Evening star., 1900-12-22
China's Big Man on His Country's
Present and, Future.
REFORM MUST CONE FROM WITHIN
Motives That Influenced the Course
Of the Empress.
SHING ON THE OUTLOOK

excelency would be glad to see us at his
house the next morning at 10. An inter-
prefer was not necessary, as among the re-
tatners of the viceroy there were always
some who were well versed in English.
The consul would send his own man to at
tend to such preliminary ceremonies as
were essential
Earl Ii Hung Chang was at the house Of
a friend down the Bubbling Well road. 1t
happened that there was stopping at the
hotel at the time a gentleman who had
been in the diplomatic service for several
years, and who had just come to Shanghai
from term of service as acting consul in
Canton, where Ii had been viceroy for
some time. This diplomat professed such
an acquaintance with the viceroy and his
ways that we were all ashamed Of our
ignorance and inexperience, and listened
eagerly to his advice.
You can't spread 1t on too thick" said
this wise man of experience. 1.-THE baldest
flattery will please him. Hand 1t out to
him on any kind OF plate and he will
smile. Ring all the changes on his being
the greatest man in all the world and you
will win him right at the start"
We accepted the advice meekly and set
out to find how it would succeed. At the
friends house,, fine brick structure. the
external appearance Of which showed no
trace Of Chinese architecture, we sent in
our cards and four or five Chinese in long
flowing gowns Of blue or white or lavender
SILK. came to the doorway and eyed us
curiously. Presently we were taken into q
pleasant room on the side Of a court where
there came to US smooth young man in a
long coat of gorgeous blue, who spoke Eng
ltsh with almost fawless accent. and talked
with us as familiary about the doings of
the newspaper world as If he were the high
priest OF the craft. 1t developed later that
he was q nephew Of that MARQUIS Tseng
ho
est diplomatfsts He told us that the vice.
roy was engaged at the moment on most
important matters, and then he entertained
us with the latest London gossip. The
nephew of the great marquis Is q clever
young man, and he wears very nice gold
trimmed spectacles which help to lend dig
nifty to his short stature.
How Ii Receives Visitors.
We were led through long dark hall to
sparely furnished room at one side of which
stood the viceroy waiting for U.S. He seem
ed very old. Two sturdy servants sup
ported him as he stood. one at each
shoulder, each with one arm across his
back. The old man advanced slowly to
greet us and the stout attendants sup
ported him. He put a trembling hand out
few inches toward each one of us and
as We took it he wigged 1t few times
feebly His hand was soft and fiabby and
cold. He smiled ever so little and bowed
slightly. The interpreter said his excel
lency was very glad Indeed to see us.
There was small marble topped table in
the center OF the room. Four chairs were
placed about 1t and LII moved toward one
of them to sit down. His two men of mus
Gle caught him by the arms at the
shoulders and lowered him gently to his
seat. Then the interview began. and at
the first question an attendant came and
poured out champagne instead Of tea the
drinking OF which by the vtceroy would be
the signal that the interview was ended.
1Nrl TO hic oil r Hun a
most of the questioning. He wanted to
know all about the actions and conduct Of
the troops of the allies at Tien Tsin and
on the way to and in Pekin. He was par
ticularly concerned about looting and the
atrocities Of the Russians and French 1t
was almost impossible to get in word or
a question unless it was attached by main
strength to some wholly irrevelant answer
to one Of his questions. The political man
from Washington-friend of the wise and
experienced man in the diplomatic service
began to despair of getting chance to use
any of the carefully honeyed words At
last there was an opportunity and he jump
ed at 1t. He told the interpreter to assure
his excellency Of the great esteem and high
regard which the people OF the United
translated quickly and the reply was swift
and straight.
Then why do they object to me as
the present difflculty?" asked the v'ceroy.
The political man from Washington was
stumped. but the man from Oregon an
sw cred as the great Tseng might have done
that the objection was most certainly only
that of the rabble who always shout loud
est and count least. The viceroy smiled and
seemed to be satisfied that it was SO. Not
warned by this the political man watched
his chance again and when 1t came ex
perimented with a few gaudy expressions
of his own opinion Of the remarkable at
tainments Of the viceroy. Young Mr.. Tseng
turned his gold-rmmed spectacles toward
the Washingtonian and said In a tone Of
unutterable weariness:
Yes. his excellency has some small repu-
tation."
Perfection of Service.
He did not take the trouble to translate
the remarks of the Washingtonian, who
thereupon withdrew into his shell and
closed the door, All this time a crowd OF
half a dozen or more servants hung in the
doorway or stood in the hall and occa-
sionally peeked into the room. Not the
slightest motion or sign of their master
capped them. Their movements in attend
ing to his wants were absolutely noiseless.
little wave Of the hand brought them
to him. He seemed never to speak to them.
They OWNED his WILL got what he desired
and withdrew to the doorway again. Occa-
sionally he smoked a cigarette, but his IA
vorite was a long Chinese pipe. One OF
his men would fill 1t and stand with lighted
taper. holding the end Of the long stem at
the viceroy's lips. waiting for him to take
the puff or two that would exhaust the
contents of the little bowl When after
nearly two hours of talk the viceroy lifted
his glass of champagne to his lips the two
husky men stepped quickly to his chair,
one at each side, and deftly and gently
raised him to his feet supported him while
he shook hands all around again. and helped
him out OF the room. It was the perfection
Of service. .. sdt
Persistently throughout the long inter-
view Ii Hung Chang talked of the looting
and Of the outrages committed by the
troops. When we did finally succeed in get
ting in few questions he answered some
times with amazing frankness. Thus, he
accounted for the contradiction in the edcts
issued from Pekin during the siege OF the
legations by saying:
Empress Was, BADLY Advised.
while our government is nominally an
absolute monarchy, 1t Is, the fact that the
monarch is surrounded by advisers. whose
suggestions usually are accepted. In this
case she was badly advised. At first she
was told that the Boxers were invulnerable
and would be able to make 1t rather hot
for the foreigners. 80 she supported them.
But afterward she found out that she had
been misinformed, and then she changed
her opinion and her attitude"
The calmness with which he thus accused
the empress dowager Of completely In the