CHEW, Ng Poon, Chinese-American editor: b. Sun Ning, China, 1866. He was edu cated at the Occident School, San Francisco, and at the Theological Seminary there. He was destined for the Taoist ministry by his parent, but becoming a convert to Christianity he entered the Christian ministry. In 1899 he re signed and established the first, illustrated Chinese weekly and also the Chung Sai Yat Po, the first Chinese daily newspaper in the United States. In 1906 he was made adviser to the Chinese consulate general. He is a recognized authority on matters pertaining to Asiatic ex clusion and Chinese-American relations. His published works include 'Non-Exclusion' (1905) and 'Treatment of Exempt Classes of Chinese in America' (1908).
a resinous gum used as a masticatory. The habit of chewing gum is perhaps peculiar to .the United States. At first the resinous exudations of the spruce, cherry, etc„ were employed in their native state; but with the increase of the habit the supply nearly failed, and recourse was had to other ingredients. The gum resins of sweet gum, tamarack and certain other forest trees are also used. Balsam of tolu is a constituent of certain kinds of gum, while paraffin has also been employed. Paraffin is also very largely used as an adulterant in the cheaper grades of gum, which in consequence crumble when chewed. Of late years a gum known as chicle, an elastic gum from the naseberry, a tree of tropical South America, somewhat similar to the India-rubber tree (q.v.), has come to the
front as the foundation of most of the chewing gum. The chicle gum is chopped into fine par tides, dried and then cooked iii steam-jacketed kettles. At this stage sweetening and flavoring ingredients are added to the mass, which is mixed mechanically. The resulting "dough* is then kneaded on a table and rolled between rollers having knives set into their faces. These knives cut the sheets into suitable sizes for the market, and, after drying, the sticks are wrapped, packed and shipped. The practice of chewing gum is probably harmless, and in mild cases of indigestion it may even be somewhat beneficial, by mechanically stimulating the flow of saliva. Pepsin, mint and similar substances are often mixed in with the gum; thymol being added in the so-called antiseptic gums, but it is safe to say that the success of any particular brand depends more upon its sweetness and flavor than upon any beneficial properties. In 1914, 2,689 persons were engaged in the manu facture of chewing-gum in the United States, in 74 establishments with a capital of $10, 625,000; the salaries and wages amounted to $1,648,000. Raw materials to the value of $7, 322,000 were turned into a finished product valued at $17,159,000.