New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-03

his left with arms folded, and the interpreter
on his right.
The Mayor never had more uncomfortable
quarter of an hour. 1t is safe to say and his
ingenuity taxed in trying to evade some OF
the questions of the Ambassador.
THE FUN BEGINS.
The fun began by the Mayor asking how the
Viceroy's finger was.
His Excellency says" answered the inter-
prefer. that there is no pain in 1t now
The Viceroy then said that the building was
handsome one and wished TO know what room
they were in. When informed and told that the
paintings represented the former Governors OF
the State. ne asked the names of the Governors
Then His ExcellenCy broke out with: How ola
was President Washington when he died"
Mayor Strong's troubles began. He said
Washington died in 1890
mo, when he died: but how old. how Old in
sisted the Interpreter. gestculatng wildly Mr..
Strong looked helpless when some one suggested
that as Washington had been born in g. he
might have been siXtyseven years ola. MT
Strong looked relieved Then the statesman
smoked q moment. and continued:
"Your greatest Presidents were Washington
and Grant?"
washington. Lincoln and Grant, corrected
the Mayor apparently gratihed. .
But Grant and Lincoln were contemporaries
came the rejoinder. with the implication INA.
therefore Lincoln could not overshadow the man
who in the Niceroy's opinion is about the
greatest that ever lived.
HARD ONE FOR THE MAYOR.
Were YOU under General Grant in the war;"
asked the Viceroy.
There was a laugh. MIR. Strong found sud
den interest in his boots. but murmured: Il
was in civil life during the war"
All" said the Viceroy. The laughter In
creased.
"All the Republicans civilians or scholars
took arms did they not?" went on the Viceroy
Democrats. too" answered the Mayor
The Viceroy asks" said the interpreter with
a broad smile why you didn't take part in the
war"
The silence in the room intense.
II had a brother who took part" said the
Mayor Il had to stay at home and take care
of the family"
Peals of laughter broke forth The Ambassa-
dor laughed loudly too He did more He
chucked the head of the city in the ribs once.
twice and looked tickled to death. Then he
made a good civilian III times of peace. Few
whffs of smoke and the Niceroy asked
You don't have nobility in this country
dukes. earls, barons?"
There are no titles in this country. replied
the Mayor. "All men equal. any citizen born
this soil may become the President Of the
United States. But after he has been President,
he becomes again merely a citizen, but dis
tinguished one"
Why didn't Washington. when he wrote the
Constitution asked the Nceroy, laborine under
a deusiOn. say in il that all deserving men
should be made dukes or earls?
HARD ON THE NOBILITY.
The Mayor began with, zone of the beauties
of our Government" and waxed eloquent in his
reply.
The Viceroys irrelevant rejoinder was: The
nobility do not count for anything in Europe.
nh
mercial enterprises the the common
neonle But perhaps" here premOnitions in
the air warned all that something was coming
but. perhaps if the Constitution granted uties.
you would have endangered your life IN the war
to get one"
The storm broke out again. The interpreters
mouth opened wide to let out the burst of laugh
fer He nudged the Mayor The Niceroy
chuckled The Mayor slowly SAID ne thought ne
would have preferred military title.
"Snce Washington refused the title of king
or emperor" continued the Niceroy suppose
il is only right that no one else should bear such
titles china 5000 years ago was Republic Ike
this but it had an Emperor He was the son o.
a farmer Under him changes began
what made YOU alter the form OF your Gov
ernment?" broke in Mr. Strong, with the evident
intention of giving the Viceroy the counter
stroke. .
The change crept upon us very gradually"
il came out in the course Of the talk that the
Ambassador had received note from a MAJ
claiming to he a descendant of George Washing
ton asking for an audience.
"WashingtOn had no descendant" returned
MI Strong cautiously looking around 10 see If
there were any dssentert views on the subject
Possibly a descendant of his brother the
Niceroy politely volunteered.
Ii Hung Chang then arose. thanked the Mayor
for the pleasant half hour. and was carried back
to his carriage.
The procession then made its way through the
mass of humanity packed into the Plaza and
Park Row to the Bridge entrance on the way TO
BROOKLYN The piers Of the Bridge were deco
rated with American flags.