Sharp County record., 1888-04-05
MISSIONARY MA1RONS.
Work Done by One of Them in Behalf
of the Chinese Minister.


Did you ever hear the story Of the
origin of the series of private balls 1t
the Chinese Legation?" asked a q
sipy young diplomat of the cory
spondent the other evening. M?
OF course you want to hear it and
will tell you. It illustrates beautifufy
the enterprise, as well as the kind
heartedness of certain Of your AmerI'
can women, who try so hard here in
Washington especially to make 1t
pleasant for the strangers within your
gates and who are not ayerse even to
taking up the heather Chinee, if be
has money enough to defray the neceS-
sary expense.
"WclI, it seems that a wealthy ma.
tron, not famous for her beauty, early
in the season wrote to the Chinese
Minister in the name of herself and
nineteen other ladies, informing him
that they had taken pity on his lonely
state and wished to come up to Castle
Stewart and show him how to entsr-
tain in the American style by giving
few receptions and balls. The
unsophisticated and semi barbarous
Chnaman, it seems, did not appreci-
ate the delicate consideration under
lying the proposal of the twenty mis-
sionary matrons, and was inclined
to snub them for impertinent inter-
Iopers. H wanted to answer tina the
had not heard of any committee un'
dertaking t. show members OF other
legations how to entertain in me
American style, and, moreover as the
Chinese legation was bachelors es-
tablishment, he did not think Gf they
would pardon a poor unenlightened
heather for saying iD that the thing
would be quite proper.
This is how the unappreciative Chi
naman, who has been in this country
but couple Of years, desired to an
swer the note of the twenty matrons.
But his secretary, who has longer en-
loved the refining influences Of Wash
ingJon society, told him that would
not do at all; that the Chinese were
not too popular, as it was, in this coun'
try, and that a reply of the kind the
Minister proposed would not have a
tendency to make them more so. The
secretary advised the Minister to &C.
cept the offer of the twenty missionary
matrons, and the Minister at last did
so. So the enterprising matron, who
is not famed for her beauty,
and who, it seems, does
not ask much assistance from the
other nineteen matrons to whom 'She
referred in her letter. now goes up to
the big building where dwell the meek
-al4ssess4-eFed- -Cslestials~-nne-.s..---.
fortnight or so, takes possession,
orders in the decorators, tells the Min
ister that he may prepare feast and
put plenty of wine on ice. invites a
hundred or so of her friends to join
her, and when night comes they have
a right merry time. undaunted by any
thought of the bills to be paid in the
morning.
"The poor minister. it is said, does
not even dare to ask to these merry
makings his own friends, and people
who, in other seasons, were ac-
customed to be hidden to the Celestial
feasts, now find themselves out in the
cold"
The diplomat s story seemed hardly
creditable, but inquiry in other
quarters seemed to confirm its truth.
Tbs Chinese Minister it is said made
his immense fortune out of the say
ings of his salary as tax-gatherer in a
Chinese province, and he must now
feel that the tables have been com.
pletely turned on him in this capital OF
the great American nation, and,
worst of all. by women, whom the
Orientals regard as playthlngs OF
slaves. Washington Cor Water5nr'
american.