Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-07-27
A CHINESE MILLIONAIRE.
The Residence and Manner Of Life Of the
Celestial Vanderbilt.

The Residence and Manner Of Life Of the
Celestial Vanderbilt.
visited this afternoon tho Wander
bilt OF China. He is q relative OF the
Chinese minister at Washington, and
his grandfather died less than q gen.
Grafton ago leaving an estate worth
50, OO0. 0OO hard gold dollars. His name
is How Qua; and he has acres Of houses
in the busiest part OF Canton, his own
residence occupies the site Of q good
sized farm, and he has diamonds and
pearls by tho cupful. One Of his dia-
monds, a ring which cost eco. 900. was
sent 10 England TO DO sold not long
ago. and il Is probably now in the
jewel casket OF one Of the monarchs OF
Europe. He has plantations Of rice
fields and many acres Of the choicest
ton gardens. His money is we'll in.
vested and no would approach the
wealth Of Jay Gould were it not that
The officials every now and then come
down upon him Tor gift OF from SO
600 TO 800. 900 and he dare not refuse.
This rich man is now 40 years old,
though he docs not look over IS. He
Is q typical Chinaman OF the literary
class, has broad, high forehead, thin
yellow checks and eyes that shine as
brightly as his choicest diamonds.
His hair is like Jet and his cue reaches
TO his ankles. He was dressed In silks
and furs when he received mo, and no
had tight, round black silk skull cap
on tho top OF his head. He shook his
own hands before his breast in Chinese
salutation when our American consul,
Mr.. Seymour. introduced mo 10 him,
and then no reached out his long
nailed fingers and grnspcd my hand a
In Americana.
Il was in his grand residence ON the
banks OF the Pearl river in tho heart
OF Canton. We walked through a
wilderness Of buildings devoted TO tho
servants and relatives OF tho family be.
fore We came TO the reception room.
How Qua supports about 400 Of his
poorer relatives, and when q man
makes q fortune in China his whole
clan settles down upon him. In the
various courts all kinds OF work
seemed TO be going on. Hero servants
were cleaning tho fish for the family.
There rico was being ground into -four
and dried in great baskets, and just
next tho reception room wo heard tho
buzzing Of Babel. Il was How Qua's
children being taught by their tutor,
and like all Chinese children, they
studied out loud, singing their lessons
out ut the tops OF their voices Now
and then tho sharp chatter OF the
ruler could be heard when one Of the
boys made q mistake, and tho father
told mo that no intended 70 have his
boys educated at the Hong Kong for
eign college and 10 finish them OF In
America and England. He talked
English himself and no Is among the
progressive Of the Chinese.
As we sat and chaticd tho choicest
OF Formosa tea was brought in, the
leaves Of which wcrc, judge, worth
about $50 pound. and We seated our
selves In black ebony chairs. which In
couples were hinged on the sides Of
small tables. and slipped the tea from
covered China cups without saucers
There are no easy chairs In the Chi
ESQ gentlemans house. and this pal.
ace in China hrd uncarpeted floors Of
stone. and its walls between the rooms
were Of colored glass framed In ebony.
Some Of tho curious shaped panels had
pictures painted on them BY Chinese
artists. aud the effect of tho whole was
the finish Of fancy store room yet
unoccupied. rather than that Of com.
Portable home.
Some Of the finest rooms looked out
upon n little lake OF lotus plants Of
perhaps an acre in extent, and there
were glass covered corridors which
ran around this Tho chairs sat
against the wall. aud their unbcnding
backs were straight up and down.
There were no coy hooks such as
you find Ia our American homes and
the soft tints Of our family life were
not found In the picture. Nearly every
room contained an American clock,
and some were hung with glass chan
deliers. I went into his mothers bed
room. the best In tho house, | doubt
not and where How Qua pointed as
he said. There my mamma sleeps"
was q platform between four posts.
which was covered with straw mat
ting and upon which was q piece Of
porcelain OF about the shape and size
Of q flvecent loaf Of bread, and this
was the pillow OF this rich Chinese
lady.-Fank q. Carpenter.