The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-05-14
CHINA AND JAPAN.
The Treaty Of Peace Negotiated
at ShimOnOseki.
Ex-Secretary Foster, Who Was the Con-
fidential Adviser OF the Emperor or
China, Tells of the Worh~Done
by Ii Hung Chang.

Gen. Foster, who accompanied Ii
Hung Chang on his mission to nego'
tate peace with Japan, in the capacity
of confidential adviser to the emperor
of China, contributes characteristic
sketch of the Chinese vicerey. Con-
corning the treaty of Shimonoseki, Mr..
Foster says:
while he thus bore the most i'm
nortant trust ever committed to him
by the emperor, it was by no means
task to his liking. He was by nature
high-spirited, and his military and po-
litical success had made him naughty
and imperious. He was proud of his
country, of its past history and of it's
institutions. He partook Of the nation
al feeling of contempt for the japanese,
and he felt keenly the humiliation
which the war had inflicted upon his
people. He knew the mission to which
he had been assigned would make him
unpopular and expose him to fresh in
dignities from his partisan enemies.
He felt that he was taking his life in
his hand when he should place himself
on japanese soil, and he SO expressed
himself to the incredulous foreign
diplomats at Picking; but he dared not
shrink from the duty which his sover-
eign had imposed upon him.
Seldom has 4 public man, under
such trying circumstances, borne him
self with such true heroism and pa
triotic devotion. A high-spirited and
proud man, he went to the land of the
despised but triumphant enemy to sue
for peace; and yet he never failed to
maintain his accustomed demeanor or
his countrys dignity. And it is due to
the japanese plenipotentiaries who
were designated to receive and treat
with him at Shimonoseki to state that
they exhibited toward him the highest
marks of respect, and during the en-
tire negotiations allowed no word to
escape from their lips, and nothing to
occur, which might be considered per-
sonally offensive to their distinguished
guest He had the good fortune to con-
duct negotiations with two compeers,
men of marked ability, and worthy rep
resentatives of their government and
race. Marquis Ito, the prime minister,
is typical member of the progressive
party, educated in Europe, and trained
in modern political science and methods
Of government, but an ardent and pa
triotic Japanese. He had valuable col
league in Count Mutsu, minister of for
eign affairs, who had been long in his
country's service at home and abroad.
Marquis Ito, ten years before, had been
sent by his government to Tientsin to
arrange with the Viceroy Ii a settle
ment of Corean affairs; and the same
subject brought the viceroy to Japan,
but under changed conditions for the
negotiators.
The Guinea That Was Worn on Duchess
Bracelet.
A long time ago. when Bristol was
growing rich with the profits of the
West India trade, of which it had almost
Il monopoly, d stranger took lodging
there, toward the close of the year, and
used to visit the coffee-room of that
famous old inn, "The Bush" He would
arrive about noon every day and calling
for a siX-penny glass of brandy-and
water, sit over it until he had carefully
gone through the London paper of the
preceding evening.
The landlord of ''The Bush," seeing
how anxious he was to read the London
paper, made it understood that while he
had it Gin hand" no one else was to eX-
pect it. Rather ''seedy" garments, 4
lean body, a confirmed stoop and linn
tied expenditure of a daily six-pence,
with nothing for the waiter, clearly
showed the newspaper reader to be a
poor gentleman" and by that title he
was soon distinguished. On Christ
mas eve honest John Weeks, the land
lord, anxious that the decayed gentle
man should have one good meal at least
in "The Bush,'' delicately intimated
to him that on the following day he kept
open table. to which he would be well
come, free of cost.
Principally at one o'clock the next day
the stranger appeared at ''The Bush"
i'll his usual seedy attire. He partook
of the good dinner with the apparent
relish of a man to whom such a feast
is novelty and did due justice to the
stunning ale' for which, far and near,
'The Bush" was famous. The dinner
was concluded. The decayed gentleman
remained the last and read the London
paper in the kitchen. When he prepared
to leave, the landlord respectfully helped
him to put on his overcoat and at the
same time slipped a guinea into his
hand. The poor gentleman pocketed the
coin with smile and a sigh.
He came no more to 1.-THE Bush" But
shortly after ''The Bush" itself was ad-
vertised for sale, with all it's valuable
good will and appurtenances, and poor
Weeks was trembling at the thought of
being turned out by a new owner, when
he received missive from Coutts & Co.,
the London bankers, to the effect that
II he wished to acquire the house he oc-
cupled he might draw upon them for
the purchase money. fastening to Lon
don to thank his benefactors and con-
vince himself of the genuineness of the
offer, he was introduced to Mr.. Thomas
Coutts, the head of the great banking
nrm, who proved to be no other than the
poor gentleman" 'The Bush guinea"
1t is said, was afterward worn, mounted
In bracelet. by the duchess of st. AL
bans, the widow of Mr.. Coutts.-House-
hold Words.
A Family Resemblance.
DR.. Balsam-YOur boy favors you
greatly, Mr.. Hillside-that is, takes after
you.