Evening star., 1896-08-24
Elaborate Preparations at the En-
bassy for Ii Hung Chang.
ODD CUSTOMS TO Be OBSERVED
Official Arrangements Are in Pro-
gress for the Event.
HE B RINGS NO FFIN

tended for the coming visit of Earl Ii
Hung Chang, and 1t is safe to predict that
he will be welcomed with all the oriental
honors due his exalted position as the
personal representative of the emperor
Of the fowery kingdom. The program Of
reception and entertainment in this city
has not yet been finally arranged. Mr..
Yang, the Chinese minister at this capital,
and all the members of his official family
will go to New York in a few days in order
to assist in the reception Of the Chinese
ambassador next Friday. They will meet
the visitors on the st. Louis at quaran-
tine. They will make the trip to the st.
Louis on the dispatch boat Dolphin, in
company with General Ruger, U.S.A., rep
resenting the President, and Assistant Sec
retary Rockhill. representing the Secre-
tary of State. The minister and his large
suite will be gorgeous in their rich court
robes of silk.
CeremOnfOus Occasion.
The meeting between the two Chinese
officials Will be exceedingly ceremonious.
Chinese official etiquette requires additional
formalities on such an occasion as this.
When two personal representatives of the
emperor meet it is the duty of the one who
left Pekin first to inquire of the other
about the emperors health before any
word concerning themselves is spoken.
In China all the required formalitieS are
invariably gone through with on the spot.
But in foreign countries this is not usually
done until a convenient place is reached,
account of The curious crowds about
public places.
Official FOrmaIitfcs.
When the earl makes his appearance the
minister ard the attaches will bend their
right knee. Ii will return the salute to the
minister, but is not expected to bow to the
attaches, and his advanced age prohibits
any undue action of the muscles. On the
way from the steamer to the hotel the two
representatives of the emperor will stu
Ciously avoid entering into conversation
with each other, and appear to bystanders
as II they were not on speaking terms. On
arriving at the hotel they will withdraw
together to a private room, and place on q
table wooden tablet, inscribed with the
emperors name on one side Of IT. Ii Hung
Chang having taken his station beside the
tablet, the minister will then come forward
with reverent mien and fail on his knees
before it. Thrice will he PROSTATE himself.
bowling his head three times to the ground
in each prostration. This done, the con-
strained manner will at once disappear on
both sides. They may now talk about mat
ters of private concern. Not until then will
the vtceroy answer the minister's inquiries
concerning his health, his voyage and his
plans.
OF the visiting party during their visit to
this city next week will be grand fete al
the Chinese legation. to which invitatio
Will be issued to all the leading officials of
the government, and at which the menu
will be exactly like that to which Ii Hung
Chang Is accustomed to at his oriental
home.
Naval Preparations.
Acting Secretary McAdoo has received
telegram that the battle ships Maine and
Texas, which have been undergoing en-
tensive repairs at the Norfolk navy ward.
VIII De ready for sea service tomorrow
morning. The Texas was severely strained
by recent accident at the New York navy
yard. and the Maine had been In service
in the gulf for many months. They were
both thoroughly overhauled and put in
good serviceable condition.
The acting secretary today ordered that
both vessels join the North Atlantic souad.
ron In New York harbor without delay, In
order to be prepared to assist In any
demonstration that may be given by the
navy IN honor Of the distinguished Chi
hese statesman, Ii Hung Chang. Admira,
Bunce. and all the other vessels of his
fleet. arrived at New York last evening
from cruise along the Atlantic coast, and
Will remain there until after the departure
of the celestial visitor.
The Dolphin.
The dispatch boat Dolphin, which will
OO picSCo a. Tic uiSpOSdl Ol the SnlneSo
ambassador, is now being prepared for that
special service. Inasmuch as she did not
include a Chinese flag in her equipment it
has been found necessary to procure one
for her from the supply depot at the New
York navy yard. The well-known Chinese
ensign Of yellow, with it's blue dragon, ram
pant. will be displayed at the foremast of
the Dolphin during the entire time that the
personal representative of the Emperor of
China Is at New York or vicinity as an
indication that he is in virtual command
of the vessel.
An Imposing Pageant.
The proposed naval pageant in New York
will unquestionably be the most spectacu-
lar part Of the program. and it is now ex-
pected there will be the largest gathering
Of warships since the great review three
years ago. The whole naval display will
be under the sole direction of Admiral
Bunce, commanding the station, who, so
far, knows nothing of the part his fleet is
to take except that 1t must be in New York
harbor on Wednesday and hold itself for
instructions from the Navy Department..
No squadron that has ever been attached
to the North Atlantic station presents as
many different types of warships nor more
powerful specimens of naval architecture.
Its presence will be one of the most i'm
pressive and brilliant sights witnessed in
New York harbor, for, under orders of the
government, the fleet will consist of every
ship on the station available for active
service, and when it assemblies off Tomp-
kinsville to receive the St. Louis bearing
L. with thunder of guns, there will be
more noise created than the Staten Island
ers have heard since the President passed
In review of the Columbian parade in April,
1893.
Fine Vessels.
In addition to the flagship New York
there will be the frst-class battleships In
diana and Massachusetts. The Newark,
the triple-screw flyer Columbia, the battle
ships Maine and Texas, the Raleigh, the
Cincinnati, the monitor Amphitrite, and
possibly the Montgomery. To these vessels
will be aided the Katahdin, the transport
Fern, a1l the torpedo-boat Cushing; in all
the str5hgest aggregation of fighters the
navy has ever had in New York harbor.
On board these vessels are upward of 1000
men and officers, and the sight when they
man the sides and cheer Ii as he sails up
the harbor Is expected to impress the Chi
nese Statesman. at least with the import
ance of the Few navy.
Orders to BE Sent.
On Wednesday the acting secretary will
serd instructions to Admiral Bunce of the
mart he is to take in receiving Ii. The