The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-06

tory. l wondered what his motive was.
He wished 10 know how the lines OF caste
were drawn In our democratic country.
lie suddenly recalled my Chinese ring.
lie bent forward. taking my hand IN MS
own, pulled hard at the ring, but, being
unable to remove it, IKE was quick 20
apologize; and had he hurt? Well Re
! would pass judgment IT was real chi
nese He twisted il about critically chat
| tellng meanwhile. Then the hand itself
| received due comment. Then ne extend
| ed his own right hand and desired my
Judgment on the large diamond solitaire
! Worn upon the little finger. lie modestly
| made light of 1t, declaring 1t TO be only
cheap stone. But were these not worthy
he handed me his black silk cap with
It's round cluster of magnificent diamonds
| surrounding a peerless pearl
The jolly Ii was all smiles al my eX-
| pressed admiration. He would put 1t on,
| that / might see TO greater advantage.
! He composed his features as if for pho
tograph; they relaxed into hah-embar-
raised mirth when l comphmented him
| on his personal appearance
Then he remembered his study of myself
as a type Of the American woman gener-
! any Was rich? How much could write
| my check for? The response-that / was
| but a oeggar in comparison with his eX-
cellency-disturbed him seriously. The
clever little DR.. Mark chatted at both of
|
The American papers all tell one big story
| OF Earl Lis great wealth. He was not so
| rich, indeed
! The ambassadors face flushed and he
| turned to the table TO take a consoling sip
! of tea. He drank it from a bowl, covered
| with smaller one. He thinks much Of his
! favorite beverage, and with curious en-
| phasis Of tone click-claked to Dr. Mark to
| advise me on the subject Of tea. We Amer
leans knew nothing of the tea of the no
| bility of China. We used a highly favored
| stuff Would l care to taste his? He gra-
| ciously handed me the bowl. 1t was dis
| tressinsly weak, with no sugar / slipped
with apparent relish and managed to an
nounce the flavor delicious. but the tea
| was weaker than the Americans drank it.
! lie removed the cover, instructing me to
| follow the correct way hereafter of pour
| ing water upon the leaves.
HE deigned to answer one query: Did his
excellency abhor New York womens long,
| pointed shoes? His attendants wilted on a
| divan back of him with contortions of ST.
! lent laughter. They never interrupt the
| distinguished Ii. The earl himself was
| shouting out EXPLANATIONS Of mirth. The
| little doctor did not interpret half he said,
| but finally | must consent that he gaze
| first on my own boot. hesitatingly slipped
out my foot, which increased the mirth
all around. LIS literal criticism was: THE
| foot to your leg is long, but it suits your
very tall hight
He commented freely on my personal APP
| pearance, with a final compliment:
was pretty, for the eyes and hair were
! black like his very own women. He was
little disappointed that the New York
ladies appeared mostly quite fair.
| The viceroy's wounded hand had been
resting on heavy gold-headed ebony
cane. In pause he held out the cane with
pride. Mrs. Gen. Grant had presented it
to him since his arrival, as a memento
| of his former friend the general He
would ever keep and use it as a souvenir.
bent over to read the inscription and
my glasses fell off, which he thought fun
| ny. The ambassador would examine your
| ''pincers;" yes, your nose pinchers."
We exchanged, and Ii pronounced his gold
! spectacles more becoming to me. Unfor-
tunately my ''pincers' could not be ad-
! justed on his celestial nose, and as our
mutualsVie was decidedly dimmed, we
swapped back again But Lob Feng-Lu
was near sighted and wished to try them
| also.
The venerable Chinaman again opened
fire on my personal history. He had made
several references to my supposed lovers
and now demanded point blank that l
confde in him. l must mention names,
please, and would marry some one for
| wealth, greatness or love- and did / al
ready love some one? I evaded him with
| the reply that certainly / would marry
were that mystic sufficiently great or
powerful or rich. And then this merry,
| jolly tempered old celestial perpetrated his
anticipated joke-would 1 marry a man of
| 20 If he offered both power and riches?
He and his retnue hugely enjoyed this
sally.
He became serious, and closely examined
my educational record. He then startled
me by an offer. For how much money
.
| He was shocked at my American extrava-
gance when named $4,000 a year. He
could not affardit, but finally offered 81, 900
| / begged to consider it,
AS his excellency had refused the prof
fered pipe several times during our inter-
| view, / arose to leave before the courte-
| GUS good-natured ambassador became
wearied He motioned me to be seated
| again. He turned, chattering to an at
| tendant, who, a moment later, handed
| handsome 10 by inch photograph, with
columns of Chinese writing up each side,
! to the earl. Then he rendered 1t to me with
a formal inclination, begging that 1 keep
1t as a remembrance of our meeting. He
further desired that I give him some
! small memento to take as a treasure to
| China. ! had nothing available with me
| to offer save the Chinese ring. He en-
phaucally refused 1t, as / had already re-
| lated it's peculiar history. Ii then extend
eu MS arm, Wilcn nau an ouu, neaNy ring
of stone upon it. He wished that / might
some day wear one like it, He had OBJ
tanned this from the tomb Of a mummy,
and had worn it thirty years that 1t
might guard him from all misfortune and
enable him to live forever.
He grasped my hand warmly in final
adieu. with the parting injunction that
never forget him and always be happy.
| One or two attendants begged card
| with writing on It," The interpreter es-
corted me to the elevator.
Down in the lobby met the grave ply
stefan and enjoyed his amazement as
expressed my gratitude for his kindness
in allowing me the interview with his
| eXcellency Ii Hung Chang.
WOULD NOT CARRY EARL III.