The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-10

THEE Celestial visitors made call On
Secretary Gage at his residence on Thurs
day night. They sat with him on his
veEanda and smoked his good cigars aud
talked ON Celestial topics. He had visit
from them again yesterday In his rooms
at the Treasury Department during the
afternoon Needless 10 say they attracted
a large amount OF attention from those who
saw them 1t seems that they wished 10
make arrangements for the visit OF 4co
other Ceiestials during The summer next
year.
One OF the visitors wore d blue flowing
cloak one a yellow cloak, and one was
arrayed in the gaTb of American ciViiiza-
ton They spoke English well, talked
rapidly, anpreciated Secretary Cages
cigars, and appeared to enjoy themselves
very much.
The names OF the gentlemen were Hip
Ling, Sam Sling ana Lin Lett They
are Chicago merch ants, and well-to-do anu
Influential in the Chinese colony OF Chi
caco, and have lived for many years in
this country. They visited Secretary Gage,
who is a personal acquaintance OF theirs.
large delega ton of their counuy men rom
China admitted 60 the United States Tor
the Omaha Exposition, in June, 1898.
They called on him at his house first
wren they arrived in Washington, and
were received very cordially by him. he
entertained them for an hour or more, and
asked them TO see HIM again yesterday at
tie department
A Times reporter had a short converse
tion with the Secretary of the Treasury
relative TO his Chinese friends yesterday
afternoon. Il knew them all very Well
in Chicago" he said. They are mer-
chants and dealers, and among the most
intelligent of their race. They say that
they are very anxious TO obtain permission
for 400 Of their country en to DE at the
exposition for three months next year.
/ told them that / would be glad to help
them in any legitimate way: that probably
their wish would he accomplished, but that
we could only be friends as long as they
kept strictly within the law In tft9 con
tract. when thcy violated it we would
thencefurth be enemies"
The Chinese have a wonderfully strong
desire to come TO this country and chances
OF this kind are sometimes availed Of
10 get here permanently. You remember
that the Chinese colony at the Nashville
exposition slipped away one night, left
the grounds and obtained their freedom.
If these 400 Celestials reach Omaha the
temptation viii be very strong for them,
too, but I 10 not believe that they viii
get away from the exposition people.
THE Chinese use all kinds of dare
l.x-f1 .lax-s To fhf al adj a To
this country, risking their lives aud lib
trty, seemingly with no care for the con
sequences. A case came to my notice a
few days ago when some Chinese from
British Columbia secreted themselves in
the hold Of vessel and had several tons
OF coal placed over them. They We're
discovered. however.
81 asked Sam Sling why the Chinese
We're no anxious to come 10 this county,
yesterday. America good country he
said, make money
Sam Sling, as you noticed perhaps, has
cut of his cue and wears the garb Of
civilization He tells me that he was
very anxious to become a citizen of this
country. and that before the exclusion act
was passed he filed hik first papers thr, e
times. He moved about from place to
place, however, and always lost them In
that way, and is still an alien. He has
lived in this country thirty years ant ohe
others have lived here twenty years or
more. One OF them has wife In China,
ana he tells me that he is very anxious
TO bring heT to this country, but fears
to try it because OF tie rigidness with
which the Law is enforced"
The Chinese wili go back to Chicago
very much pleased with their interviews
with the Secretary OF the Treasury. 1t is
pToha fIe. however, that If they had an in
tention of earning a reward from each of
The 900 gentlemen who viii make The trip
TO this country by getting him in perIns-
nertly, they have changed their minds.