The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-15
THE CHINESE LEGATION.
TIE NINIsTER's WI. n Mas BER
UxExAMPLED FhAEDOM.
IL stsdying tho English Lang uaxs-She
Receives Women mud Mcn who 40
company their wives.

The wife or the new Ihincse minister
a. Washington has been knocking tradi-
ton right and left Very few OF the
treasured ideas about Chinese women.
which have entertained newspaper readers
f,- 50 many years are left TO Us. Mrs
Yang Ju Is studying the English language.
She goes with her husband TO official
entertainments where men and women
minglc; she receives men who call with
their wives at the Chinese legation; she
companies her husband 10 the theatre
ard goes driving with him: and, finally,
when IL IL necessary 20 do any walking
she has not the slightest difficulty IN do
ing it-for. IL Mrs. Yang JUS feet are
small 10 is because nature intended that
they should be small
Mrs. Yang ia has furnished a new
diversion TO Washington society this win
ter She was the third woman who has
presided over the Chinese legation; but
her predecessors were kept closly within
its walls. They were so little known That
their appearance on the street was the
sgnal for a display OF interest which
must have been a little embarrassing 10
them. They received no NisltoTs, as
rule. once or twice this rule was re-
Taxed in favor OF the wives OF gentlemen
who had business with the legation; ana
es the minister's wife cannot sit at the
table with the attaches OF the legation
they led q very lonely life Wnen Mr.
YANG In came TO this country last sum-
ner il was whispered about that he had
more advanced ideas on the social ques-
lion than had his predecessors. 1t IS al
tocether likely that the Chinese Govern
ment. realizing the justice Of the criticism
passed on the Chinese people in this coun-
try-that they never became assimilated
to the people OF the United States, and
that they associated with them IS little
as possibc-suggcsted TO Mr.. Yang ia
the idea Of making the legation more
popular. and OF proving TO the people
OF Washington how thoroughly agreeable
the Chinese could be. There was an
example for Mr.. Yang Ju TO follow in
the Chinese minister AT London. whose
wife for five years past has made social
calls and received them. So il was not
entirely an innovation, though IL was
wholly new 10 Washington, when the
Chinese minister took his wife TO enter
tainments during the past winter and
gave her permission to receive visitors
like the women who preside over other
foreign legations in this city. Very few
people IN Washington knew OF this Lon
don precedent and many were astOnished
az Mr.. Yang JUS temerity. Some OF them
almost expected the big dragon which
flies az the masthead above the legation
building TO come down and swallow Mr..
Yang Ju. AS nothing unpleasant has
happened 10 him. however, II is safe to as
sumo that his conduct meets with the
entire approval OF his home government.
Perhaps the new treaty recently neSo-
tated between the minister and Secretary
Gresham Is the first fruit OF Mr.. Yang
JUS policy.
HKR LIPy ~ WASHINGTON.
&c
not so very different. in many respects
fr,m her life in China. Although she was
not permitted TO receive any but Intimate
friends or relatives there. there was no
prohibition on her receiving men If they
came within that classncation There
was no rule Of Chinese life violated when
Mrs Yang Ju adopted American social
customs She simply departed a htte
from the WAYS Of her own people. The
neorle at the Chinese legation say thet
4, As no crime or sin for q Chinese woman
10 do what Mrs. Yang Ju has done-that
she needs no special dispensation-and
that the secusion of Chinese women IS
their own act and is due entirely 10 theiI
modest and retiring disposition. MIS-
yang Ju still follows the dictates OF her
Oriental nature in this, that she never
receives men who are not accompanied
lr their wives. No other Chinese Wo-
man II distinction I'm America has ever
accompany thier wives to the Chinese
legation they have the privilege Of seeing
Mrs Yang Ju i'm company with the MN
isfer and Of holding conversation with
her through the Interpreter. Neither the
Minister nor his wife speaks English
but before the legation gives It's hrst
hall-t IS promised Tor the season OF
lsqi-s5-Mrs Yang IN will probably be
able to hold some slight conversation in
our native tongue. She is studying Eng
Nsh now. She has no regular instructor,
bar "A neighbor. Miss Mants. whose father
As the proprietor of the legation building,
comes every Afternoon TO give the Min
i4ter's wife a lesson in English. Miss
Nants speaks no Chinese, and Mrs. Yang
ia knows no language but her own; so
the primary lessons were given with the
aid OF an interpreter. But when Mrs.
Yang Ju and her instructor had come
10 an understanding the Interpreter was
dispensed with, and her instruction IS
now going on by ObJect-lessons. she
finds no difficulty in pronouncing Eng
fish words. and she has learned the
names FOR a great many American
things She knows "a few phrases, com
mon to the polite word-not the Have
you the green umbrella OF my Uncle
Thomas" of French school literature
but the Good morning Of practical So
cial intercourse.
started for America that he would bring
two grown daughters with him. and great
was the disappointment OF curious WASH
ington 10 find that the oldest Of his chill
dren was only i've. The little ones are
TOO young 10 begin the study OF English'
but n they remain in this country long
enough. our language will, no doubt. be
made a part OF their education. Ii has
been customary for the younger MEM
hers OF the legation 10 study English
The older ones have never attempted II,
because they have felt that they were
too old 20 learn. There are six attaches
OF the legation now who are Englsn
scholars and some OF the younger mem
bers are busily pursuing the study OF our
tongue. Mrs Yang ia is only thirty
years old. and her youth. In part. ac-
counts for her enthusiastic interest IN
everything American. She is not too ola
TO learn. and she is picking up great
many American ideas That she Will In
troduce many OF them into the social
customs OF Hong Kong is extremely
doubtful. The legation people say. win
e. shake OF the head. that the Chinese
IRE slow 20 adopt new customs. II will
probably be long after Mrs. Yang JUS
day when card calling and afternoon teas
are recognized social features in the