Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-07

an able and clever Chinese minister had
more work cut out and ready for his hand
than has the new incumbent of this office
The Chinese registration law. the Geary
law. and other matters of this sort will
give Mr.. Yang all the work he wants to do
this winter. In fact, one of the first things
he did upon his arrival in this city was to
call upon the Secretary of State and enter
an official protest against the restrictions
which are placed upon Chinese emigration.
But little has been accomplished since then.
however, a reporter from The Star was told
yesterday when he called at the legation.
The Old and New Legation Building.
The Chinese legation occupied the old
Stewart house on Dupont circle for so many
years that 1t will be a difficult matter for
Washingtonians to disassociate the two
For years 1t has been a pleasant sight and
a familiar one to see the minister. his sec
retaries or the ladies of the family walk
ing or sitting in Dupont Circle. The ar
rival of a daughter to the ex-minister was
a matter of great interest at the time, and
this quaint. curious little bit OF humanity
was always the center of an admiring
audience whenever she went out with her
nurse for an airing.
1t will not be long, however before the
new legation house will have about it the
same associations Of interest. When Mr.
Yang reached this city he found that the
lease on the Stewart mansion would soon
expire and could not be renewed, and one
of the first things he did was to look about
and official family. This was no small task
for the legation now numbers eighteen, ex-
elusive of servants, making 1t the largest
foreign legation in this city. A desirable
location was found, as stated in The Star
at the time, at the corner of 14th and Yale
streets, where there Is group of three
large brown stone houses. Two Of these
the minister leased for a term Of years
with the option Of purchase and they were
at once connected and made as nearly one
house as might be.
Not Suited for Entertaining,
In many ways the new legation is we'll
adapted for its purpose. In others 1t is
not. 1t is comfortable roomy and well
furnished, but the house is not we'll suited
for entertaining. The Chinese legation has
always done it's share in the matter of
official entertainments. and there Is reason
to believe that the new minister had ex-
pected to Guido any of his predecessors in
the lavishness Of his hospitality. He can
well afford to give handsome receptions.
but unfortunately the new legation has not
a very good ball room. This news will be
received with regret by many people in
Washington, for the dances at the Stewart
mansion under the regime of Mr.. Tsui and
of his predecessor are remembered with
pleasure, especially by the members of the
younger darcing set. In Mr.. Yang's new
home there Is a room on the fourth floor
which Will probably be used as a ball room
but its location and approaches are not ali
that might be desired.
An Interesting Personalftx
The new minister is far more interestinp
than his home. He is a man rather under
fifty years Of age. short and stout, with a
round, full face. He moves with an air of
seif-possession which is characteristic of
high-bred Cinnamon. In rank Mr. Yang
Is but few degrees removed from ROYALTY
and he comes to the United States as q
more influential representative of the en-
peror than any of his predecessors. being
a member of the Eight Banners, the aris-
tocracy of the dowery kingdom. He has
many friends among the foreign resident Is
in China, whose good will he earned by his
attention to their interests at the time of
the riots at Wuhu. He is said to be an en-
lightened and broad-minded official. The
new minister came to this city from China
In great style, and when he disembark ed
from the Gaelic at San Francisco, August
10. he was followed by a suite of eighty
two persons, whose baggage as weighed at
the custom house aggregated eighty tons
All of these attaches did not accompany
Yang Yu to Washington, however some of
them being destined for diplomatic service
at Madrid and at Lima, the minister is
accredited to those capitals as well as to
Washington. ~
The Ladies' of the Legation.
great deal Of interest has been taken by
the people OF San Francisco and this CITY
in the women of the party-the minister's
wife, the five ladies of rank who attend her
dHQ Hci lWO uduBHleTS. IL Is said that Mrs
Yang is decidedly exclusive. and will not he
much seen in Washington society this win
ter. In accordance with Chinese custom.
she lives a life of the greatest seciusion'
dining alone and seeing no one, for visitors
are not permitted to enter her apartments
Rarely have two small people been az
much written and talked about as have the
two daughters Of the new minister. When
the minister started from China for the
United States II was understood that he
was the proud possessor of several daugh-
ters who were expected to make their debut
this winter. AS they drew nearer WASH
ington the ages Of the daughters seemed to
decrease and 1t would now seem that a
good many years must yet elapse before
they are old enough to participate in a
Washington german. In point of fact the
youngest daughter is only a year and half
old. while the elder has not yet reached the
advanced age of three. In addition to the
two little girls there is a small boy aetat
Ave, who Is said to be very bright and
promising little fellow.