped and bounded like performing monkeys, their arms around short-skirted, painted demon women whose heeled boots pounded rhythms on crude plank floors. (page 107)Picture of Polly Bemis sitting in front of her cabin on the Salmon River used with permission of the Idaho State Historical Society. Learn more about the Idaho State Historical Society by visiting their web site at: www.state.id.us/ishs/
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