St. Landry democrat., 1888-11-10
MANoAR.Ns At WASHINGTON.
Some Gossip About the Legation from ths
Central Elowerv Kingdom.

Central Elowerv Kingdom.
The members of the Chinese legation
In Washington are frequently seen at the
Capitol. listening to the debates either IN
the senate or house. though they do not
understand much Of what Is SAID unless
they happen to have an interpreter with
them. which is not frequently the case
when they are going about the city sight
seeing. The Chinese is perhaps the larg-
est Of any Of the foreign legations at
Washington. They occupy the immense
residence here known es ''Stewart cas-
de- and which was formerly the dwell
ing place Of the senator OF that name
from Nevada. Before they took this
bouss the Chinese legation were quar-
tered in q conmodious house at the
corner Of Massachusetts avenue and -Four
tenth street, afterwards for one season
the residence OF Congressman Wheeler.
CT Alabama, and at present the head
quarters Of the Union league.
The members Of the Chinese legation
are fond OF going to the theatre. They
invariably occupy boxes, and night after
night they can be seen at places OF
amusement; sometimes taking IN
comedy or comic opera as often AZ two
and three times "a week. They are great
dressers, too, in their own peculiar way,
and several members Of the legation are
the pt1ssessors of magnificent diamonds.
Ii Is q custom Of theirs to wear on ia
raense diamond in the front OF the little
round cap invariably 70 BE- seen on their
heads, and wl,icl, il never taken OF, no
matter where they 60.
One Of their number Is q man CT onor-
nous flesh, and he has q very broad face,
with rough looking skin. Heis ccttinr,
along in years, and he pants and bio'"s
when walking down the street. with his
official associates The minister ia o big
man also. Several Of the attaches aEc
nico hooking men. ind have graceful
figures and comparatively smooth faces.
They are fond OF going to receptions. ard
Of course have great many Invitations.
The younger ones ere expert dancers, and
the giddy girls who think it is Just 'tco
awfuIly charming to waltz with O
they are askei to whirl around with these
foreigners. They are seen often during
the winter months at the weekly hops
given at the leading hotels.
Up at the legation the Chinese give
once week grand bail 1t is gotten
Vi, regardless Of expense, and there Is
plenty to drink. too much, in fact. frou,
all accounts of the wild orgies which so
or there. Two years ago many of the
''Ieiican" men and women who went to
the Chinese ministers ball made hogs q
themselves, and ever since that rather
dissraceful affair the lines have been
drawn. ard the Monaghan minister is ct
least sharp enough to know who the peo-
pie are that receive Invitation bids to the
ball. 1t is, therefore. bound to he moro
select gathering since it has become
harder to procure all invitation.
The predecessor of the present Chinese
minister once gave ball that is often
talked of in Washington. 1t was an
affair that lald out more thai, half Of the
members Of congress. and prevented q
quorum In the house for two whole days.
Tie trouble was the American statesmen
didn't know to what extent the Chinese
punch WAS ''loaded.' 1t is an insidious
and seductive drink-sweet and pleasant
at first, but lasting in its effects. The
minister could speak but little English.
lie had been taught to Soy a few sem
fences, to be spoken when the guests ar
rived and departed. The congressman
would come up md say: Il am now
going" and before they could say any,
thing further his Chinese k:shness would
calculate: Glad to hear it, not know
il,5 what it meant, Or that he had spoken
the Wrnnn sentence ut that nsr;ir;;lar
time. |. was very conical, and those
who attended that famous ball will never
forget the Chinese punch and the bir,
aching heads that followed.-New York
Graphic.