The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-03-20

New York, March 2O.-when Ii Hung
Chang, the Chinese viceroy, was in this
city few months ago, his inquiring turn
| OF mind as TO the ages, salaries. lhcomes,
and methods of living of those who were
presented to him was manifested to an
amusing, and sometimes embarra sing,
degree.
A schoolgirl, who attracted the vfceroy's
attention while riding on her bicycle in
Brooklyn, was summoned to his side and
| questioned. As result OF the short inter-
view she is the proud possessor OF an elab-
orately embroidered silk scent bag and an
autograph letter, which she has received
| from the grand old man Of the Chinese
empire.
The young lady is Miss Josephine Amelia
Claudius, of No. 121 Van Buren, street,
Brooklyn, a member of the senior class of
| the Girls High School. Miss Claudius,
| dressed in natty costume, rode her wheel
almost abreast of the Chinese statesman
| carriage while he was being driven TO the
Union League Club, in Brooklyn. He
! watched with twinkling eyes her skillful
manipulation OF her wheel, and asked his
interpreter to summon the girl to his side.
After complimenting her ON her appear
ance and riding he invited her TO call at the
Waldorf, where he was staying. Miss
Glaudius called shortly afterward, but was
unable to see Ii Hung Chang, as he was
resting. Then she wrote ex plaining why
she had not been able to see hun.
The scent bag and letter received a
short time ago was the viceroy's reply.
The bag was formerly the property of
the dowager empress Of China 1t is cir
cular in shape, with pendant ribbons and
loop with which to attach it to a "a rdle.
All the colors OF the rainbow are blended
in the picturesque figures which adorn
the bag. On the face is the sentiment,
IAN Things as wished"
Ii Hung Chang wrote as follows:
Dear Miss Josephine: 1 received your
interesting letter of October on No
vember 20 1t was forty-seven days on
its way here, which shows how far we are
separated now. l am glad to receive such
a good account of you, and find that you
are diligent at your stuoies, and excel in
your pastiues 1 admired your skill on
the bicycle ana wanted TO know more about
you: therefore / was very sorry to have
missed you at the Waldorf Hotel, and now
1 am still more sorry because you took
the trouble to go and 1 disappointed you
You know the old saying, Early TO bed
and early to rise" Wen, have always
acted upon that and am up at O'Clock
every morning. L think this regular habit
has helped TO make me healthy, though
not very wealthy or wise, but am content
with one Of those three blessings
IF | had seen you at the hotel should
certainly have given you a souvenir, and
perhaps you wo1ld have given me some
little keepsake But l will now make
good my neglect. When / got back 10
China / came here to Pekin and saw my
emperor and told him CT all | had seen;
then l called on the Empress nowager,
who has always been very KIND 10 me.
Her majesty is sixty-two years Old, and
is active and energetic. She was much
interested in the account of my travels,
and asked me many questions. Then her
majesty gave me some presents, and
among them was a little silk scent bag to
hang on my belt. l now send You this
pretty little bag, and hope il will please
you. If you hold it up before your eyes,
YOU will see four Chinese words worked in
red silk Read them from right to left,
Wan Shin YB E. They mean: All things
as wshed'-that is, you may have every
thing you want. And L hope You Will.
But, OF course. it is understood, more or
less, that you must only want what You
can get-what you may reasonably expect.
This you must read between the lines. 1t
would not do, for example, for you to want |
to vote It present, or want a silver dollar |
instead of gold one; but time may
change all that. l shall give my bicycle |
to some little boy who can learn 10 ride it.
| should like to have you give name for |
it.
You promised to write again. l shall |
be pleased to hear more about you and
your family. If your parents are living, L |
hope you are dutiful TO them. Here in |
China children are carefully taught to |
love and cherish their parents ! think |
we are more particular about that in
China than Western people are, and it has |
helped much to make China the oldest Of |
nations l have dictated this letter to my |
secretary, vino wrote down my words in |
English.
Now will take my Chinese pen, which |
is a thin bamboo stick with soft brush !
at the end of it, like a camel's hair pencil, |
and write my name for you, fine andlarge, |
with my own hand. Wishing you much |