The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1888-11-10
mAN1ARiNs AT WASHINGTON.
Some Gossip About the Legation from IN

Some Gossip About the Legation from the
Central Flowery Kiagdcn.
The members of the Chinese legation.
in Washington are frequen seen at the
Capitol. listening to the debates either in
the senate or house, though they d. 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 occa7y the immense
residence here known as ..stpw:rt cas-,
tie and which was formerly tie dwell
ing place Of the senator of that name
from Nevada. Before they took this
house the Chinese legation We're quar-
tered i'll a commodious house at the
corner Of Massachusetts, avenue and Four
ieenth street, afterwards for one season
the residence Of Congressman Wheeler,
Of AlaIstala, and at present the head
quarters of the Union league
The members Of the Chinese legas :on
are fond of going to the theatre. They
invariably occupy boxes. and night after
night they can be seen at places of
anlrscment; sometimes taking in
comedy or comic opera as often as two
and three times week. They are great
dressers. too, in their own peculiar way,
and several members Of the legation are
the Possessors of magnificent diamonds.
1t is q custom of theirs to wear an inn
mense diamond in the front of the little
round cap invariably to be seen on their
heads, and which is never taken off, no
matter where they go
One of their number IS man of onor-
nous flesh, and he has very broad face,
with a rough looking skin He is getting
along in years, and he pants and blows
when walking down the street with his
official associates. The minister is big
man also. Several of the attaches are
nice looking men, and have graceful
figures and comparatively smooth faces.
They are fond of going to receptions, and
OF course have great many invitations.
The younger ones. are expert dancers, and
the giddy girls who think it is just 'stoo
awfully charming to waltz with
Chinaman seem to be in ecstasy when
they are asked 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 4 week a grand BAIL 1t is gotten
up regardless of expense, and there is
plenty to drink, too much, i'll fact, from
all accounts of the wild orgies which go
on there. Two years ago many of the
'.Melican" men and women who went to
the Chinese minister's ball made hogs Of
themselves, and ever since that rather
disgraceful affair the lines have been
drawn, and the Mongolian minister is at
least sharp enough to know who the peo-
pie are that receive invitation bids to the
ball. 1t is, therefore, bound to be more
select gathering since it has become
harder to procure an invitation
The predece ssor of the present Chinese
minister once gave ball that is often
talked Of in Washington. 1t was an
affair that led out more than half Of the
members OF congress. and prevented a
quorum i'll the house for two whole days.
The trouble was the American statesmen
didn't know to what extent the Chinese
punch was s'loadcd." 1t is an insidious
and seductive drink-sweet and pleasant
at first, but lasting in its effects. The
minister could speak but lietle English.
He had been taught to say few SEN
fences, to be spoken when the guests ar
rived and departed The congressman
would come up and say: Il an now
going" and before they could say any
thing further his Chinese highness would
cjaculaie: Glad to hear it. " not know
ing what it meant, or that he had spoken
the wrong sentence at that particular
time. 1t was very comical, and those
who attcaGcd that famous ball will never
forget the Chinese EsHlch and the big,
aching heads that followed. New York
Graphic.