The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-08
Is Rigidly Observed by
Chinese Diplomacy.
Mckinley Loves the National
Game of Baseball.
But the Office Seekers Give Him no
Chance for Amusement.

| old Chinese minister has gone, and the
new one Is duly installed at tho legation.
These Chinese diplomats have somo queer
| requirements Of etiquette 10 observe In
their dealings one with another. For in
stance, when new minister arrives at n
capital TO relieve his predecessor, he must
go TO hotel with all his retinuc and re-
main there flvo days before taking charge
This is an act Of courtesy to the outgoing
minister AS the retinue Of Chinese
diplomat usually consists OF Il or 20 per-
sons, the rule is n good one for the hotel
keepers. After the new man has been in
town FIVE days he may present his creden-
tials. Then the old minister passes over
10 him the great seal, and this Is done with
tremendous ceremony. Not till tho great
seal has been transferred does the new
man assume the responsibilities Of his
post Nor docs the requirement Of diplo-
matio etiquette end here Tho outgoing
minister must not leave town at once.
That would not be courteous to his sue
ccssor according 90 tho Chinese notion.
He, too, must stop at a hotel. The time
which he must linger near by ready to
give any assistance or advice which his
successor may require of him Is fixed at AS
and not before, he IL free 10 go his way.
1t is scarcely necessary to add that all
these points of etiquette were duly OBJ
served on tho occasion Of tho exchange OF
ministers at the Chinese legation few
days ago.
The New Minister.
The new minister is already becoming
quite popular here. He speaks fluent
English, having boon educated in London,
where he actually hung out his shingle
and practiced law for time. His COM
mand of our language gives him tremen-
dous advantage over any Of the Chinese
ministers we have had here in recent
years, and no is making the most of it.
He is as curious as Ii Hung Chang. At
all tho dinners be attends, all the recep-
tions and in all his official and personal in
tercourse no asks innumerablo questions.
by the time he receives orders to move on
to some othor capital--the Chinese diplo-
mats are permitted to stay only three
years at plGce-ho will be able TO write
big book on what he knows about America.
President Mckinley has not yet sought
much amusement at the capital. Beyond
an occasional horseback ride he sticks very
close TO his work at tho White House.
Years ago the president was very fond Of
baseball While member of congress,
and later as governor of Ohio, he was fire.
quently seen at the games. 1t was sup
posed when he came down here TO be the
chief magistrate of tho nation that his love
for the national game would be found as
strong as ever. The local manager built
for tho Presidents use, in tho top Of his
grand stand, nice little box, equipped
with "a dozen chairs and sent the key of il
TO the president with his compliments.
Mr. Mckinley promised 10 make use of 1t,
but up to this time has not done so.
An Amazing Fact.
One Of the most curious things in bu-
man nature is tho penchant which some
men have for getting their skins full of
red liquor nj the oldest imaginable places
and under the strangest circumstances.
l was once in tho Mammoth cave with
large party Of excursionists, and four out
of fivo of them appeared to have craze
for drink. The disease became conta gious,
and in two or three hours the number Of
cases Of intoxication was amazing to be-
hold. The strange part of it was that the
liquor did not tako effect till the men had
emerged from the cave into the open air.
Then it came upon them, with most dis.
astrous results. In Now York at the Grant
memorial exercises was amazed to see so
many cases of drunkenness among the
guests, Ono would think that there, Of
all places, and of all times, whisky would
bc the last thing man would think of.
But it wns not so. On account of the in
clemency of the weather n largo number
of the spectators had provided themselves
with bottles Ito ward off pneumonia"
and although no pneumonia has been re-
iar a. al t,r,1- oil
belief. / saw distinguished senator fall
of his chair, so full was he. ] saw
member of congress disporting n huge
bottle, and occasionally drinking from it,
right at tho door Of the tomb OF Grant.
Many other instances Of disgraceful in
toxication did witness ON that occasion.
lt is a pity tho architects who designed
the United States capitol did not have
modern ideas of providing light and air.
There Is no glOomier or stuflier place in
any public building In this country than
the corridors of the house of representa-
tiycs nc the doors where cards are sent in
! by visitors who want 10 see members. All
the daylight comes in from little win
dow at the end Of the narrow corridor, and
that is occasionally hidden from view by
the passing up or down Of the house ele-
yator. TO add To the difficulty, the attend
ants Of tdc house, whether from careless
ness or those principles of economy which
are sometimes supposed to be official vir-
tues am unable to say, fail TO keep more
than one little sickly gas jet burning
/ Venerable Bishop.
/ Bishop Thomas Bowman, the oldest iiv-
/ tng member of the opiscopacy of the Meth
1 ndist church, has announced his determi-
! nation 20 retro from active work Hehas
/ como 10 Evanston, Ills, IN spend the re-
maindcr Of his days with his daughter.
4 Bishop Bowman Is not quite so years of
/ age. lie IS In perfect health and in pos.
session of all his wonderful mental powers.
Among church people Bishop Bowman
wiz go down In history as the greatest
builder ST churches of his time. When he
went to ST. Louis - years ago, there were
but three English speaking Methodist
churches there. All tho incrcase has been
largely due Co lis efforts. 10 is said that
be has built moro than 100 churches I'm
| Missouri ulUpg His pinuupncp bas I-npoNt