The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-15

COLONEL CHARLES DENNY
the last I should have thought Of, for
his abilities certainly seemed to be in
other lines. He was a splendid looking
young lawyer, tall and we'll made. quite
fair, with soft blue eyes and medium
hair and voice that had a sort of ap-
pealing or caressing tone in it.
A Cleveland Mystery.
Colonel DENLY was then in the full
tide Of success as a rising lawyer and
especially as an advocate in criminal
cases. while I was just admitted to the
bar and earning an occasional dollar by
reporting evidence for the old fellows,
but be was always very friendly to be-
ginners. He was born in Virginia and
educated at a military school, but went
to Indiana IN early manhood, and early
in the civil war became lieutenant colo
mel of one Of the states regiments Tn
the fall of 1862 he resigned, and as it
was often charged that he did so on ac-
count OF the emancipation proclamation,
and it has never been denied, that must
stand as history. He was extremely
conservative on all the questions Of the
time, and when warmed in a speech
his southern accent came out quite no
ticeably-
He stuck to the law faithfully and
politics, very seldom made a speech and
seldom or never sought q nomination
or took q leading part in party manage
ment and just how and why he was ap-
pointed minister to China is a Cleve-
land mystery. Nevertheless we have
the uniform testimony of all who know,
including the Chinese legation here,
that he has made a success of 1t and is
extremely well liked at the imperial
court The mere fact that he held over
Il Republican administration and still
holds tine place is a high proof Of his
success. On one point, however, he
seems to have been seriously mistaken
and to have overastimated his Chinese
friends, for when he was here last he
was very positive that Japan would not
declare war against her big neighbOr.
and that if she did she would gain
nothing by it.
It is impossible for correspondent
TO even get into the building occupied
by the Chinese legation, and very few
congressman can make it in these trou-
blesome times, but anybody can stand
in the street and admire the somewhat
curious structure. 1t occupies probably
the most commanding and advantageous
point in the city=namely, at 27O3
Fourteenth street, on the very crown of
view it seems rugged and irregular
pile of old red sandstone, and it would
take a college of architects to describe
the style, but this very ruggedness gives
it a sort of grandeur which is attract
i've. Minister Yang Yu and all the at
taches are extremely busy, and only the
interpreter, or, as they call him, student
translator, Mr.. SEE, S. K. A, has time
to talk to any one, but as be has moth
ing to do with any business until it is
completed and ready for print his talk
is not in the nature of news
China as a Trader.
In the beautiful library of the state
department are several late reports on
China and few bound volumes Just is
sued from the English press, but it
would give an ordinary American the
blues to read them. The English have
penetrated almost everywhere in their
zeal for trade and have even mapped
out and to a great extent surveyed the
rapids, shadows and cataracts on all
the large rivers of the empire. But at
the end of 1t appears a rather melan-
choly plant in the very last report that
the trade of China still amounts to but
One-thirtieth of Great Britain's exports
and one-hftieth of her imports. They
find a sort of consolation, however, in
the conclusion that, small as 1t Is, 1t
equals that of all other western nations
combined The agents whose statements
are summed up IN this year S report
find some encouragement in the increas-
ed willingness of the natives to tolerate
Englishmen. but If half they say IS true
life in that country is certainly not
worth living. The best Of these volumes
are ''Three Years In Western China, Y
by Alexander Hosie of the British CON
sular service, and ''China and Her
Neighbors, " by R. 5. Gundry. a minor
British diplomat, and they bring the
description down to midsummer 1898.
AS every fellow writing for the general
press on China contradicts every other
fellow, 1t is a real satisfaction to get
views taken on the spot by men who