The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-09-17

|
myself as Il type OF the American w0,
man generally. Was | rich ? How
much could | write NY check for? The
rcsponsc--that | was but II bcggar in
comparison with his cxcellcncy-,ii dis
| turbcd him seriously. The clever lit
tic Dr.. Mark chattcd at both Of us
rapidly. He must correct that error.
Ihc American papers all tell one big
| story of Lis great wealth. He was
not SO rich, indeed.
The ambassadors face flushed and
he turned to the table to take Il consol-
ing sip Of tea. He drank it from bowl,
covered with a smaller one. He thinks
much OF his favoritc beverage, and with
acurlous emphasis Of tone click -clackcd
TO DR.. Mark to advise me on the subject
oi tea. we Americans knew nothing Of
the tea Of the nobility Of China. We
used highly favored stun. Would I
care to taste his lIc graciously hand.
eli mo the bowl. 1T was distrcssingly
weak, with no sugar. | slipped it with
apparent relish and managed to an
nouncc the tlavor delicious, but tho tea
weaker than the Americans drank it..
TIC removed the cover, instructing me
10 TO low the correct way hereafter Of
pouring water upon the leaves.
lie dcignrd to answer one query ::
Did his eNcellcncy ubhor New York
womcns long, pointed shoes? His At
tendants wiltcd on divan back OF him
with contortiOns OF silent laughter.
They mover interrupt the distinguish
cd LII. The earl himself was shouting
out eXclamations OF mirth. The littlr
doctor did not interpret half he said,
linally | must consent that he gazcd
frst on my own boot. hcsitatinglv
slipped out my foot, which increased
the mirth all round. Lis iitcral crit
lclsm was: "Thc foot to your leg is
long, but it suits your very tai height"
lie commented freely on my personal
appearance, with Il final omp'imcnt
was pretty, for the eyes aud hair was
Dtack, ike his very own womcl. He
was Il little disappointed that the New
ork ladies appeared mostly quite
fair.
The venerable Chinaman again open
cd lire on my personal history. He had
made several references to my sup
posed lover, and now demanded point
blank that | conliidc in him. 7 must
mention names, please, and would !
marry someone for wealth, greatness, or
love, and did J already love some one :?
cvadcd hlm with the reply that cor
talnly | would marry were that mys-
Tic he sufficiently great or powerful or
rich. Ana this merry, jolly tempered
old Celestial pcrpctratcd his antici-
phted Jokc--wOuld | marry Il man Of 20
II he offered both power and riches ?
nc and his rctinuc hugely enjoyed
this sally.
lie became serious, and closely cX-
amlncd my educational record. He
then startled me by an otfcr For how
much money would | come out to Chi
ma as gCvcrncss ? He was shocked a,
my American cxtravagancc when
named $4,000 year. He could not
aliord 1t, but finally offered 81, 900.
| begged TO consider it.
AS his cNccllcncy had refused the
prOllercd pipe several times during 0ui
| interview, ! arose to leave before the
courteous, good-naturcd am mbassadol
became wearicd. He lnOtioncd me To
be seated again. He turned, chatter
ing to an attendant, who, u moment
later, handed q handsome 10 by
photograph, with columns OF Chinese
writing up each side, to the carl.
Then he rendered it to me with q
formal inclination, begging that
keep IT. as remembrance Of our
meeting. He further desired that
give him some small mcmcnto to take
as treasure to China. had nothing
available with nc to offer save the
Chinese ring. He emphatically rcfus-
ed it, as | had already related its pc
cnliar history. Ii then EXTENDED his
arm, which bad an odd, heavy ring of
stone upon it. He wish that | might
some day wear one like it. He had
obtained this from the tomb Of a mum
my, and had worn it 80 years that it
might guard him from all misfortune
and enable him to live forever.
lie graspcd my hand warmly in a
llnal adicu, with the parting injunc-
ton th2t never forget him and al-
ways DC happy. One or two attendants
begged card " with writing ON it,"
nc interpreter escorted me TO the
elevator.