The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-03-29

! Just at the time when American
women have succeeded in causing
each house in the National Leeisla-
ture to appoint a committee whose
special duty il will be to consider
the question OF admitting women to
ali the privileges OF citizenship en-
joyed by men, it is very singular
that there happens TO be in our Ma
tional Capital a woman whose con-
dition fairly represents in its least
barbarious phase that from which
the sex have gradually risen to their
present independent condition
At the Chinese Legation, Gne of
the handsomest residences in the
city, lives lady of rank in that
country, the wife of the present min
ister-Cbeng Tsao ia. She lives in
as strict seclusion 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 nation
al law which compels women of
rank to keep within their homes
She has never been out since she re-
moved from the Arlington Hotel,
where her husband and his suite
were until the Legation was made
ready for their occupancy. which
was before the middle of January.
While the names OF the wifes Of
the other gentlemen OF tne Diplo-
matte Corps who are married and the
names of the wife and daughter OF
Mr.. Bartlett, the American Secretary
of the Chinese Legation, appear al
ways on the official diplomatic list
published by the State Department,
the name of the Chinese ministers
wife is not thereon. She receives no
company at all, and must not be al
lowed to see a man except her hus-
band. Consequently, she being
alone with her Chinese women at
tendants, has 40 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 accompany her =.
husband on his travels because she
was the youngest and comliest Of
the number. | hear they have not
been married long. She is under %
years of age.
The Chinese minister visits and
parties daily, and although
as vet he knows no English, no one
seems to enjoy society more than he.
his interpreter, who al
ways accompanies him; he talks
merily with ladies. Hethinks Miss
West, the British ministers young
est daughter, very bright, because
she has memorized some Chinese
phrases taught her by the interpre-
ter, and repeated them to him, Two
Philadelphia ladies' at recent re-
ception kept up an intimate conyer-
sation with him through the inter-
prefer, and he laughed heartily over
some of their sallies.
As no one below the grade of
Minister or Charge d. Affaires is
ever invited to dine with one OF
heir Presidents, the Chinese inter-
prefer could not accompany the
Minister to dinner at the White
House, and thus, where all the Ian
yuages of the civilized world were
spoken, he was the only one present
who did not understand any of
hem. The japanese Charge d. At
aires who attended,-there being ne
minister here to represent that Ea-
ion-communicated with the Chi
lese gentleman in writing on this
though he could nct speak
his language. The Chinese Minis
er did not appear to feel lonely az
he dinner, but ate and drank hear
lily, and as he closely watched the
,thers about him committed no
duI pas. He afterwards told the
President that he thought the wine
7ery good and enjoyed it.-Hi'sA-
r9r. Phild. Times.