The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-02
THE DRAGONS MISSING CLAW.
The Tale of the Cutting of Ii Hung
Changes Flag.
(From the Chicago Tribune.)

(From the Chicago Tr1bune.)
When Viceroy Lii Hung Chang was in
Paris in midsummer he was domiciled
at that famous hostelry in the Boulevard
DIES Capucines, 1.-THE Grand "
If the great Partisan system has csn-
ter this is 1t, and men and women from
all over the wide world insoribe them
selves here with confidence and get in gay
groups in the great court, listening to the
music, Watching the playful fountains
and the constant going and coming OF
the "voitures'' that deposit or carry away
an endless stream of pleasure seekers.
Emo less than six of the most prominent
families in Chicago have been guests of
that house In the last ak months; indeed
at the very moment that the renowned
Celestial diplomat was sheltered there
a well known family of this city occupied
apartments directly above that of the
great Oriental.
The man and his daughte found their
propinquity 10 the viceroy and his suite
vastly entertaining, and congratulated
themselves on really being part, as it
ere, of the best show in Paris. But alas
for human happinessl Scarcely were the
wise men of the East installed, with the
Chinese flag waving proudly over their
quarters, than large gilded wire cage
was suspended outside the windows. Its
occupants were two great fat, ioquacious
parrots who seemed to become fairly in
toxicsted with the Paris air and the gay :
ETY. of the boulevards. Twenty hours out
of the twenty four they turned claw
springs and suuawked their appreciation
of French cooking, French noise and
French climate.
The parrots duly became a vast
nuisance, and the amiable Chicagoan at
last put in protest at the Office. The
monsieurs there were all agreed that
another suite of rooms was due the Chi
cago family, but that it was not cUnvena-
BILE to make any objection to the birds of
his Excellenoy.
The Chicago family held closed ses-
sion and decided that they would suffer
the din.
One night, when it was particularly
hideous. the young girls were unable to
sleep. Rushing to the window in despair
to hur curling irons at the wire bird
house, they were attracted by the flap
ping of the Chinese flag. 1t was dark,
and Paris slept. There was a sound of
suppressed gigglinQ. and lonR-handled
perasol stole resOlutely out OF the window
and hooked itself deftly into the Chinese
national emblem; four pretty white
hands grabbed it, and there were more
giggles and the sharp shipping OF scissors.
When the flag fell back in its place
again round piece seven riches in di-
ameter was missing and the dragon had
mad claw amputated. This limb was
Immediately buried in tn darkest depths
of Louis Vuitton trunk and the maid
ems fell into sweet and dreamless sleep.
They were awakened betimes to a real
izing sense Of the enormity of their mid
night escapade by the never failing par
rots, and after hurried consultation as
to the probability of an American war
with China, they decided that day at
Versailles was what they would fancy
above all things. Among the passengers
who wers driven out to Versailles on the
"Comet'' that day were the two Uhica-
go girls and their amiable parent.
Great CONSERVATION obtained In Paris
over the dissertation of the celestial flag,
but no extensive investigation was pussi-
BILE
The flag went to London and was I'M
furled there with its disabled dragon.
Ii Hung Changes loss was the Chicago
girls gain, for the bit of bunting is now
the cherished treasure of souvenir al
bum on the north side of the city.