The age-herald., 1898-10-28
TALKED ABOUT
 IN WASHINGTON
RY ARoHIRALpW. BUTT

president IS not llIlle dinuSSu OFSi NAS stories which are being served daily from Paris regarding the peace commission and the Cuban debt. The president knows ex- actly the situation, and has known 1t all along. One thing of which he is certain is that the American commissioners have never entertained any proposition to discuss the Cuban debt. He knows, too, that his instructions are being faithfully carried out, and, moreover, he hears by cable every twenty-four hours from Judge Day.
 The state officials here are somewhat at a loss to understand the various rumors and reports which find their way into the Paris papers. It is well known that the Paris papers easily purchased, and this is one of the favorite methods of Spain to in- fuence the trend of events. Prior to our open declaration of war with that country there Is no doubt but that certain papers in this country were approached by Senor DeLome and the doubt remains in many minds if he did not actually secure some valuable services from some of the big dailies. But it is to be said to the credit of the journals of this country that there were only one or two suspects among the hundreds which could easily have become Spains organs.
 Then, too, the public sentiment in Paris is largely in favor of Spain, and it is but natural that this should find expression in the daily papers. It is more easy to account for the action of the Paris press than it is to explain the conduct of the Spanish commissioners. Up to this time they have done little else but attack the protocol. The American commissioners, on the con- trary, base their whole case upon 1t. Ow- ing to the cross-purposes, there has been but little accomplished Spain, it would seem, is still playing to the galleries, or so it is regarded here. By a rigorous ap plication of the censor's blue pencil the public know little of what is going on in Paris. At Madrid the impression prevails that America is discussing the Cuban debt, and that we are likely to yield. The plain, blunt refusal of our commissioners to dis cuss any of the Spanish propositions has never been made known in Spain, and prob ably will not be until they return and pro- claim that America has gone back on every promise and brutally demands the spells of war.
 It is rather amusing to hear the Span ish commissioner assert that if they re- turn with the Cuban debt still saddled upon Spain and denuded of her colonies they will be massacred by the popuaee. This is favorite plea of commissioners acting for conquered nations. It will be remembered that Li Hung Chang said that nothing could save his head if Count Ito insisted upon the hard terms of peace. The Japanese diplomat was adamant and Ii still enjoys the use of his head.
 Not only does he still retain his head, but holds 1t higher than ever and seems more in favor than ever at court.
 The story that the great Chinese states press strikes one as absurd when it be- comes known that should the heart of the lawful woman of the east9R lead her to commit such a piece of folly that she would only be Lis fifteenth or sixteenth wife, which under the laws in China only entities her to the title of concubine. Only the first spouse is known as the wife, But should she fail to have children the title of wife descends to the next or to the first concubine who does give an heir to the man.
 It is not generally known but 1t is a fact that the present Chinese minister to this country brought with him, not his wife, but number three in the list of his house. hold. There were several reasons why MT Wu Ting-Fang should prefer to bring his third rather than his first wife. One explanation given by the interpreter is that the first Madam Wu Ting-Fang is of ha rn1a of hn empire she would not have been permitted to go into society or be seen by any strangers at all. This much is true. The Chinese minister under MT. Clevelands s administration went everywhere by him. self. Even when entertaining at the le- gation his wife was never seen and some wife of a senator or cabinet officer was invited to do the honors. She came near dying once for lack of attention because an American doctor was not allowed to be called in to attend her.
 Madam Yang Yu, who came at the end of the administration, was not of so noble birth and went every where with her hus- band. She was the first Chinese woman by the way who ever entertained in Wash ington.
 The present minister has been here  little over a year. He has taken one of the handsomest houses in the city for the legation and built a spacious ball room ad- joining it. The little woman he has with him is very pretty and remarkably ac- complished. It is said that the reason Mr. Tu Wang Fling decided upon this wife as his companion in America was from the fact that she was his youngest and best looking spouse, and that the minister is very much in love with her. She was very popular last winter, and will doubtless be more so during the coming season.
 The navy department, together with the report of Admiral Sampson, has finally fixed the position of the admiral in history but it is doubtful whether he has not lost more than he has gained by the precipitate manner in which 1t was done. The report of Sampson, conclusively shows that Com modore Schley did delay at Cienfuegus, and that every opportunity was given to Ad- miral Cervera to escape from Santiago had that officer been as alert as might have been expected. A great deal has been done to discredit Commodore Schley, possibly