Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01
TALK OF THE TOWN
Rumors Of Queen Victoria's 1nten-
lions Cause a Sensation.
MIGHT NOT Be An ABDlCA1I0N
Preparing for the Visit Of Ii Hung
Chang.
STORIES IN CIRCULATION
IN CIRCULATION

Copyright, 1895, by the Associated rress)
LONDON, August 1.-The persistent ru-
mors circulating in regard to the health Of
Queen Victoria and her intention to retire
almost Immediately in favor of the Prince
of Wales have caused quite a sensation in
court and other circles. While 1t is ad-
mitted that such reports have become cur
rent frequently in previous years. there is
no denying that her majesty's declining
health is causing much anxiety to her en-
tourage, and it is generally believed that
her retirement from public life is only a
question of short time. According to the
program. the queen, when not on the con-
.tinent. will reside either at Osborne at
tie and Buckingham Palace for the use Of
the Prince and Princess of Wales. The
prince may not be declared regent. but may
exercise the duties Of such position to all
intents and purposes, according to the re-
ports in circulation.
The tradespeople of the West End may
approve of the change should 1t take place,
for there has been much regret expressed
among them at the very short and long
between visits paid by the queen to Lon
don Of recent years. But. should her maj
esty retire, it is safe to say that from one
end of Great Britain to the other, and
throughout the British empire generally,
there will be profound sentiment Of deep
regret that her majesty's health is such
as to compel her to retire from the duties
which she has so long fulfilled to the salts
lection of her subjects. The keynote touch
ed by Col Walker of the Ancient and Hon.
orable Artillery Company of Massachusetts
when he referred to her majesty's woman
illness as a queen and queenliness wo-
man" finds an echo even now throughout
her majeSty's domnions.
Though the queen may not be actually
upon the point of retirement, 1t Is stated
w n nrn I'm m f0 1rCCr nf
the situation that her majesty has felt the
weight of her years more and more since
the death of the late Prince Henry of Bat
tenberg, who was a most constant and de-
voted attendant upon the ancient sover-
eign. and that the retirement of the latter
from active participation in the affairs of
state cannot be much longer delayed.
LII Hung Chnns's ViAit.
The preparations for the reception of Ii
Hung Chang continue, and her majesty, In
spite of the precarous state of her health,
is said to be especially interested in the COM
ing of the Chinese ambassador extraordi-
nary, who has been made much of in
Russia, Germany and France. The Chinese
statesman is booked to land in England on
Monday. and he will be escorted to Lord
Lonsdales splendid mansion on Carlton
House terrace, this city, which has been
secured by the government for the accom-
mediation of Ii Hung Chang during the
month which he is expected to spend in
England Lord Lonsdale's establishment
contains a wealth of art treasures, in which
it is said to be the equal of any house in
London, and it is, therefore, capable of
adequately accommodating the distin-
guished traveller and the sixty persons who
compose his suite. AS Lord Lonsdale's liv-
cries are canary, gold and light blue, the
lord of the yellow jacket will probably be
gratified
Ii Hung Chang will be escorted to Carl
ton House terrace In a royal carriage, and
his suite will be similarly accommodated.
On Wednesday he will start on his visit to
the queen Osborne. One of the royal
yachts will await him at Portsmouth. Up
on leaving that port the traveller will pass
through the Solent at the height of the
yachting season. and will enjoy the sight
of about as large and attractive fleet of
pleasure craft as ever studded those waters.
Upon his arrival at Trinity wharf, Cowes,
Isle of Wight, Ii Hung Chang will be re-
ceived by the Prince of Wales, and the lat
ter will escort him to Osborne. On the fol-
lowing day, Thursday, the distinguished
Chinaman will review fleet of sixty bat
tie ships and cruisers at Spithead.
Vanity Fair warns it's readers against the
members of Ii Hung Changes suite. saying
that the bulk of them are quite low class
OF men. who would not dare to venture into
an English or American merchants private
reception room at Shanghai.
The newspapers, for some time past, have
contained mass of matter concerning the
visiting Chinaman. It is said that the Chi
nese viceroy. when invited to a dinner in
sists upon dining from his own cuisine be-
fore going to the table of his hosts, and he
only makes a pretense Of dining when he is
at the banquets given to him. After the
dinner given to him by Prince Bismarck at
FREDERICKSBURG. the German statesman eX-
pressed establishment, it is said, at the fact
that Ii Hung Chang did not taste any of
the dishes placed before him, WhereupOn the
traveller is reported to have said:
1T is not at my age that one changes
ones habits. If dined with you. l should
be forced to partake of fare which did not
like. Hence l prefer to abstain from eat
ing, rather than be asked to make face
at everything not to my taste"
Prince Bismarck is reported to have there
you would not like our good German cuisine
since you have never tried it?'
That is true the Chinaman is credited
with having replied but would you eat
with pleasure the Chinese dish of rats and
dogs if l served it up at my table?'
This question seems to have silenced the
great German statesman.
Lii Hung Chang takes his meals alone,
drinks only cold warm tea, never eats
between meals and takes only two meals
a day, one at noon, and the other al Z
o'clock He smokes opium in a silver
mounted pipe, which is specially cared fo:
by one of his servants, and during his
meals he takes puff OF two. He is said
to dislike rice and has about two dozen
dishes, including meat. poultry. fish, vege
tables and dessert of various Chinese de-
past.
On the other nand, it is said the men,
berS of the Chinese statesmans suite soon
become accustomed to foreign cookery and
drink wine and even beer with their
meals.
The Socialist Congress.
The socialist congress, which has been
in session here during the past week, has
furnished what is classed as a ridiculous
exhibition of impotence and Inadequate or
ganization Of the simplest details neces-
sary for the conduct of a successful con-
gress, and the delegates would have been
handicapped thereby in any serious at
tempt to do business, even had there been
no disoord
Mr.. Matthew Mcguire, the leader Of the
American section of the socialist congress,
iEfoI aimed representative of the Associ-
ated Press that absolute ignorance Of the
principles of the socialist movement ex-
listed in the committees appointed to frame
the resolutions For example, he says, that
In the agrarian committee, of which he
was a member. instead of denouncing the
accumulation Of capital the committee
wanted to denounce Great Britain's CO.
lonial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
The congress has also proved that SO
wide is the dissimilarity between the
foreign and English-speaking delegates
that nothing closer is possible than inter