The evening times., 1896-09-04
CHINESE LEGATION.
Fitted Up in Royal Manner for the
Reception OF the yiceroy.

Reception OF the yiceroy.
The Chinese legation, Oh Fourteenth
street. has been fitted up in gorgeous
Oriental style for tine coming OF Ii Hung
Chang.
A royal palace contains nothing moro
luxurious than The great ballroom, which
has been richly decorated recently. The
ceiling is lofty, and a fIescoed decoration
OF deep blue clouds covers the doIned por-
ton; the sloping sides are delicateiy dec
GRATED by French artist, the design being
Cupids dancing, weaving garlands OF roses
and chrysanthemums.
Surrounding the room are life-size fig
ures, similar to the decorative design
which has just been painted by Biashfield,
in the rotunda OF the new Library building.
These alternate with immense panels of
plate glass mirrors, which today are draped
with garIands of American Beauty roses.
The floor is covered with the richest of soft
crimson velvet carpets, that has white
chrysauthemums exquisiteiy designed all
over its surface.
At the head OF the great room is placed a
carved ebony throDe-like divan, OF i'm
mepse size. In the center OF this thron,.
is n cabinet filled with the rarest Of
carved jade and wondrously delicate green
and gold cIo.sonne ware. The divan throne
has placed before 1T two footstools and two
china cuspidors-
Here Lii and Minister Yang Yu viii be
seated until luncheon is announced Sur
rounding the entire apartment, which is
oval-shuped, a re ebony chairs to match the
divan, each covered with a scarlet satin
scarf embroidered in gold lions heads, FOR
the lion, beng an unknown beast in china,
Is considered sacred. like the dragon.
Down the center OF the room are tables
covered with gold satin embroidered
spreads, each one holding the most beauti
full bric-a-brac Imaginable, an incense
burner OF cIoisopne ware from an ancient
temple being the largest ornament.
AT the other end of the room is placed
a high, many-paneled screen OF white silk,
covered with the finest needlework, on the
back of which Minister Yang Yu has in
scribed with his brush in Chinese charac-
ters quotations from his favorite poets
Back OF this screen, resting on a raised
platform. are placed many recent Ameri-
can inventions, including the phonograph,
graphophone music boxes OF every de-
scription and various other entertaining
devices. These have been secured for his
pleasure. All are the finest Of their kind,
and it i S probable he viii carry the models
home with him.
Great music boxes recently arrived from
Switzerland, also were in the grouping OF
fascinating objects collected by Minister
Yang Yu Tor the entertainment Of his ex-
pected guest
ha Ia aepacIauv Of
music boxes, and has one, so Secretary
Chung says, that is very small, but won
derfuny constructed; at intervals during the
music little birds flock out and dance and
sing about the box. This is so curious
Yang Yu viii enjoy il for an hour at Il time
without firing.
The Chinese legation has many beayti-
ful talking parrots, and Ii has with him
on his travels half-dozen fine parrots
and two men especially to care for the
amusing birds. The luncheon will be
served in the state banquet hall adjoif-
ing the ballroom. The carpet is pale
green velvet, the portieres pale blue quilted
satin. The menu is extensive-twelve
or fifteen courses viii be served.
The chief dainties will be bird 's-nesl soup,
sharks fin, roast sucking pig, roast duck.
pigeon eggs curiousiy served, crab meat.
shrimp balls, young bamboo shoots, viche de
mer, a sea food; Chinese wines and cha m
payne, which is great favorite; ciga rs ans
pipes.
Nine. Yang will not be present, and the
occasion being his first call on Yang Yu.
will be eformalenougii to admitofhis wearing
his yellow jacket and peacock feather. With
the yellow jacket the viceroy wears an in
side jacket of mazarine blue brocaded silk,
embroidered in flowers of Celestial design:
the collar of this coat falls over the yellow
jacket.
Over his neither limbs he will wear wine
colored silken garment, divided so as
to show a petticoat of sky blue.