The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-10
Ii Hung Chang Prefers
Asking to Being Asked.
The Visiting MOngolian Much
Interested In America.
Personal Characteristics of the Dis
tinguished Chinese Diplomat.

ttfday accorded an interview Win Ill
Hung Chang, England's guest OF honor
this month. The correspondent was
shown into Ia Hung Changs private
parlor. in Lord Lonsdale's mansion In
Carlton House terrace A group OF SER
wants stood before the door through
which the newsman was conducted by
Viscount Ii, the statesman's son, and
who acts as his interpreter
Ii Hung Chang rose and bowed with
formal courtesy as his visitor entered,
and then shook hands, after which he
motioned 10 a seat opposite 10 his own.
Ii was habited in an undress costume.
consisting OF plum-colored stuff shirt,
dark blue silk jacket and black satin
cap, with a crimson silk button in the
center OF the crown, to designate his
status as a mandarin. In the front OF
the cap-band was fixed a large pearl
stud, set with diamonds. A diamond
ring also glittered on the little finger of
his right hand. His shoes were OF black
satin, trimmed with two lines Of green
silk. having thick. white felt soles. AS
the distinguished Oriental took his seat,
following his guests action, his attitude
strikingly resembied the numerous pub
lished portraits from photographs, SO
that he would have been readily recog-
th1cu Niin0ut lAloIiudtlon as 10 MS
identity.
During the course OF the interview,
ii most of the time looked his inter-
locutor straight I'm the face. his piercing
brown eyes suggesting the penetrative
power of Roentgen rays. The complex
ion of the face is a dark bronze, relieved
BY a thin. strangling gray mustache
and imperial While talking his face
becomes animated with an occasional
smile, full Of perception. accompanied
by gesture. He then relapses into the
impassiveness Of a bronze idol His
voice is low in pitch but of sonorous
quality, and he speaks with the strong
infections SO characteristic OF the Chi
nese tongue.
ii Hung Chang has submitted 20 inter-
views number OF times before his ar
rivel In England, and has seized that
rather formidable institution of western
civilization with firm grasp, to direct
II rather than 10 be controlled by IL. The
method employed by the astJte Oriental
diplomat In his interviews with news
paper men Is 10 ask and not TO answer
questions. The American representative
found himself besought for Information
OF the arrangements Of the coming tran
sit OF Lii through the United States be-
rore opportunity was given 90 put q
query. Ii was very eager regarding the
program for his tour of the United States
and the American arrangements. He
asked IL Philadelphia was much out OF
the way of the railroad route from New
York TO Washington. At this point the
Chinese dignitary clapped his hands to
call a servant i'm the Oriental fashion.
The servant, clad in native garb, en-
tered. bowed low and retired. and then
returned with tea I'm a covered cup OF
exquisitely frail and delicate porcelain.
While this was partaken OF by his caller
Ii Hung Chang asked about the special
train en- the Pennsylvania railroad,
which is TO be provided for him, and
whether II would carry him direct TO
Vancouver without change. He was in
formed that probably 1t would.
Ii explained that John Russell Young
had written TO him asking him to lunch
con in Philadelphia, at which he promised
that ?ll Ii Hung Chang's old friends
should be present Ii first met Mr..
Young when the latter accompanied
General Grant on his tour around the
world, and afterward when he became
United States minister to China under
President Arthur Ii asked II Mr.. Young
held such position among Americans
as to lead them 10 follow his arrange
ments. Being assured Of this he asked
cordially after the health of Mr.. Young
and of General J. ii. Wilson and Whar-
ton Barker, whom he had seen I'm China.
The correspondent said that the great
est regret was felt among Americans
that Ii Hung Chang would be unable to
see sufficient OF the United States TO
obtain a knowledge OF the country
equally inti.ate with that obtained OF
the countries he has already seen. In
reply he asserted that he deeply re-
GREETED that IL was imperative that he
should sail from Vancouver on Sept II,
for which date passage has been en-
gagged for him on the steamer Empress
OF China.
He was asked IL he would like 10 eat
some OF the American delicacies, such as
terrapin and canvas back ducks, which
were likely to be offered to him at Amer
ican dinners Ii replied To this query
with an amused smile, saying: II
should be pleased TO taste all such dain-
ties. but ] cannot promise 20 do so. as
my teeth are no longer good. For this
reason / prefer To conline my diet TO
Chinese meat"
Here Ii Hung Chang called out 10 the
servant In the adjoining room. The lat
ter entered and took from a sideboard n
long silver pipe. the bowl OF which re-
semhled spirit lamp. He blew through
the bowl, put a pinch OF tobacco into IL.
lighted IL with taper. and then held the
etem 10 the Chinese potentate's lips.
Ii pulled thrice. with much apparent
qualification. which served 10 exhaust
the charge. fer the servant removed the
pipe. blew ont the ashes. rehlled the
bowl. relit II. end offered the stem 20 his
superior. This was repeated three times
before Ii had sufficient Of the fumes 10
satisfy his taste.
Following his smoke he asked as 10 tho
facilities and shipping OF heavy baggage
20 Vancouver. Having satisfied him upon
this point, the correspondent Inquired
whether Ii desired 20 see the leading
silverites and gold standard advocates
regarding the question Of money during