The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-20

A Little Brooklyn Girl Remembered
by the VicerOy.
New York Tribune.

rev 1OrK IflDune.
An American schoolgirl, Josephine Amelia
Claudius of No.. 121 Van Buren, street,
Brooklyn. is the proud possessor of a token
of friendship from Ii Hung. Chang, II is a
taste characteristic of such work in the
Flowery Kingdom. The bag is circular in
shape. with pendant ribbons. and a loop
with which 10 attach il to a girdle. All the
colors of the rainbow are artistically
blended in the figures that adorn the bag.
This sentiment is on the face: "An Things
that Are Wished"
Added charm and interest attach 70 the
keepsake in its original ownership. since it
was the property of the Dowager Empress
of China. The present arrived here some
weeks ago and has been viewed by many
friends of little Miss Claudius. She is a
prime ~favorite among them. and at the
Girls High School. where she is a senior.
Although she has already developed that
trait of her sex. a delicacy in telling their
age, it is safe to say that she is one of the
youngest members of the class of 80.
How she formed the acquaintance of Ii
Hung Chang has already been told in the
Tribune. 1t was an unexpected honor on
her part. and came about through the we'll
known fondness of the Chinese nobleman
for young people,.
When on his visit to this country last year
he was driven through Brooklyn. His
watchful and inquiring eyes followed with
interest the figure of a charming little BIZ
cyclist who had wheeled out OF Prospect
Park and rode abreast with his carriage.
She continued steadily and unconcernedly
in that. position until the vehicle reached
tie OIlON 1tdSut 1luD IOuSt, WItIt he
was the guest of honor at a reception given
by the citizens of Brooklyn.
She appeared again when the visitor was
being driven TO the Broadway ferry, and
was again observed by him.
AT the end of Broadway he called the
attention OF his faithful Interpreter, Lo
costume, and asked that she be called to
the carriage. After complimenting her on
her appearance ard riding. Ii Hung
Chang invited her 10 call on him at the
Waldorf. She responded to his invitation,
but he was resting at the time she called,
and she did not see him. She wrote a letter
his reply the beautiful present.
Viceroy Lii was much pleased with his
young correspondent and replied as fol-
lows:
Picking, Nov. %. 1896.
Dear Miss Josephine received your in
tereSting letter of Oct. 8 on Nov. 20. 1t
which shows how Tar we are separated
now | I'm glad TO receive such a good
account of you and find that you are dill
gent at your studies ard excel in your pas
times. / admired your skill and the bicycle,
and wanted to know more about you;
seeing You at the Waldorf Hotel, and now
/ am still more sorry because you took the
trouble to go and | disappointed you. You
| early to rise Well. have always acted
upon that and am W AZ 6 o'clock every
helped to make me healthy, though not
very wealthy or wise, but l am content
with one of the three blessings.
IF L had seen you at the hotel 1 should
certainly have given you a souvenir. and
perhaps you would have given me some
little keepsake. But 1 will now make good
China / came here to Picking and
saw my Emperor and told him of all I
had seen; then 1 called on the Empress
Dowager, who has always been very kind
to 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. / now send you this
pretty little silk scent bag and hope ii viii
please you. If you hold it uD before your
eyes you will see four Chinese words
worked IN red silk: read them from right
to left. Wan Shin Yu e. They mean: All
things as ~wished'-that is, may you have
everything you want. And l hope you will,
But. of course. it is understood. more or
less, that you must only want what
sonably expect. This you must read
between the lines 1t would not do
for example, for you TO want to vote a,
present. or to want a silver dollar instead
of a gold one; but time may change al
that. / shall give my bicycle TO some little
boy who can learn TO ride it. | should like
TO have you give a name for it.
You promise to write again. / shall be
Pleased TO hear more about you and your
family. If your parents are living / hope
you are dutiful TO them. Here in China
children are carefully taught to love anC
cherish their parents. l think We are more
particular about that in China than West
max China the oldest of nations. / hav,
dictated this letter TO my secretary. whC
wrote down the words in English.
Now L Will take my Chinese pen. which
is a thin bamboo stick with a soft brush
at the end of ii, like a camel's hair pencil
and write M name for yoafi fine ane
much happiness, your friend and well
wisher. Ii HUNG CHANG"