The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-05-03
A LONELY LADY.
The Wife of the Chinese Minister, Who
Lives Ia secimsion at WnshinGto ton.

Just nc the time when American women
have succeeded iii causing each house Of the
National Legislature to appoint committee
whose special duty il will be to consider the
question Of admitting women to all the priv
ileges of citizenship enjoyed BY men, it is
little singular that there happens to be in
our National Capital woman whose copdi-
ton fairly represents in its least bagbarous
phrase that from which the sex have gradu-
ally risen to their present independent con-
dition. At the Chinese Legation, one of the
handsomest residences in the city, lives a
lady Of rank in that country the wife of the
present Minister--Chene Tsao ia She
lives in as strict seclpsion here in the Nation
al Capital of our free country as If still in the
capital of her native land Even here she
must obey the national hw which compels
women of rank to keep within their homes.
She has never been out since she removed
from the Arlington Hotel, whore her hus-
band and her suite We're until the Legation
was made ready for their occupancy, which
was before the middle Of January.
While the names of the wives of other
gentlemen of the Diplomatic Corps who are
married aud the names of the wife and
daughter of Mr.. Bartlett, the American secre-
tary Of the Chinese Legation appears always
on the official diplomatic list published by
the State department., the name of the Chi
nese Minister'S wife is not thereon. She re-
eoives no company ut all. aud must not be
allowed to see any man except her husband
Consequently, she, being alone withher Chi
nese women attendants, has no opportunity
to learn English. She is the fourth wife
(the other three, hear, are living in China,
and she, it is said, was permitted TO accom-
pany her husband on his travels because
she is the youngest andprottiest of the mum.
Der l hear they have not been married
long. She is under twenty-five years Of
age
The Chinese Minister visits and attends
parties daily, and although he rs yet knows
no English no ono seems TO enjoy society
more than he. Through his interpreter,
who always accompanies him. he talks mer,
rily with ladies. lie thinks Miss West the
British Minister'S young daughter, very
bright, because she has memorized some
Chinese phrases taught her by the nterpre-
ter and repeated them to hun. Two Phil
adelphia ladies ut recent reception kept up
an animated conversation with him through
the interpreter, and he laughed heartily over
some of their sallies.
As no one below the grade OF a Minister
or Charge dAtfaires is ever invited to dine
with ono of our Presidents, the Chinese in
terproter could not accompany the Minister
to the dinner at the White House, and thus,
where all the languages of the civilized earth
were spoken, he was the only one present
who did not understand any of them. The
Japanese Charge d'Afaires who attended
(there being no Minister here now to repre-
sent the nation) communicated with the
Chinese gentleman in writing on this coca
sion, though he could not speak his Ian,
guage. The Chinese Minister did not ap-
pear to feel lonely at the dinner, but ate and
drank heartily, and as he closely watched
the others about him committed no fang 1sas
He afterwards told the President that he
thought the wine very fine and enjoyed it,
Washington Correspondence.