The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-05
1t Causes the Viceroy to Ask
Why Grant Was Not at
Burgoyne's Surrender.
TALKS WITH MANY OFFICIALS
Courtesies of An Eventful Day Fol.
lowed by an Elaborate Dinner
at Night.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Sept. AFTER
breakfast this morning Ii Hung Chang
announced that he did not feel like hang
ing around his superb apartments all
morning receiving officials, al had been
mapped out in the programme, but would
like to see the Capitol if he had time be-
fore keeping his appointment at the Chi
nese Legation. Carriages were ordered
and the party drove to the Capitol.
The entire Capitol was undergoing its
| summer renovation; the new floors and
ventilating system was being put down
in the Senate chamber, and a visit would
have been more impressive at another
season, but the Viceroy too deep inter
| est in everything. His first questio was
| asked IN the Presidents room, which was
unusually bare of furniture. He wanted
| to know whether the President was there
every day and was much astonished when
told that the President used it but once
for a few hours annually. He left his
chair and went around examining the his
torical paintings minutely.
He became deeply interested in the
story of Pocahontas, which had to be re.
lated to him in full. The first military
subject he happened to strike was the sur
render of Burgoyne, which led him to ask
If Grant was in it, and when told that he
was not he wanted to know where Grant
was at the time. In the library he viewed
the stacks of books with evident interest,
and when introduced to Librarian Spot
ford took great fancy to him. He asked
him how old he was.
Seventy" replied the librarian.
"You must have many books in your
| head" declared the Viceroy.
"But many more out OF it, " the librarian
replied.
but you must be very wise man."
pesisted Ii.
mo, know comparatively little"
The chair was moved out on the Capitol
portico where the magnificent panorama
OF Washington was spread out. The Vice
roy was charmed with the scene. Pres
emily he began asking about the monu.
ment-what it cost, how they built it,
how did it compare with the other high
structures and ended by declaring that he
should go up to the top tomorrow ana
see for himself if all that was told him
was trEe. After he had smoke the party
was LED through Statuary Hail. where the
statues of distinguished Americans did
not interest the Viceroy alter he found
Grants was not there. He wondered whv
there was no statue of Grant anywhere in
Washington, but when told there was a
fine painting of him at the White House
he said he would not go away without
seeing it.
In the House of Representatives the
gorgeous gallery over the Speakers desk
attracted his attention, and when told it
was reserved for the press he laughed ard
said that it was finer than those OF the
President and diplomatic corps. He was
asked if he wanted to go over to the IL
brary, which was probably the finest
building in the country, but when he
found that it was unfinished and had only
600 Chinese books in it he said he was too
old to learn to read English, and thought
he had better go to the Legation, where he
was due.
After transactlng certain amount of
business, and partaking of an elaborate
Chinese luncheon at the legation, the
statesman returned to the hotel
At o'clock he had an appointment to
go to the top of the Washington monu-
ment, but at that hour Major General
Miles, General Beck, General Ruggles,
General Greely and others called to pay
their respects. The Viceroy asked General
Miles how old he was. and when the gen.
eral told him he had served with Grant,
the Viceroy became deeply interested and
asked numerous questions about Grants
army life. After this interview, ex-Secre-
tary Foster took the Viceroy, Lord Ii and
DR.. Mark to call on Secretary Carlisle at
the latter's residence. The visit turned
out to be the most important of the day,
and resulted in the complete demolition
of the afternoon programme. The Vice.
roy spent over an hour in a discussion Of
finance and tariff with Secretary Carlisle.
He was amazed with the Secretary's
knowledge of the Chinese system, and the
firm grasp and clear perception he had Of
different subjects. When the discussion
had continued until 4:30 O'Clock, the Vice.
roy drove to Secretary Lamont's, where he
left his card, repeating this courtesy at the
residence of General Miles and Secretary
Francis.
At O'Clock he sat down to an elaborate
dinner, rendered by ex-secretary Foster.
Besides the host and the Viceroy the fol-
lowing guests were present: His Excel.
lency Lii Ching Fong, first son of the
Viceroy; Secretary Lo Fung Luh; Ii
Chang Sou. second son of the Viceroy;
DIR. Irwin and DR.. Mark, medical attend.
ants; the Chinese Minister, Yang Yu; the
Mexican Minister, Senior Romero; Secre.
tary Carlisle, Secretary Lamont, Sec.
retary Francis, Justice Harlan, Gov.
ernor Lowndes of Maryland, General
Miles, General Ruger, Assistant Secre.
tary Rockhill E. B. Drew, General
James H. Wilson of New York, DR.. w.
w. Johnston of Washington.
During the repast the United Statea
Marine band gave serenade. At the con.
cIusion of the dinner General Foster made