A Humble Chinese Worker’s Contribution to America

In the prestigious Columbia University, the department of East Asian Studies, there is a post for special studies of Chinese culture and Han teachings called the “Dean Lung Professorship,” which was established and funded by Horace Walpole Carpentier in 1901 to commemorate Dean Lung, his illiterate but noble Chinese servant.
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Lee Tung Foo and Dean Lung – Montanatude

近代中国史学泰斗钱穆记述了丁龙讲座的来历: 〝百年前广东有一华侨,名丁龙,居纽约。林肯总统时代,一将军退役后一人独居。雇一男仆,治理家务。但此将军性好漫骂,仆人辄不终约而去。丁龙亦曾为其家仆,亦以遭骂辞去。后此将军家遭火灾,独居极狼狈。丁龙闻之,去其家,愿复充仆役,谓其家乡有古圣人孔子,曾教人以恕道,曰:“己所不欲,勿施于人。”今将军遭火灾,独居,余曾为将军仆,闻讯不忍,愿请复役。此将军大叹赏,谓不知君乃读书人,能读古圣人书。丁龙言,余不识字,非读书人,孔子训乃由父亲告之。将军谓,汝父是一读书人,亦大佳。丁龙又谓,余父亦不识字,非一读书人。祖父曾祖父皆然。乃由上代家训,世世相传,知有此。此将军大加欣赏,再不加骂,同居相处如朋友。积有年,丁龙病,告将军,余在将军家,食住无虑,将军所赐工资,积之有年。今将死,在此无熟友,家乡无妻室,愿以此款奉还将军,以志积年相敬之私。丁龙卒。此将军乃将丁龙积款倍加其额,成一巨款,捐赠纽约哥伦比亚大学,创立一讲座,名之曰“丁龙讲座”。以专门研究中国文化为宗旨。至今此讲座尚在。但余居北平教读北大、清华、燕京三大学,教授多数以上全自美国留学归来,亦有自哥伦比亚毕业来者,但迄未闻人告余丁龙事。及余亲去美国,始获闻之。〞

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