Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-21

and this would De an objectionable insult
| to his hosts
The mysteries of his private cuisine at
| the Grand hotel in Paris have been made
! known. As h" canot have the appctizing
| dishes which ilattcr his palate IN China.
| he does the best he can with SUCH means
| as are available. He Is not Il lover Of
| rice. His dinner. which Is served at go
o clock by his body valet. Il man who
sleeps at his door every night and lay
three cooks. who follow their handiwork
TO the dining room. consist of u or u
COURSES not counting tea and little cakes
nj the end. One large tray contains all
these various edibles. ranged IN rows one
above lie other. Roast duck IS almost
always the piece de resistance, which The
Ficcr0y eats With kidney beans. Then
comes Il savory dish OF fresh pork. with
quantity of jam Although The cucum-
bers are served apart he usually nioys
them together with jam and pork.
After this the venerable Chinese turns
to shrimps. The flavor Of which Is height
eied by leeks- gherkins and mushrooms
with which hc eats them Next he picks
two tender chickens preserved in wine
and vinegar along with green peas. Then
he Is ready To do justice to Il slic, OF
fresh pork cooked in honey with the
smallest mushrooms. This is succeeded
by purse made OF pigeons legs and
Favored with sour jelly These are some
of the chief plates which constitute the
srrt. consisting Of rice cooked with sugar
ANA sponge cakes, and the whole washed
down with tea.
Until this week he British government
had decided that III lung Chag WAS no
longer quantity 10 be recknued with in
Chinese public affairs. and that. there
fore. there was no need to go the trouble
and expense of doing him special honor
Now it has been decided 10 make him the
nation = guest during the whole month of
his stay here. ami 10 spare no expense
The change Of policy is due to the urgent
representations of the British minister at
Fckin. who informed his government that
although II Is tru" enough that Ii, at
present, hold no office other than that Of
the i9mpcror's envoy at tho ears corona
ton. he is very far from being a nom
entity in China. and that in all prob
ability he will again occupy the highest
posts and enjoy the Empcror's confidence.
Consequently he is Sfill worth pfacating
The minister il on the spot and ought To
know something OF the true state Of
affairs aud Lord Salisbury has. there
fore. decided 10 take his advice.
People Who profess to know china and
the Chinese better even than diplomats
resident in the country adhere to the
opinion that Ii is a pluyed-out statesman.
and assert that the very fact of his being
in Europe IL proof of their contention. as
it is no honor whatever. but rather dis
grace. for q Chinese Of Lis rank to be
sent among the outer barbarians even Hs
au envoy. ANA the report Is revived that
among the various Chinese ambassadors
and ministers at this moment in Europe.
the accredited representative OF their
sovereign. there is not one of adequate
rank. and thai there presence here is
simply huge Joke. from which the En-
princes and greater mandarinS obtain
perennial amusement. The same persons
declare that If ii ever regains his lost
power II will he It's d reward for inducing
the great powers to consent to increased
customs duties, a question which he mas
raised st ST Petersburg. Berlin aud
Paris without the least success. On the
whole. however. Americans will do we'll
when Ii is among them not TO assume