Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-11-11

Ii Hung Chang has been stripped oil
his yellow jacket, SAYS spondent
OF the New York Press. He has lost
his three-eysd peacock feather, aud the
report has been disseminated that be
has been degraded from MS hign posi-
ton. Few people in America realize
how high his position was and che won
derful UOmp with which he has been
entertaining his friends at his vice regal
capital, Tien Tsln. The crude ideas
we have concerning the Chinese make
Us think of them as ignorant, poverty
stricken and barbarous. Few people
realize the Injuries with which some OF
them are surrounded.
caunOt better show the real state OF
the richer classes in China than in de-
scribing ~ banquet which l attended re-
Gently 10 one Of Ii Hung Chang
palaces. The dining room was as large
as thaa Of the Whlte House, and it was
gOrgeOusly decorated with golden
scrolls, Cnihese pictures aud bunting.
The menu comprised many courses aud
hundreds Of dishes were served during
the feast. The birds nest soup
for each guest cost, l venture, So
q plate, with shark fms that we're
worth their weight in silver. The Chi
nese mobiles who sat with US were dressed
in silks aud satins as costly IS those
wora at our presidential receptions, and
we ate with ivory chopsticks tipped with
silver.
The dinner was given in honor Of
General John w. Foster, our eX-secre-
tary of state, who was then on his way
round the globe, aud who was treated
by the Chinese with the same honors
which they accorded to Secretary Sew
ard and 10 General Grant. The most
striking Of these tsyors appe 10 this
banquet.
A GREAT INNOVATION.
Chinese custom keeps women in the
background You seldom meet the
wives OF the nobility, and at big din
ners Chinese ladies are never Invited
and foreigners ara not expected 10 bring
their wives. As soon as secretary Eos
ter arrived In Tien TsiR, Ii Hung Chang
called upon him. he was introduced
during his visit 10 Mrs. Foster and 20
her aieces, the Misses Orr, who were
win Secretary Foster. The great vice
roy was charmed with the ladies' and
wueu he spoke Of the banquet he said
be would make a great innovation in
Chinese custom, aud would ask them 30
honor him with their presence. OF
course they accepted and the yicerOy
took Mrs. Foster 30 the table "a his
arm.
The dinner was given At the admiral
" palace, on the edge OF Hien Tsin, and
this was decorated with thousands of
Chinese lanterns AID the gardens about
Il were ablaze with iisht. AL Of tue
streets leading TO II sbone with red
paper lanterns, aud upon the sidewalks
we're companies OF Ii Hung Chsng's
famous soldiers, who, with modern rifles,
guarded the incoming guests. During
the feast, which lasted for hours. some
OF the finest or the Chinese bands played
American airs outside the palace, aud
the strains OF Yankee Doodle" HAL
Columbia" aud the Star SDanEled
Banner" foaJed 10 through the win
dOws. Toasts were made aud responded
TO by celeor,t ted Cinnamon. Secretary
Foster talked, through an interpreter,
OF the good relations which ought to
obtain between China and America and
Ii Hung Chang responded in the same
way 10 3 speech full of compliments 10
the United States.
The dinner was so different from any
thing that We have in America that l
despair Of giving you an accurate pic
ture. The invitations were on card :
larger than one OF the pages Of our mag
azines. These cards were Of crimson,
the invitations being engraved upon
them in letters OF gold. The Chinese
dragon aud what l suppose is Ii Hung
Gangs coat OF arms were at their head g,
and uader tots the words stating that
the viceroy Of China, grand secretary
OF state and president OF the In
perial admiralty requests the honor
OF my company 81 dinner In the
naval secrstairate On Tuesday at
Q. 10. These golden words were bOr-
dored with an engraved golden border.
and accompanying them was the card
OF Ii Hung Chang, which was as Dig as
q sheet of note paper and IS req as the
pressed bricks which make up the city
Of Washington.
GOING IN GREAT STYLE.
In going to the dinner / had TO have
INV own Chinese card carried before ne
~ servant ia official livery. l rode
blue-silk chair, borne upon the
S5ers Of four servants, who were
gorgeoNsly dressed up for the occasion
add whNehSrgsd me. by the way, just
81 q silveN for the JOB.
We DssseN rough court after court
Of tbis aomiFN ty palace. My card was
carried In ,br, eh q crowd OF Chinese
officials and I. Vas m0toned to follow.
Ths sscretar pf thsnavy met me 81
a. 4 no ssciesSi 81 M. Tsspv LaisuD.