The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-04
Il LIKES
TO JOKE
He Talks with Honolulu
Man.
A CURIOUS Conversation
Hawaiian Insurance Agent Tells
About His Half Hours
Interview.


Now that IL Hung Chang Is a cyao-
sure of Occidental eyes. the report Of
an interview with him by a we'll
known Honolulu insurance agsn. VIII
be interesting. The story is toll in the
Insurance Chronicle of New York City
as follows:
I spoke OF the man whom I met at
the club. last week. lie In the life in
surance agent who has just returned
from China and IL full OF rcmlriscel-
ces. lie tells about eastern manners
and customs In very entertaining
way N he thinks he II not boring you.
lie has told me about his experience
with IL Hung Chang. lie related the
incident to illustrate the methods CT
soliciting In the Far East"
George Bromley" said he, Is the
dean OF the San Francisco bohemian
club. Just before took my initial tiip
TO Shanghai about two years ago.
met Bromley In Honolulu and we b.
came quite chummy. When he heard
that was going to China he gave me
a letter OF Introduction to Ii Hung
Chang. II was almost six months be-
fore had a chance to present the let
ter. When I did I was Instantly re-
ceived. when I entered the old man
was seated at a table surrounded by a
number OF coolies and was smoking
The smokes incessantly) one OF those
queer little pipes which you see In Gu
rio stores. We opened proceedings ty
shaking hands Chinese fashion; hat
ls. we each shook our own hands and
then I stepped forward and frankly Of
fered him my hand I'm American fash
ION. lie looked somewhat surprised for
an instant and then gravely grasped
my hand and shook IL heartily. I
smiled and he smiled. Then he took
my face between his two hands and
turned my head around inspecting my
features very carefully. laughed and
he laughed. He put his left hand on
my shoulder and again shook my
right. Then he laughed again.
Afterwards he commenced one Of
the most exhaustive inquisitions that
have ever been subjected to. IL was
Through the old mans secretary. Mr.
Pethlck. who ls a Yale man and who
has been I'm China over twenty-five
years. was asked about my age
business. where had lived. when
had come to the country, whether
was married. my wife's age. birth
place. present residence and about hei
family. My income and reasons fol
coming TO China we're inquired Into
and finally was asked about Hawaii
which had only recently dispossessec
Llliuokalani. In answer to querie,
about President Dole. described hin
as well as I could. ! said he was &
very nne gentleman. an able lawyer
and that he had n magnificent beard
I dllated on the beard because the Chi
nese admire boards very much. As
went into details His Excellency tool
his own stingy little whisker between
his thumb and fingers and began q
twist "a. Suddenly he asked:
what salary does he get7'
Twelve thousand n year an
swered.
The old man commenced to Iaugl
again.
why. he shouted. ~ had tina
: beard. a would take more than $500
year 10 keep II In order
, "Ali this time nothing had been sal
about the reason for my call. But a
this point Ills Excellency demande
that tell him all about life insurance
THAT viii take long time saic
Tell me all about IT, he answered
"T commenced. but had not gone IA
before my listener stopped me.
wait n minute. Here's the bo
who viii understand It.
standing In the doorway was
magnifcentiy built young fellow. owe
: six feet In height and as bright-eye
and handsome as n picture. He wa
!. IL Ching Mai. twenty-four years ol'
IL Hung Chang's son and heir. II
spoke English with scarcely any ac
! cent and caught on instantly to my e,
: plantations. Then he helped Mr.. Pc
hick interpret. when they wei
through the q. O. NJ. OF China said
understood Insurance too.
;. "sWhat will you insure this ma
= for7 he asked. pointing to his son.
"a million taels.' I answered
Then he used the only English
a heard him speak during the intervie'
% lie ssidi Too poo
a "'weii, N Your Excellency Is e
n poor 1 answered. 'we'll insure him 4
a 500. 600. 10000. 10000. f.Ooo-anything.'
I, answered.
= what win you insure me forT'
m asked.
a. "Tn insure Your Exceiiency for
" million taels.' I answered, IN i tapp'
=. my chest.
- "'what DO you mean by thatT
~ =, asked.
Al "T mean that I'll insure Your Exec
iency for anything you want and tn
;, I had 10 explain that he had pass
A, the age limit.
THE old mans bright eyes twinki