The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-08-13
THE CHINESE STATESMAN SUB
MITTED GRACEFULLY TO
AN INTERVIEW.
IS MUCH INTERESTED IN AMERICA
Asked All Sorts of Questions Concerning
His Route From New York to
Nancouyer-Wishes Informal
ton on Money Question.

ciated Press was this morning ACCORDED
an interview with Ii Hung Chang, Eng
lands guest of honor this month. Tn,
hour set for the interview was 500 il
the morning, indicating that Chimes,
statesmen are not given TO late hours
Early as was che hour, there We're new
ertheless several persons in waiting tC
see the envoy. The attendants, how
ever, were instructed as to the prior ap
pontment of the representative of the
Associated Press and he was selected
from Il great number Of callers on all
possible errands and shown into Ii Hung
Changes private parlor which in the
ground floor morning room of Lord Ions
dalc's mansion in Carlton House terrace
y group of servants stood before the
door through which the news man was
conducted by Nscount Ii, the states
mans son, and who acted us his inter
prefer.
Ii Hung Chang rose and bowed with
| formal courtesy us his visitor entered
and then shook hands, after which he
/ mOtioned to Il seat opposite his own. He
was habited in an undress costume con
sisting of Il snuff colored skirt, Il dark
| blue jacket and black silk cap with Il
black button i'll the center of the crown
to establish his status as Il mandarin. In
the cap crown was fixed Il large pearl
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 felt soles. AS the
distinguished foreigner took his seat, fol-
lowing his guests action, his attitude
was strikingly resembling the numerous
published portraits from photographs, so
| that he would have been readily recog-
niZed without information as to his idcn-
! tity.
During the course of the interview,
| Ii Hung Chang most of the time looked
| his interlocutor straight in the face, his
| piercing brown eyes suggesting the pen
ctrating power of the Roentgcn rays.
| The complexion of his face is dark
bronze. relieved by thin, struggling gray
mustache and imperial While talking,
his face becomes animated with an oc-
casional smile, full of perception, accom-
panied by gesture.
of bronze idol. His voice is low in
pitch, but of sonorous quality and he
speaks with the strong infections so char
acteristic of the Chinese tongue.
Ii Hung Chang has submitted to inter-
| views Il number of times before his ar
rival in England and has seized that
rather formidable institution of western
civilization with Il firm grasp to direct it,
| rather than to be controlled by it, The
method employed by the astute Oriental
diplomat in his interviews with news
paper men is to ask and not answer ques-
tons. The Associated Press representa-
| tive found him and sought information rs
to the coming transit of Ii through the
| United States.
Ii was very eager regarding the pro-
/ gram for his tour of the United States
and the American arrangements. lie
asked if Philadelphia was much out of
the way of the railroad route from New
York to Yokohama. At this point the
| Chinese dignitary clappcd his hands to
| call Il servant, in the Oriental fashion.
tered, bowed low and then retired and
returned with tea in covered cup of
| exquisitely delicate and frail porcelain.
While this was partaken of by his caller,
Ii Hung Chang asked about the special
train on the Pennsylvania road which
is to he provided for him, and whether
it would carry him to Vancouver with
out change. He was Informed that
probably it would.
IL pNplllneu Illdl Hull JOlill huSStll
Young had written to him asking him to
luncheon in Philadelphia, in which he
promised that all of Ii Hung Changes
friends should be present. Ii first met
Mr.. Young when the latter accompanied
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 po-
sition among Americans as to lead them
to follow his arrangements. Being as
sured as to this he asked cordially after
the health of Mr.. Young and of Gen.
James Wilson and Mr.. Wharton Barker
whom he had seen in China.
The Associated representative said
that the greatest regret was felt among
Americans that Ii Hung Chang would
he unable to see enough of the United
States to obtain knowledge of the coun-
| try equal with that obtained of the coun-
tries he has already seen.
! He was asked if he would like to eat
some of the American delicacies, such as
| terrapin and canvasback ducks, which
were likely to be offered to him at
| American dinners. The fame of the
| terrapin and canvasbacks are believed to
have penetrated China through the eX-
| travagant fondness for these dishes of Il
| former Chinese envoy at Washington. Ii
replied to this inquiry with an amused
smile. saying: Il should be pleased to
taste all such dainties, but | can not
| promise to do so. as my teeth are no long
| er good. For this reason l prefer to
contine my diet to Chinese meat
! Here Ii Hung Chang called out some
| thing to the servant in the adjoining
room. The latter entered and took from
a sidcboard Il long silver pipe, the bowl
of which resembed spirit lamp. He
| blew through the bowl, put in pinch of
tobacco. lighted il with Il taper and then
held the stem to the Chinese potentate's
lips. Ii pulled thrice with much appa-
J rent qualification, which served to eX-
| haust the charge. for the servant re-
moved the pipe, blew out the ashes. re-
| filled the bowl re-lit 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 Vancouver. Having salts
fed him upon this point the correspond
cnt INQUIRED whether Ii desired to see
| the leading silverites and gold standard
advocates regarding the question of mon
ey during his visit to the United States
TREATY APPROVED.
San Francisco. Aug. 9.-According t.