The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-10
A WOMANS VIEW.
The Great Chinese Mandarin Chats
Merrlly to Her.
Tries Her Glasses, Criticises Her Foot
and Presents Her His Photo.

Chang was In new i ork, anu dlScf CONSUL
erable effort managed 20 obtain an audi
encc with the distinguished Chinese vice.
roy This is how she describes the inter
view:
The last portiere parted for US. and we
entered the presence OF his exceiienoy-A
Hung Chang He was resting in a modern
armchair, his feet perched high on q stool.
He had discarded his black silk cap with
rcd topknot He wore a sort of dressing
gown robo of crimson plush. Tapped st'the
shoulder with two handsome gold buttons.
Tho loose sleeves fell back. occasionally re-
yesling flannel ribbed undervest sleeves,
rolled neatly at the wrist as any New
Yorker's would be- His finger nails were
remarkable for their perfect shape. They
are beautifully kept and unusually long.
He has few lines In his face. His oom-
plexion, with faint. clear color In the
cheeks, reveals robust health. His wound
ed finger was tied up in fuzzy little rug.
His cxoollency half rose from his chair, ex-
tending his hand in the most sffable man
ner as bowed. Igrasped the hand GIN
gerly, as dreaded Immediate banishment
for hurting the swollen finger.
Ii ordered "a chair put close in front OF
him, and our conversation OF 40 minutes
was opened by the happy old. Chinaman.
Ii studied mo as a freak, ordained for
his especial amusement. Ho waived any
and all quesions Of sensible nature. 10
my repeated inquiries as TO his serious
opinions of American women and many
other topics he merely smiled blandly and
replied with innumerable questions Of his
own He was bent on being amused
There were six or eight Chinese standing
around. oil prinning, regarding me as
rare joke We were not disturbed by tho
presence Of any American.
His exoellency, nodding Often chattered
quite as IL 1 understood-that he had
boen curious TO meet q type OF our far
south, near that land Of fiowers--ah, called
Elorida--Florida water-and did use
thats 1t smelled good How long had
been in the big New York; How far was
Goorgi2s Had travelled by land q day
or several days journoyf As DIR. Mark
enlightened him on these topics he gazed
interestedly at me, with friendly little bobs
of bis head.
We were then diverted. A hugely fat
Chinaman camo up Offering queer pipe
to the ambassador. The crooked stem was
quite O yard long. The bowl of silver was
like tiny Dutch stove, the stem Of gold.
Two other attendants held lighted tapers
Ii put the pipe Co his lips, but seeming to
remember my presence he waved It aside
/ asked>!f il were opium.
DR.. Mark vigorously denied that 1t was
Ii bent toward me earnestly. He was ex-
cited at my mistake He asked me TO taste
It, But / did not smoke. Would try
only puff or twos The pipe was brought
to me. DIR. Mark, at his dictation, in
structed me in the art and took few
whiffs This gratihed his excellency. H.
urged that smoke the entire pipe. an
ewered II would make me seasick. dared
not. He roared with laughter, displaying
his long teeth. Well. why not? How did
like itp Would vouch for Its being to-
baccoP He learned back relieved when
assured him of its being the real Virginia
leaf" Had ever used opium? Oh, no.
Well, he begged me To understand posi-
lively that he likewise never used opium
in any form. The American people were
falsely impressed that he smoked 1t. Please
correct this mistake.
Tho earl's agitation subsidized, and once
more he directed his undivided attention
to myself he displayed his diplomacy in
the leading questions he put This serene
Iy smiling, venerable Celestial would be
satisfied with no less than complete out
line of my life, my love affairs and educa-
tion claiming his keenest interest Then
the number of my family; were my sisters
married. was now Miss ID. Had ever
been married. No. Had l ever boon di-
vorcedg No. not even divorced.
He dived vigorously into tho family his
tory. wondered what his motive was
He wished to know how the lines of caste
were drawn I'm our democratic country.
He suddenly recalled my Chinese ring.
Ee bent forward, taking my hand in his
own, and pulled hard at the ring; but, being
unable to remove it, nc was quick to apollo
gize. And had he hurtS Well, he would
pass Judgment; it was real Chinese. He
twisted IL a abou scritically ,chattering mean
while. Then the hand itself received due
comment. Then he extended MS own right
hand and desired my Judgment on the
large diamond solitaire worn upon the lit
tic finger He modestly made light OF it,
declaring it to be only cheap stone. But
were these not worthy He handed me his
black silk cap, with its round cluster OK
magnificent diamonds surrounding peer
less pearl
The Jolly IL was all smiles at my ex-
pressed admiration. He would put it on,
that l might see TO greater advantage. He
graph. They relaxed into half embarrassed
mirth when / cornplimented him on his
personal appearance
Then he remembered his study Of myself
as a type Of the American woman general
ly. Was rich' How much could write
my check forY The rcsponse-that was
but beggar in comparison with his ex-
collency-dlsturbed him seriously. The
clever little DIR. Mark chatted at both OF
US rapidly. he must correct that error.
The American papers all tell one big story
of Earl Las great wealth. He was not SO
rich, indeed.
The ambassadors faoe flushed, and he
turned To the table TO take a consoling sip
Of tea. He drank 10 from n bowl covered
with smaller one He thinks much OF
his fayorite beverage, and with curious
emphasis Of tone click checked to DIR. Mark
to advise me on the subject OF tea We
Americans knew nothing of the tea OF the
nobility Of China. We used n highly fia-
vorcd stuff. Would I care 70 taste hisy lie
orocioualv handed mo tho howl lt was