The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-11-16
CHNAS GRAND OLD MAN WILL PAY OFF THE DEBTS.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES OF
IL HUNG CHANG.
Thought President Dole's Salary
Huge Joke-Insurance Companies and
Chinese Boarding Houses.

Apropos of the death of Ii Hung
Chang, G. j. Hutchings of this city
cites some interesting memories Of his
interviews with the Grand old Man of
China.
II was in China in August '9S," said
MIR. Hutchings ION an insurance trip
AZ d mentioning my intention 10 George
Bromley of Frisco once American
Consul at Tientsin then SO years Of age,
he gave me a letter Of introduction to
Ii which afterwards afforded me an
interview that / would not have missed
for great deal
IL sent my letter to Pethick, the
Pennsylvania who was English secre-
tary to Ii Hung Chang for long time
and he made an appointment with me
for the following morning at ten o'clock
to meet the viceroy My Impressions
did not differ very much from my pre-
conceived ideas except that l was agree
ably surprised at his atfabiltty.
ION first entering / made the re-
mark that / congratulated him on be-
ing the survivor of the three grand olu
men of the age; Bismarck hnd then Just
died after OUTLYING Gladstone, and the
remark seemed to tickle Lis vanity.
He said that he did fell lonely now
that the others were gone, although ne
had always expected to outlive them.
Iii Hung was supported by two at
tendants during the interview naNlhB
lost the use of his lower limbs at that
time. He was dressed in Chinese
robes with rich silks and a skull cap
on his head, which he frequently threw
off as he did his shoes. His face was
so lined that his nationality was merg-
ed in the map of old age that scanned
his face and through which his piercing
eyes cleaned like jewels. His head
seemed enormous with its Wlthered
ctr hahinn
"He shook hands with me and was IN
evidently a good humOr. After asking
ma innumerable question about my
family and my ancestors, the talk
drifted to travels and the Hawaiian ISL
ands which he said he had always
wanted to visit. He had heard' ne
said that Cinnamon were paid prlncely
salaries down here and asked for my
confederation. l told him $12 gold
month and he said that that was a
salary beyond the dreams of aVarice for
people in their condition.
"He asked after the king forgetting
for the moment that we were a republic
at that time. Asked to describe Presi-
! dent Dole did so and. commenting on
his personal appearance, spoke OF his
luxuriant beard at which ii, with a
mock grimace stroked his own dimuni-
tive imperial. Telling him that the Pre-
sidents salary was $4,000 a year, he
seemed TO lHlIlh IL d luSt june anu
laughing and pounding the table with
his hands said that "if he had that po-
sition and those long whiskers $4,000
would not be enough to keep them in
order
"The conversation came round to in
surance and he asked me If l was will
ing to insure him. | told him that
personally / would take the risk but
that as he was seventy five years old !
did not think the company would do so
Your insurance companies are like the
Chinese boarding houses said he at
which everybody roared. This | found
meant that the Chinese boarding houses
did not like to take the risk of having
an old man stay over night lest he
should die and made a bad joss.
Lii refused to be insured. speaking
the only two English words in the in
terview when he said that the was toe
poor He afterwards signed an APP
plication for a million taels and / in
insured his son who was splendid
looking fellow, an excellent risk.
Iii is an inVeterate smoker and used
a magnificent carved cigarette holder
which was constantly holding a cigar
ette When the coup d'etat came he
sent to me saying that If I was ner-
vous to come up to the palace where
Pethick would be glad to entertain me
1 did not go then but afterwards had
an interview with the old diplomat ir
which I thanked him for his courtesy
and when he gave me a photograph
with his signature on the back"