The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-13

deserts the Ch1naman when he is dis
cussing his visitors affairs, though it
frequently disconcerts the visitor MIN
self. A case in point is related by one
OF the secretaries as occurring in Lon
don. A representative of one of the
London weeklies called upon the vice
roy and was asked the usual question:
What is your salary?"
am paid 1900 per year" was the
reply. After a seconds pause, during
which the questioner presumably re-
duced this amount to its Chinese equiv
alent, he resumed:
work?''
The newspaper man replied that he
did not consider it large for a compet-
emit and experienced journalist With
perfect gravity and an appearance of
the greatest interest, the viceroy asked
the next question:
Do you consider yourself competent
and experienced?"
For an instant the visitor was car
ried off his feet, but he quickly re-
| covered and replied that he considered
himself one of the best journalists in
London, an answer which seemed 10
please and satisfy the viceroy.
Another subject that has been a
source of continual interest to Lii Hung
Chang is the woman question. From
the time of his arrival in st. Peters
burg he has carefully studied the po-
sition of women in the western world
and has made comparisons Of the wc-
men of different nations. 1t is safe to
say that he has enough material on
/ this subject to fill a book, if he feels
/ disposed to write one on his return
/ AT the ceremonies of the cars coro-
nation he saw women from all the
! European countries, and he decided
10 hot IieI,
/ were the most beautiful, an opinion
to which he still holds. He welcomes
an opportunity to talk with women of
social prominence or unusual attain
ments, and can always hold up his end
Of the conversation. In London and
New York Earl Lii noticed as curious
fact that when attending receptions
or dinners the women covered their
! hands and arms but barred their Shout
| ders and breasts
In China" he said, cit is exactly
the other way, the hands being left
uncovered. 1 cannot see that. the Eng
lish way is better or more refined"
During his visit to New York he did
not fail to notice the up-to-date bicy-
chst in boomers, and inquired what
name was given to them. He was told
that they were called new women"
Afterwards when the viceroy was
asked what he thought of bicycling for
women, he said:
1--WE have many bicycles in China,
but no new women - certainly a very
polite way of making his opinion clear.
On the steamer which brought Lii to
America were two young American
singers. AT the viceroy's request they
went through their extensive roper
torres of popular songs for his benefit.
1t is an interesting indication of orient
al taste in the matter of music that
the only song for which he made
special request was the labiant ditty
"Linger Longer Lou" which seemed
to please him greatly, as he repeated
the title softly to himself several
times. When the singing was finished
and Earl Lii had expressed his appre-
citation OF it by murmuring divine,
beautiful" and had conveyed his
thanks through an interpreter, ne
asked the young women innumeraole
questions.
How old were they? How much pay
did they get? Why did they go on the
stage? Did their profession assure /
them of good standing in their own
country, or were its members looked |
down upon?'
These and many others of like i'm
port were answered for him. Then /
the viceroy carefully studied the pair
Refined. very refined was his com
ment, "and beautiful"
Then he asked through the inter
prefer: why is it that the women of |
your country are so much more in
telligent than the Chinese women |
adding half to himself: Il wonder if /
it is because their feet are not. ban /
daged?"
An interesting chapter in the vice
roy's life that has not hitherto been /
published was related by one of his |
Sprrefqriec IF NAV y1OccibIrr account
for Ii Hung Chang's interest in wo-
men and his liberal ideas as to their
proper position.
Iii Hung Chang said the secre-
tary, "is now "a He was married
when he was about 40. and his wife
died four years ago. She was a bril-
liant and cultivated woman, which IS,
as you may understand, the exception
rather than the rule in China. The
viceroy always consulted her and
usually followed her advice In all i'm
portant matters. She kept careful
watch of the political situation, and
it is generally believed in Chinese i'm
perial circles that she furnished more
than one-half the brains of the house
hold. 1t is certain that Ii Hung
rise to wealth and power was
rapid after his marriage. and that
since the death of his wife he has made
several costly mistakes. It is whis-
pered among the members of his suite
that Ii Hung Chang would not he
averse to taking another wife, and
that a young and beautiful English
or American woman would please both
toe viceroy and the emperor.
Little is known of Ii Hung Changes
domestic nature, and on this point, too,
the testimony of his secretary is in
teresting.
'@The viceroy is an indolent man."
said he. Were it not for the urgent
necessity imposed by his official po-
sition he would not go to the exertion
of attending all the ceremonies pre-
pared for him. The constant service
Of attendants to carry him about is
required, not on account of his weak
ness. but because of Incidence He is
not an unkind or inconsiderate master.
He requires instant attendance when
he wants anything, but on the whole
his servants have an easy time of it.
If he gets angry with one of them. the
offender is at once discharged. but he
remains upon the viceroy's payroll and
is practically pensioned for life
1T WAS ABE
A Boys Recollection of Lincoln.