The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-07

a:great lawyer before he was made Minis
ter. to China. As lawyer he often came
into contact with Benjamin Harrison, and
at: the time OF Harrison's election to the
Presidency DENLY thought he would have
. to leave China. He and Harrison had had
some little trouble during lawsuit some
time previously, and DENLY knew that
Harrison strongly believed that Republi-
cans should be the leading officials in a
Republican administration. He was aware,
however, of the infexible honesty of Presi-
dent Harrison's character, and he knew
that if he could persuade him that he was
the best man for the place, and that he
could fill the office better than any Re-
publican, he would probably hold it. He
attempted to do SO and succeeded.
As soon as Harrison's election was an
nounced letters began TO come to Indian
apolis from China. The business men of
the different ports wrote asking the Presi-
dent-elect to retain Minister DENLY. The
American missionaries sent in long petit
tions, and both Protestants and Catholics
requested that Colonel DENLY be retained.
Ii Hung Chang wrote letter through his
private secretary, and high Cinnamon in
Picking got down on their knees, metaphor
.icalIy speaking, and wrote to the President
AT the same time the campaign was car
ried on all over the world. Every foreigner
in China who had a friend likely to help
Colonel DENLY at once wrote to him and
had him write to the President. Some OF the
highest church authorities of England
am not sure but that one was not the
Archbishop of Canterbury-sent in letters
- n I Tor
uprising in favor of this foreign Minister
appeared that President Harrison very
wisely concluded that there must be some
foundation for the desire for his retention,
and he said that he should stay. At any
rate he was held on and on until the time
of the appointment of Blair of New Hamp
shire, who was not acceptable to the
Chinese Government. After this Presl-
dent Harrison concluded to let Colonel
DENLY stay the remainder of his term, and
President Cleveland continued him to the
present time.
The position of Minister to Picking is by
no means a bad one. The pay is $17,50O
year, and at the present value OF silver
this is equal TO nearly $4,000 year, as
far as spending power is concerned. | was
told in China that the position could be
kept up very comfortably on about $4,000
a year, and if this is true there is a clear
annual saving of $25, 600 in silver, or more
than $4,000 in gold. Picking is off the
regular lines of travel. Only few Ameri
cans get to it in the course of year, and
service and eatables are cheap. Wines
are much cheaper in Shanghai than in
Washington, and you can give dinner In
= Peking for half the sum that the same
feast would cost here. / am not sure, but
i think the Government pays the rent OF
our diplomats in Peking. The legation
buildings are surrounded by high wall OF
blue bricks, and Colonel Denby's own
quarters consist OF number of low houses
OF blue brick and his rooms are large and
airy. The parlors of the legation are as
well furnished as any you will find in
Washington. Old rugs cover the floor
Magnificent Chinese embroideries hang
upon the walls. Tiger skins and leopard
skins and bits of rare porcelain and cloi-
some are to be found here and there
Some of the furniture is of teak wood
which is as hard as ebony and more beam
tiful than polished mahogany. There is a
piano on one side of the room, and the
latest books, with English, French and
American magazines, which are not more
than two months old, lie upon the table
In addition to his quarters for himself and
his family, he has little wing which con-
talns several guest-chambers, and he is
surrounded with all the comforts of an
American home. AS to service, he is far
better off than he could be in America.
During the visit which I paid to him about
six years ago Colonel DENLY gave a swell
dinner In honor of the dean OF the diplo-
matte corps, who was then just leaving for
Europe. About fifty guests sat down at
the table, and the dinner was as well served
and as nicely cooked as any you can get up