The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-10
VERY POINTED QUESTIONS
TO ASK.
SMOKE ON INsTALLMENTs.
Unique Method of Enjoying the
Weed-The Appearance of the
Noted Oriental.

was $3.50 in the morning, indicating
that the Chinese statesman is not given
to late hours. Early as the hour was
there were nevertheless several persons
in waiting to see the emperor of
China's envoy. The attendants were,
however, instructed as to the prior ap-
polntment and the reporter was Sc
lected from a great number Of appli-
cants on all possible errands and
shown into Ii Hung Changes private
parlor, which Is the ground floor morn
ing room in Lord Lonsdale's mansion
in Carlton House Terrace A group of
servants stood before the door through
which the news man 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 to a seat opposite his own.
He was habited in an undress cos
tune consisting Of plum-colored stuff
skirt, dark blue silk jacket. and a
black satin cap with q crimson silk
button in the center of the crown to
designate his status as mandarin.
In the front Of the cap band was fixed
a large pearl stud set with diamonds.
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 and having
thick white felt soles.
AS the distinguished foreigner took
his seat following his guests action,
his attitude strikingly resembled the
numerous published portraits from
photographs, SO that he would have
been readily recognized without infor-
nation as to his identity.
During the course1of the interview Ii
most of the time looked his interlocutor
straight in the face. his
PIERCING BROWN EYES
suggesting the penetrative power of
the Roentgen rays. The complexion of
his face is a dark bronze, relieved by
thin, struggling mustache and i'm
perial. While talking his face becomes
animated with an occasional smile full
of perception, accompanied by I. a
gesture.
He then relapsed into the impassive-
ness 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 Chinese tongue
Ii Hung Chang has submitted to in
terviews number of times before his
arrival in England, and has seized that
rather formidable institution of West
ern civilization with a firm grasp to
direct it rather than to be controlled
by it. The method employed by the
astute Oriental diplomat in his inter-
views with newspaper men Is to ask
and not to answer questions. The in
terviewer found himself besought for
information as to the arrangements for
the coming transit of LII through the
United States, before opportunity was
given to put a query.
Ii was very eager regarding the pro-
gramme for his tour of the United
States, and the American arrange
ments. He asked if 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
in the Oriental fashion. The servant,
clad in his native garb, entered and
bowed low and retired and then re-
turned with tea in, covered cup Of
exquisitely fraif and delicate porcelain.
While this was partaken of by his
caller, Ii Hung Chang asked about the
special train on the pennsylvania rail-
road which Is to- be provided for him
and whether it would carry him direct
to Vancouver without change. He was
informed that probably it would.
Ii explained that Hon. John Rus
sell Young had written to him asking
him to luncheon in PHILADELPHIA at
which he promised that all Of Ii Hung
Changes old friends should be present.
Ii first met Mr.. Young when the latter
accompa MED Gen. Grant on his tour
around the world and afterwards when
he became United States minister to
China under President Arthur Ii
asked If Mr.. Young held such a posi-
ton among Americans as to lead them
to follow his arrangements Being
assured as to this, he asked cordially
after the health of Mr.. Young and Of
Gen. James H. Wilson and Mr.
Wharton Barker, whom he had seen
in China.
The interviewer said that the great
that Ii Hung Chang would be unable
to see enough of the United States to
obtain q knowledge Of the country
equally intimate with that obtained OF
the countries he has already SEEN
Lii Hung Chang in reply asserted
that he deeply regretted that it was
imperative that he should sail from
Vancouver on Sept. IA, for which date
passage has been engaged for him on
the steamer Empress Of China
He was asked IL he would like to eat
some of the American delicacies. such
as terrapin and canvasback duck
which were likely to be offered to him
at American dinners.
The fame of the terrapin and can
vaSback are believed to have pene-
trated China through the extrayaganf
fondness for those dishes of a former
Chinese envoy at Washington. Ii re-
piled to this query with an amused
SMILE saying:
81 should be pleased to taste all such
daintfes. but cannot promise to do so
as my teeth are roalonger good For
this reason I prefer to confine my diet
to Chinese meat"
Here Ii Hung Chang called out
something to the servant In the adjoin-
ing room. The latter entered and took
from sideboard a long silver pipe. the
bowl Of which resembled a spirit lamp.
He blew through the stem, put a pinch
of tobacco in it. lighted 1t with a taper
and handed the stem to the Chinese
potentate's lips. Ii pulled thrice with
much apparent qualification, which
served to exhaust the charge and the
servant blew out the, ashes, refflled the
bowl, re-lit 1t and offered the stem to
his superior. This was repeated three
times before Ii had enough of the
fumes to satisfy his taste.
Following his smoke, he asked as to
the facilities and the cost of shipping
heavy baggage from New York to Van
couver.
Having satisfied himself upon this
point the correspondent inquired
whether Ii desired to see the leading
silverites and gold standard advocates,
regarding the question of money dur
ing his visit to the United States.
Viscount Ii replied to this that his
father was anxious to learn all that
vas possible about America, but that
III Nina MOS of,nr-% ox,<5 -