"Many western towns had a Chinese who broke away from the Chinatowns and set up a business, often a restaurant, a bath house or a laundry. In many cases it was a lonely life for him, or, if he had one, his family."

Q, this is a sad and terrible indictment of the USA. In a better nation, a Chinese man or a Chinese family and who moved away from other Chinese out in the American West would not have been ostraziced because of his and their race.

[Not to mention that-in the grand American tradition-some Chinese and non-Chinese probably voluntarily mated if not married, which is not really another point as-in my opinion-in a better nation there would not have been any societal & legal barriers against interracial mating and marriage as I'm sure there was [and is, at least when it comes to societal barriers] in the United States during the years that Q referenced in his comment.

I propose that adults study children's rhymes for the glimpses they provide about the world of children now and in the past. I also propose that adults consider children's rhymes as a way of ascertaining what children think are acceptable attitudes & behavior in society then and now. Furthermore, I propose that schools and after-school groups use children's rhymes as a way of discussing such difficult subjects as violence and prejudice.

We got to get serious about making earth a less violent place or soon there may not be an earth. And we've got to get serious about reducing and eradicating prejudice and fear of people who are different from ourselves. Only then will difference not make any difference.