The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-08-31
The Chinese ambassadors.
IwOshinston Letter to the Philadelphia Time.

There is a good deal OF talk here re
! garding the new Chinese Embassy tina
is soon to take its pace n official cir
Giles at the Capital, and there is ever,
indication that it will be the mos
ostentatious of the legations in Wash
| ington. The embassy is composed o.
forty-tive persons about twenty of whom
are servants. What is intended to b,
accomplished or what wi be attempted
by this monster embassy is not yet qui {
clear, but it is no common task thai
brings to our shores so many of tn,
statesmen of China are not ordinary
men, but, on the contrary, they will bl
found quite equal to those of any coun
try in discussing questions affecting
themselves.
The new embassy will live in great
state in Washington, and it is announced
that they will entertain lavishly. This
could not be done in San Francisco
where the prejudice against Cinnamon
is very great, so great indeed that the
embassy was treated with indignities
even in the streets. There is, however,
no such prejudice in Washington, being,
| think, the most cosmopolitan of cities.
The Japanese Minister, who is a very
cultivated, courteous, and able gentle
man, receives and reciprocates hospital
tiles here with the highest and the
whole legation here is very popular, not
except ng the Minister'S charming little
wife. When Burlingame, with his
Chinese Embassy came here, several
years ago-in 1867 think-the greatest
respect was paid him. The Chinese
ambassadors were dined and wined y
President johnson, Secretary Seward
and all the dignitaries, and for time
they were quite the social rage. They
spent money by the CARLOAD. Probably
the finest entertainments ever given in
Washington were given by Minister
Burlingame. | well remember one din
ner which he gave at his hotel and 1t
which about two hundred persons were
present. The first Chinese ambassador,
jolly old party who winked like an
owl, sat at Burlingame's right. He was
the cream of amiability and good ma
ture, but he did not understand word
of English. He felt it incumbent upon
him t drink a bumper of wine to every
body who smiled at him--a proceeding
that was soon observed by the younger
guests. One after another OF them
would catch the old party's eye and
raising his glass of wine would bow to
the aged Celestial. With the utmost
Joy the ambassador would return the
smile, raise his glass and empty it to
the dregs. This proceeding, ! am sorry
TO say, continued until the gentleman
on Burlingame's right could not open
his eyes to recognize the continued calls
upon him, and his ears also seemed to
have forgotten their office. When The
| dinner was over the whole party was
pretty jolly, and when everybody rose
from the table, Burlingame took the old
mans arm within his own, and led the
ocession out of the room. These big
dinners, however, were too much for
Burlingame, and he died of them few
months afterwards at st. Petersburg,
his mission being only half accom-
plished.
The present embassy will be perma-
nent. 1t has leased the immense ugly
structure known as Castle Stewart, in
the northwestern portion of the city,
and will make it the official residence.
The building is amazingly awkward and
uninviting, and is said to be copy OF
some castle abroad. 1t is very large and
well suited for entertainments. 1t was
built by Stewart when he was in the
Senate, and when he had more money
than taste. 1t was most extravagantly
furnished, Mrs. Stewart "a daughter OF
ex-senator Henry S. Foote) buying
much of the furniture in Paris. The
family occupied it only about two years,
and it has been tenantless for about six
years. The building is located in that
part of the city described by Gibson,
of the Sun, as 4" the honest miners
camp" from the fact that Judge Sun
derland, of San Francisco; Gen. Hill
yer, the bonanza firms lawyer; Senator
Chaffee, and many others of that clan
were large property holders in the neigh
borhood. Since Stewart built his house
some very handsome buildings have
gone up in the vicinity, the most con-
spicuous being the mansion built by the
English Government for the English
Minister here, the cost of which was not
far from 100000.
The Chinese Embassy has chosen for
it's American Secretary, Mr.. ID. w. Bart
lett, an old Washington correspondent
of the Evening Post, New York Indepe,,-
dent, and the Springfield Republican, a
gentleman who, like the Chinese, is both
childlike and bland. There is not in
the whole country more capable man
for the position. He is known every.
where for his purity of character and
blameless life. He is very popular in
Washington, and has sounded all the
depths and shoals of the social world.