Evening star., 1896-12-26
THE DRAGONS MISSING CLAW.
The Tale of the Cutting of LII Hung
Chang's Flag.

The Tale of the Cutting of Ii Hung
Chang's Flag.
From the Chicago Tribune.
When Viceroy Ii Hung Chang was IN
Paris in midsummer he was domiciled at
that famous hostlery in the Boulevard des
Capucines, The Grand"
If the great Partisan system has a CEN
ter this is 1t, and men land women from
all over the wide world iuscribe themselves
here with confidence and get in gay groups
in the great court, listening to the music
watching the playful fountains and the
constant going and coming OF the volt
ures" that deposit or carry away an end
less stream of pleasure seekers.
No less than six of the most prominent
families In Chicago have been guests Of
that house in the lest six months; indeed
at the very moment that the renowned
Celestial diplomat was sheltered there a
well-known family of this city occupied
apartments directly above that OF the
great oriental
The man and his daughters found their
prorinquity to the viceroy and his suite
vastly entertaining, and congratulated
themselves on really being a part as It
were. Of the best show In Paris. But, alas
for human happiness! scarcely We're the
wise men Of the east installed, with the
Chinese flag waving proudly over their
quarters, than large gilded wire cage was
suspended outside the windows. Its occu-
pants were two great, fat. loquacious par
rots, who seemed to become fairly intoxi-
Gated with the Paris air and the gayety
of the boulevards. Twenty hours out of
the twenty-four they turned claw-springs
and squawked their appreciation of French
cooking, French oise and French climate.
The parrots duly becams a vast nuisance,
and the amiable Chicagoan at last put in
protest at the office. The monsieurs there
were all agreed that another suite of rooms
was due the Chicago family, but that it was
not convenable to make any objection TO
the birds Of his excellency.
The Chicago family held a closed ses-
sion and decided that they would suffer
the din.
One night, when it was particularly
hideous, the young girls were unable to
sleep. Rushing to the window in despair
to hurl curling irons at the wire brdhouse,
they were attracted by the Tapping of
the Chinese flag. 1t was dark, and Paris
slept. There was sound OF suppr assed
giggling, and a long-handled parasol stole
resolutely out of the window and hooked
itself deftly into the Chinese national en-
blera; four pretty white hands grabbed 1t.
and there were more giggles and the sharp
shipping of scissors.
Wnen the nag fell back in its place again
a round piece seven inches in diameter
was missing and the dragon had had a
claw amputated. This limb was immedi-
ately buried in the darkest depths of q
Louis Vuitton trunk and the maidens sfell
into sweet and dreamless sleep. -
They were awakened betimes to a realiz-
ing sense of the enormity Of their midnight
escapade by the never-failing parrots. and
after hurried consultation as to the prob
ability of an American war with China,
they decided that day at Versailles was
what they would fancy above all things.
Among the passengers who were driven out
to Versailles on the Comet that day were
the two Chicago girls and their amiable
parent.
Great CONSERVATION obtained in Paris over
the desecration of the celestial flag, but no
extensive investigation was possible.
The flag went to London and was un-
furled there with its disabled dragon. Ii
Hung Changs loss was the Chicago girls
gain, for the bit of bunting Is now the
cherished treasure of a souvenir album on
the north side of the city.