The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-15

1t. LOUIS on the passage between GUuLu-
amptOn and New York when Ii made his
memorable visit to this country He was
presented TO Ii by LO-Feng-Lu, now
Chinese ambassador at the Court of st.
James.
Ii happened that Ii. who was former
IL tactai of Shanghai. was already ac-
quainted with the doctors brother, who
has been a merchant there for genera
ton After discharging a VOlley OF MS
usual questions about DR. Seaman's
wealth, number of wives. etc, Ii settled
down to a sort Of civil service eXamina-
ton Of his victim, which ran about as
follows:
Who is the greatest philosopher in
England.
well. your excellency, there are
great many philosophers in England It's
a great country for philosophers. Prob
ably Herbert Spencer is the greatest
philosopher in England or out of it
Yes, said ii, II am acquainted with
his writings. ] have his works. Who is
the greatest ! HOsOpher in America 2
Well. said The doctor. 'That IS Il
hard question Philosophers are so plenty
in America that you run against them
at every turn; but I guess Mr.. Emerson
was about as good as any. OF them.
A great man, said Ii i am &C
quainted with his writings. / have his
works. Who is the greatest poet in
American
Nearly every body is a poet in Amer
lea We have only one good poet in the
medical profession. DR.. Oliver Wendell
Holmes. Then there was Bryant and
poet of the sect of Friends by the name
Of Whittier and a fellow by the name of
Bret Harte. But probably the greatest
American nOet was LOngfelloW.
q @ q
Il never heard of him, replied Ii. 81
must possess his works, and he seemed
to be giving an order to his secretary
to make the purchase.
IF your excellency viii permit me,
began the doctor falling into the Oriental
hyperbOle with which he was quite IA
miliar, 1T viii be the delight of my fife,
1t viii add peace to my declining years,
and fill the soul of my ancestors with
joy If you will permit me to present you
with copy of our greatest poets
works
Nothing viii give me greater pleasure
than to accept the gift said Ii you
are the light Of my day"
q 9 q
The morning after his arrival a fine
edition of the works of Longfellow in
rare binding was sent to the Waldorf. In
two hours after the books had gone
Thirty-fiTst street, near Dr. Seaman's CT
fee, was blocked with carriages contain
ing a section of Lis suite and with peo-
pie who had followed TO see the-China-
man. Two servants of the suite with
drawn swords came up the steps Of Dr.
Seaman's house with card and an in
vitatiOn TO DR.. Seaman to dine that night
with Ii.
The viceroy was a great admirer of tall
men and extremely fond of making puns
As soon as the doctor entered his pres
enCe that evening he said, through his
Interpreter, that he was delighted 70
have the works of one LOngfellow and
the company Of another.
Although Dr. Seaman never heard Ii
utter a word of English or of any other
language except Chinese, he Is sausned
that Ii understood English and could
probably speak it as huently as his in
terDTeter if he cared to. IL is his belief
that the willy old diplomat feisned ignOr-
ance of English to have the double adj
vantage of celebrating during the trans
latiOn of his opponents statement and
Of having opportunity to correct his own
first utJeTance if he so desired.
On board the St. Louis were two
actresses of the vaudeville stage, and it
was Lis delight every Gay to have these
girls dance and sing Tor aim. In graft
tude for his entertainment ne presented
to each OF the girls a gold watch. Dur
ing his stay at the Waldorf ne called in
state on them and blocked another city
street for the brief period of his visit
The first question he asked cE DR. Sea-
man on his arrival in Pekin was after
the health Of these two American dane
ers.
why didn't you bring them with you?
Are they married2' he added.
The doctor thought that one Of them
was married.
"Then why didn't you bring along the
other One?' went on Ii I always eX-
pected my secretary" nOdding al the
particular secretary, meant to marry
her. Then 1 CO. Id have her dance for
me. Did you so often to see herr
He was very fond Of talking with any
one who would answer him in salts
factory way, and would soon dismiss a
man who was only listener
what do YOU Americans want of the
Philippines" he asked once. They be-
long to China, OF they always did up to
about 500 years ago. You have no bust
ness there. When my friend Grant was
alive he was satisfied with America; it
was big enough for him.
I'VE don't want them at all" DR.. Sea
man replied. "They were just left on
our hands by the fortunes of war. but
we didn't care to leave them for the
Germans to pick up. We will sell them
to you cheaper perhaps you will come
and take them"
"Oh, no. said Ii, sadly, "China is in
trouble. She is old and broken down, as
] am. but if you want to get rid Of the
islands you can sell them TO the Japan
csc They are natural soldiers. They
could whip them into subsection and
keep them there
Now" said the doctor, here is your
excellency's opportunity-you are the
richest man in China Why don't you
/ buy them yOurself2 AS YOU say, China
. is in trouble with the Russians at Port
Arthur and in Mauchuria, the French in
TOnQuin and the Germans at kiaO-ChOU. 20
Yes, yes, said III with the most
/ touching pathOs- THE old bird is weak
! and" with a feeble movement of his
arms, she can't use her wings any
more"
Another American physician, whom L
met on former visit to China, was in
Pei-in again in 1880 and went to pay his
respects to the old viceroy. DR.. COltman,
q missionary doctor, and professor in the
Pekln medical university, CHANGED to be
present at the interview. 1t was the same
DR.. COltman VINO extracted from Lis
face the ball fired by the japanese as
sassin and was present at Lis death.
Ii recognized his former acquaintance
as soon as ne entered the room and his
/ welcoming question was. We'll, what
your income nOw2'
About $4,000" replied the American.
II not practicing medicine now"
FIFTY thousand dOllarSl" exclaimed Ii
You must be d great deal better doctor
than Coltman. here. He can't make any
such money as that
We'll, your excellency," said the Amer
lean doctor, 1.-THE trouble with DR. Colt
man IS LnaL when ne treats rich men like
you he doesn't know how to charge
when he makes a bill of 100 yen he ought
TO make il 10000"
"Hushi Hushi" said Ii. don't put any
I such ideas into bis head
g - %
When Ii went to Niagara Falls the
New York Central road furnished the
special car for his suite and Passenger
Agent Daniels was in personal charge
! There We're several other well known
men in the party at whom ii fired an
indiscriminate fusiilade Of questions. As
soon ae Az TDanfafe ar,~,asr.T IN, tI,- -.