The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-11-29
A MAN OF HIS WORD.

transact business with Ii, and yet
always found him man Of his word.
He would turn question over and
over again-look into it minutely-
quick to detect the slightest error in
Your statement. 1t was never safe to
90 to him without having your case
prepared. He would take nothing for
granted nor accept ''assurances or
Understandings" No Rialto usurer
was sevcrer in the reading Of the bond.
Establishments or mcnaces were IN
vain. He knew the tension which each
state would endure-what was meant
BY Gladstone or Salisbury ascendency
in England and the meaning of Demo
cratic or Republican advent to power
in the United States. He knew how
to play one against the other-when
to give a significant smile to the Am
bassadol of one power or no less sig
nificant shrug to the envoy of another
power. He never overlooked the re-
lations between Germany and France,
nor neglected the jealousies of Russia
and England. But when once you had
an understanding with LA complete
accord-the matter was done.
III AND GRANT.
The relations between General Grant
and Ii had almost the element of
romance. From the moment that
General Grant arrived in China the
Viceroy took the deepest interest in
his movements. Messages from him
awaited US at every point. Arriving
at Tientsin on an American war vessel,
before we could debark the Niceroy
came on h, ard. | remember the meet
ing, the long, searching, curious glances
bestowed upon G neral Grant, the
courtesy, the Difference and the respect.
The fact that General Grant had held
sovereign power sank deeply into the
Niceroy's mind. And sovereignty
could not he dlvested hy any mere
resignation or suppression 10y electoral
forms. Then came the element OF
agination to be expected from poet
like Ii, whose mind was permeated
with hyperbole and Oriental fancies.
He and General Grant were born in
the same year The name Of General
Grants opponent was Lee. His own
name was Ii. Their stars were in ac-
cord. l recall the fervor with which
the Viceroy evolved this graceful fancy,
as though it were a message from the
stars.
His c, nicism and haughtiness van
ished. The fates had ordained their
meeting for some high purpose. When
General Grant returned his visit the
Viceroy sent guard and an official
chair lined with yellow silk Yellow
was the imperial color. 1t could only
be worn hy the Emperor or princes OF
the royal house. For the Viceroy
himself to ride in such chair would
have been a sacrilegc. But Grant had
been a sovereign. American men OF
war gave him royal honors-and why
not? And so all Tientsin saw, and
with wondering eyes, the yellow chair
surrounded by guard. No such
sight had been seen by Chinese eyes.
For if the Emperor had been in the
yellow chair every house would have
been closed and the inhabitants in hid
ing from the glow of too much glory.
READING TIE BIBLE.
DR. Coltman in "The East Asiatic
Lloyd relates an interesting conversa-
tion he had with Ii Hung Chang on
the subject of the Bible. He says that
one day when he called on the aged
statesman he found him reading a beau.
tifuIIy bound New Testament. The
old man WAS so deep in the book that
for some minutes he did not see his
visitor After while he raised his
eyes and g:z d at Dr. Coltman with a
piercing look and sail: "Dr. Coltman
do you believe this book?''
He answered.: Your Excellency, if
did not believe it | should not have
the honor of being your physician
(medical missionary. | believe ii
with my whole heart"
Are you sure that this is not all
hearsay and human talk he asked
again.
"Quitc sure
GLOW do you know il?' he went on
''By sign that the book itself men
tions. Is it not written that a Lac
tree can bring forth no good fruit ant
Il good tree no bad fruit? Your tx
,Ilency has already admitted that the
condition of the people in the Western
lands is far better than in the Oricn.
and | can assure you that the prosper
ity and happiness of the various ma
tions that you recently visited CORE
spond exactly to the degree in which
they follow the precepts of this Book
Would to God your Excellency lie
lieved it, tool
"Why, believe you would like t.
make Christian of me-" said he, hal
J joking, half seriously.
Not only you," answered Coltman
"but also your young Emperor and al
, his people"
1--WE have Confucius." said he