The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-07
Ii AND a GIRL REPORTER
INSTEAD OF BEING INTERVIEWED
HE TURNS INTERVIEWER.
The Earl Declares Bicycles Immodesf
for Women and Disapprovcs of
the Men Riding.
Iva Ross. IN New York Journal.

| Iva Ross. In New York Journal
| Ii Hung Chang looked at me over his'
! gold-rimmed spectacles and said. Huh"
l found out later this meant that l met his
approval.
He gave me his hand and held mine for a
! few minutes. and-well. / am frank 10 con-
TESS that all the beautiful questions l had
been framing in my mind ever since he
stepped off the St Louis. suddenly vanished
into air. and when dead little DR. Mark Il
cail MIN dear. because it was he who pre-
scented me to the Viceroyp inquired what
wanted to ask the Earl. not one of them
would come to my assistance.
On anything" l stammered, chen. coll
| lectinS my wits said:
1 should like to know what his Excel
lency thinks of America, OF American
! newspapers and American women?'
Dr. Mark Chartered and Ii chartered
back Then the physician made the an
! swer:
He thinks America a great country and
its people noble generous and hospit,bIe
he likes its newspapers-if they are an as
bright as the Journal
ana It's women j suggested
"Ah. he is afraid you will make fun OF
him. No? You will write just what he
l promised faithfully / would quote him
word for word
We'll, he thinks they are very lovely"
When DR.. Mark consented to allow me to
see the great man l gave him my word /
would remain only two minutes in the au-
Il was trembling in my shoes. for exc
pected every moment the Doctor would re-
mind me that my time was up.
Ii, however, had evidently taken a fancy
to me- He motioned for me TO be seated
in a little chair opposite him.
he looked at me from head to foot
ms glasses and said something to DIR.
Mark, who was good enough to act as in
DR., Mark blushed and stammered He
had heard how strange Lis very personal
questions strike the people of this country.
one the Earl had just asked Plumbing
my, card he said. questionably:
or Mrs"
Assure his Excellency that I shall be
deIgnted TO answer any question he may
same time settling myself comfortably in in
the chair, ready TO be catechised.
Ii BEGINS QUESTIONS.
He wants to know whether you are mar
RED
No"
HE asks, why not?'"
Because no man wants to marry me-
The Earl laughed incredulously, shook his
head and chartered to DR.. Mark
That cannot be so. He says there are
surely not so many pretty women in this
city that you can't find a husband"
But it's true. Ask him to send me one
from China"
He says he would if it were necessary.
but he doesn't believe it is He thinks per-
haps you are hard to please"
Ii talked and DR.. Mark translated.
He wishes me to say that people here
think he asks questions simply because Of
curiosity: That is not so. In our country
of giorified Expression When he he mentioned ne S
the Flowery Kingdom questions like he
asks are considered polite and show a kind
l begged DIR. Mark to believe ! enjoyed
the questions and hoped his Excellency
How old are you?"
Did 1 hear Alright? Confess the one thing
thought was postivey dtraoting and t foe
a second l felt as though | were going to
faint Then my wits came back.
we have a saying in this part of the
world that a woman is as old as she looks
q man as old as he feels. How old does
Ii leaned back in his chair and laughed
deep huh huh, huh. showing his long. yell
His servants trembled because of this
exertion. One man lighted a long bamboo
pipe, with gold mouthpiece.. and poked it
between LIS lips, Withdrawing it and re-
filing il after one puff.
But that puff brought renewed strength.
ishly.
He says you look about twenty years
old" Dr. Mark remarked.
replied.
lie DDS me tell you, continued Dr.
Mark. that he met two ladies who write
for the newspapers whSe he was in Eng
land, but he never met one so young as
you. He wants to know how much money
you make
/ told him.
You must be very intelligent American
women are especially bright are they noto
Is it really so that they can write well
they can, for they surely do not travel
much.
EARL II DISAPPROvES.
Ii was astonished to hear that women In
this country may go anywhere alone-even
going round the world without an escort
But this is not right" the Viceroy said.
Women should have the protection OF
their husbands"
The attendant placed the statesman's
pipe between the officials lips again, and
Ii puffed.
"A woman can afford to be capricious
long as she is young; but even American
ually grow old. Time creeps on. even i'm
the cases of the fairest. and when a woman
reaches forty years she will find she can
not make the conquests she did at thirty.
Every woman should get married. Marriage
is her mission, and she will be happier
with a good husband than alone, wander
ing about the world"
Having delivered himself of this little
sermon. Ii continued:
II hope you will soon be married and get
q good, brave, handsome husband
Then he asked the following questions:
Are you parents aliveY'
do you board or live with your friends?"
Have you brothers or sisters?
Have you COUSINS
do you have to work hard?'
How many years have you been working
FOR the newspapers"
In a brief interval while Ii was trying to
think of some other questions, | asked him
whether he had seen any bicycles.
Yes he snapped out, with laconic dis
approval
''What do you think bout women riding
them?" | asked.
'.They should not ride them. Bicycles
are not meant for women; they are inn
modest
do men ride bicycles in Chna?'
No he almost Numbered.
Bicycles for men or women, evidently
have not the stamp of Ii Hung ChanEs
approval
His butler at this moment placed tray
on table near by. and DIR. Mark said, by
way OF dismissal:
MY Lord will now take his milk.
The great Chinaman then arose. gave me
his hand and said in excellent Chinese:
Good night my little lady.