Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-03
Il AS AN INTERVIEWER.
The Celestial Magnate Asks Many
ShreWd Questions,


Railway Station Agent.
According to the London Daily News,
Ii Hung Chang at his interview with Mr.
Gladstone began the conversation by some
questions as TO Dir. Giadstone's career.
How long were yeu Prime Minister
he asked. Mr.. Gladstone replied, II was
Prime Minister four times and for thir-
teen years
How long were you in the cabinet?'
Il was in the cabinet nearly twenty
four years
You have been." said the visitor, "a
most valuable servant of your country.
and the Queen trusts you in everything
10 this his host replied, II have tried to
do well: ought TO have done better; and
| wish had done better"
This country" said Ii Hung Chang,
lis the greatest naval power in the world"
lit is necessary" was the reply, for her
10 be the greatest"
England has a great fleet TO protect her
commerce" Yes" observed the British
statesman, .,it is essential that she should
have a great feet, because the empire
is scattered over the world. There are
three great countries that have the adj
vantage of being connected from end 10
end, namely, Aperica, Russia and China.
and for them a strong navy is not of
course so necessary"
DO you admire Lord Salisbury" Mr..
Gladstone replied: lord Salisbury is the
head Of the Conservative party and |. was
the head Of the Liberal party. There are
many characteristics that / admire III
| Lord Salisbury. and there are many points
on which agree with him. He has great
natural gifts"
The next point that arose between Mr..
| Gladstone and the Ambassador was, How
| long did the former sleep? Generally
4 eight hours" said Mr.. Gladstone, and Ii
1 Hung Chang nodded his head observing,
''Ah, that is what Prince Bismarck sleeps.
| and you are older than he is" Them
i said Mr.. Gladstone with another laugh,
/ Il may take credit for doing better than
the Prince" and Ii Hung Chang smiled
| also.
| Taking the initiative in the conversa-
/ ton, Mr.. Gladstone complimentcd China
on her adoption of the principles of free
trade. to which. as they were the basis
OF national greatness, he hoped she would
| adhere. TO these observations the Vice.
roy assented, adding however. that it was
necessary to place some restrictions upon
| merchants.
What do You think of war;" asked his
Excellency. War" replied Mr.. Glad.
stone, benefits nobody. In all cases one
country is in the wrong. and very often
both countries are in the wrong
There is no difficulty in keeping to
gether the several portions of the British
Empire?" queried the Chinese statesman
No was the emphatic reply: "ths
strength of the bond is its voluntary
character. II any colony desired to leav,
US. the mother country would use M
compulsion to prevent the separation.
Again changing the subject, Ii Hun;
Chang said. This country has such i'm
mense resources that it is able to spen,
whatever it likes" To this the EXPIRE
rnicr replied: However rich we may be
prudence should be the characteristic
note Of our finance. was brought up il
the Sir Robert Peel tradition of stric
economy, and although | may not hav
such strong views on the subject as
formerly held, | nevertheless would lik
to see the national expenditure more jeal
ously guarded than it is at present. / d
not think it question of party. In in
opinion public sentiment on the matter /
, not as prudent as it ought to be-
i England" said Ii, sis the creates
) mercantile power in the world?" MI
a Gladstone assented
{ In the case Of China pursued tn
3 Niceroy, 1T is necessary that the conntr
i should be opened up. that railways shoul
{ be established. and that advantage Shout
t he taken Of the lessons in civilization I
, he learned from other nations.' Il tho,
] oughly agree with you" replied Mr.. GaC
a stone.
t The conversation being at an end. I
, tIhns Chang spoke to several Of the chi
s dren who were with the company, an
r declared that they were very pretty. Til
I. party then adjourned to the dinng-roon
i, Where luncheon was served. A carryin.
: chair had been brought for Ii Hun
9 Chang. but he declined to use it. Turi
8 me to Mr.. Gladstone, he said, "You III
5 my senior; will not use the chair" I'll
/ Two then crossed the apartments togcthe
Il MI. Gladstone looking quite short bessie
!, Ii Hung Chang.
Q During Ii Hung Chang,s stay nj Che
IS yer station on Saturday, August II.
!, had characteristic conversation with
10 railway official named Brercton. who
employed as a relief station-mastrr, NJ
b Brescton was standing outside the salo,
| [
lr Envoy sent his interpreter TO ask him
10 come in and have word with him, II
official stepped inside, and one of h
A. EXccIlcncy's first questions was. "Ho
st old are you:' The rest of the dialogr
j. as near as Mr.. Brercton remembers. r.
ms follows: Are you married?" M
Why are You not marriedE" Il cam
answer that" What wages do Won got
~ The sum Mr.. Brcreton mentioned o,
d IDENTIFY did not satisfy the Envoy, for
IS asked. rs that all:' How far is Fl
l. warden from Chestcr:' about
r miles" rs Mr.. Gladstone rich man
n, Il do not think So" IF Mr.. Gladstone
D, not rich, do not tho people give HI
90 money" No, ! think he has cDou
os without that rs Mr.. Gladstone popfll
nt about berrt Yves. all over the count,
1t Many people come long distances TO 5
le him. lie must keep I'M opcn hon
them II cannot answer that" ali
Mr., Gladstone any unmarried daughters
Yes, one Her namet" Miss Heller
or Iii seemed puzzled over the name "Helel
ct lie then nsked. ':N'hy is it she is not M:
a, ried?" 10 this Mr.. Brercton was I
~ able to give Il satisfactory answer 7
"a Envoy afterwards inquired if MIR. Gl,
stone was deaf or infirm, and whether
could speak well yet, Turning to r,
way matters, his Excellency inauir
az rs Lord Twecdmnuth big shareholt
OF in London anil Northwestern: "Yr
ut rs Mr.. Gladstone q shareholders Il
az not know. What dividend do ii
pay" Seven OF seven and a half |
cent" "What Is tho value of IN