The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-15

ingtOn IS but sparsely settled. But the
legation commands a beautiful view Of
the city, Of the Potomac river, and Of
the wooded heights beyond The build
Ing is more modern and more comfor-
table than the Stewart building. But
the old members of the legation, II
they were here, would miss the cheer
ful little park In the centre Of Dupont
circle, and the group OF merry children
with whom they spent many a pleasant
hour. The members Of the present lega-
ton do not know many Washington
people and they make few calls. The
members OF the old legation had many
friends among the people who lived near
Dupont circle. and especially among the
young people there. They were fire.
quent visitors and welcome guests in
many homes.
The new legation building is furnished
in almost all respects like modern
American house. Anyone who visits It
with view 70 seeing something typically
Chinese will be disappointed. in the
broad hallway stands a gigantic Ameri-
can hat-rack. on the floor Of the recep-
tion-room are velvet carpet rugs OF Amer
ican make. The furniture is OF birch.
upholstered in American tapestry goods.
In the centre OF the room IS a giided
tete-a-tete chair In the window stands
a small table, with a silk-shaded ban
quet lamp. Of silver and gilt. mounted
on an onyx base. There are two large
Chinese vases on the floor and two OF
smaller size on the mantel. Long panel
strips covered with gold embroidery hang
from ceiling to floor along the walls Of
the room. There is nothing else distlnc-
lively Chinese. The upholstering OF the
furniture is in dainty blues and other
light tints not at all according with the
ordinary idea Of Chinese gaudiness.
CHINESE ccoss
But II the members of the legation have
an uncharacteristic surrounding, they do
not lead an altogether uncharacteristic
/ life. There are Chinese cooks in the kitch-
en- OF the legation. and much Of the
food which Is eaten by the legation people
was brought from Chira. OF course, no
attempt Is made to bring fresh food
from Hong Kong. Even the rice which is
eaten by the legation people was grown
in America. But some dried foods ard
some preserved corrections have been
brought from China, and many Of the
condiments used in preparing dishes for
| the legation table are distinctively Chi
! ncsc. The fresh food used in preparing
/ the meals at the legation is very Ike
that which is used for similar meals at
American tables. For example. the lega-
ton breakfast may consist Of eggs, chick
EN-. beef or mutton or possibly all OF
these things together. for the legation
! table is lavlshly supplied. But the mode
OF preparing these dishes is so different
| from ours that they would hardly be re-
cognized by an American palate. The
legation people divide their meals much
as do the people Of Washington. They
eat breakfast at about o'clock. luncheon
between l and ?. and dinner at in the
evening. With one exception-Mr. May,
the counselor of the legation-no Amer
lean has been invited to partake Of the
Inequalities OF the legation dining-table.
Possibly a series OF Chinese dinners VIII
be given as a feature of social life next
season. The minister has refrained from
giving any formal entertainments at all
during the past winter He has planned
ball for next winter. In the meantime
he is extending the social acquaintance
OF himself and Mrs. Yang Ju by calling
and receiving calls. and has shown a
disposition 10 observe our social customs
by taking his wife 10 one of the formal
dinners at the White House.
The minister and his family have their
own dining-room in the legation build
ing. The minister's wife may not sit at
table with the legation attaches. II the
minister is absent from Washington. his
wife may invite the other two ladies' Of
the legation to sit at dinner with her, or
she may call in one Of the four maids TO
keep her company. But. although the
legation people may not sit with her at
table, she must show her respect for
their position as the representatives, of
the Chinese Government, by standing in
their presence The Chinese are very
punctiliOus observers of official etiquette.
THE CHIEF ENTERTAINMENTS.
Mrs Yang Ju entertains herself chiefly
by driving or going to the theatre. she
does not ride. Neither do any OF the mem
bers of the legation as yet. though some
Of them are hOrsemen. OF course. the
social duties which she has assumed give
Mrs. Yang Ju a certain amount Of oc-
cupation. But there must be very limit
ed entertainment in the conversations
which she holds with American women
through the good offices Of an Interpreter
Far more entertaining is the theatre
when an opera or a spectacular show is
being given. The Chinese have always
been liberal patrons OF the Washington
theatres. They usually take from two 10
four boxes when the Minister'S wife
Is Of the party they always sit i'm boxes
And the Minister leaves none of his fam
fly at home. 1t is all there down TO the
tiniest Chinese tot carried in the nurses
arms. But when the men of the legation
20 TO the theatre by themselves they
usually take part Of a row of seats, usual
" extending from one aisle to another
very near the orchestra. Between the
acts they wander out for a smoke. and
some OF them pun away on Havana cigars
habit acquired since they came to the
United States None Of them patronize
the saloons. When they have had their
smoke. they troop back into the theatre
apparently unconscious OF the curious
interest which the audience is taking
in the gaudy colors and the Tapping
skirts of their silken gowns. They are
the bright bits Of color in the somber
ness OF social Washington.
Neither Mrs. Yang ia nor the children
have yet been photographed, though there
have been many inquiries for their por-
traits among the people whom they have
met socially. There is a popular belief
that the Chinese are superstitous about
being photographed that they believe
that the man who holds their photograph
controls their souls. If there is such a
superstition the legation people say that
they do not know it, Certainly II has
not much influence with them for the
Minister and all his suite were photo
graphed in San Francisco last summer on
their way 10 Washington. But Mrs Yang
in has withstood the Establishments OF the
photographer so far.
l asked the Interpreter II Mrs. Yang
IN had expressed or would express her
views Of her new life-of America and