The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-29
E"Is there nothing peculiar. then.
about the very early life Of Chinese

about the very early life Of . Chinese
maiden?"
'.Nothing in the world. She is Just
like an American baby. About two
months ago the members of the Chi
was month Old by a dinner at Worm
ley's. The next celebration in her hon.
or will be when she is old enough to go
to school. Then there will be another
dinner. There will be no more festivi-
ties for her then until she is married"
when win she be old enough to go
to SCHOOL,"
when she is seven or eight years
old"
II suppose you mean by going to
school that an instructress will be
brought into the family?''
''Not always. Sometimes q rich lit
tie Chinese girl will have a governess
in the house, but often several wealthy
send their children to her for instruc-
ton 1t is a private SCHOOL,.
just then there came down from the
upper regions of the house long, Wig
orous, infantile wall.
There" said the secretary, laugh
ing, sis Chinese baby crying in good
English"
''Is she the Minister'S first child?"
"Oh, no. He has several children at
home, but this is the first one and the
first Chinese baby born in Washington.
She is great pet for the Minister and
'.And would be of all the embassy.
suppose, if she was only boyp'
''Oh, that makes no difference. Little
boys and girls are treated just alike.
1t is only when they are grown that our
etiquette requires the seelusion of the
ladies'"
The reporter inquired with much eau
ton and fear of offending why it was
that the Chinese Minister'S wife did not
receive and 90 out at all.
'That," said the Secretary, sis only
because she does not speak English, and
it would be highly improper, according
to our etiquette, for gentleman to
translate for her. Neither does the
Minister speak English, and there is 40
one who could translate for his wife,"
elbow is it that the Minister can not
speak English when you speak it SO
wellP"
81 acquired the language in Hong
Kong, but the Minister is now an old
man, about sixty-one years old; never
theless, he is studying the language"
Returning to the more Interesting
subject of the ladies, the reporter sug-
gested that the wife of the Chinese Min
lister at Paris was quite favorite in So
ciety and went out very often.
''That is" said the secretary, "be-
cause she has very charming young
lady daughter, highly educated, and
speaking European languages well. She
can translation her mother"
els the Minister'S wife the only Chi
nese lady herep"
"Yes; the other members of the en-
bassy, if they are married, must leave
their wives at home. The Minister
wife has two Chinese maids with her,
but there is really no room for any more
ladies in the house." said the secretary,
laughing. He then explained that the
term of Office of the members of the
embassy was three years, after which
they had six months leave of absence
in which to 60 to China and visit their
families before returning, if they did
return, which was optional with them.
The present is the second Chinese EN-.
bassy, and there are but two members
of it who were here with the first en-
bsssy. AS the secretary said, three
years is quite long enough to be separ-
ated from ones family. The seclusion
of the Minister'S wife has not been gen.
orally understood, but the secretary
stated that the reason given above was
the only one. She occasionally goes out
riding, but makes no calls and has no
society. The advent of the baby must
have been a blessing to her secluded
fe.-Natio,aal Republican.