Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-09-03
A CHINESE AMERICAN
Sir LANG Cheng Tung, New Minis
ter at Washington, a Gradu-
ate of AndOver.
GREAT LOVER or BASEBALL.
Ia His School Days He Helped to Win
More Than One Game for His
Alma Mater.
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
Washington, Aug, 3l.--Slr LANG
Cheng Tung, the new Chinese minister
to the United States is even more of
an American than his popular prede-
cessor, WI Ting Fang, fact which
is chiefly due to his having received his
education In this country. Men who
knew ri Yuk LANG, as he was then
called at Phillips Andoyer academy, at
Andover. Mass 25 years ago en-
tirely forgot his nationality. lie was
one Of themselves. rollcking, clean,
well hammered, sport loving boy.
He was one of the best students in his
class. and In athletics, where a China
man would be least expected to shine,
he was among the foremost. The sto-
ries Of his baseball prowess, his old
classmates say are not exaggerated in
the least He was a splendid pitcher,
and his mastery OF the curved bah won
more than one game for the old acad-
envy, In one notable contest between
Phillips Andover and It's traditional
rival, Phillips Exeter, II was three
Dagger" knocked out by ri Yuk LANG
which crowned his team with victory.
In addressing an after dinner audience
at the celebration OF Andoyer's one
hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary
Sir Liang described this game with a
iluency OF which no admirer OF the ma
tional game would be ashamed.
II shall never forget" he said, "the
game with Exeter In 1881 In which |
happened 10 take part. We had been
defeated the year before on our own
grounds and We're straining every nerve
to recover our lost laurels, The game
was now to be played at Exeter. Feet
Ing that the reputation OF our school
was at stake, every member of the nine
went into the game with determine
ton TO win, encouraged by a contingent
OF faithful supporters who had come
over from Andover. Our opponents
were first at the bat. The batters were
easily disposed Of by our eft-handed
pitcher, Hubbard. Then our turn came.
In twinkle we had two men on bases.
| was next at the bat. ] smashed the
ball to center for a three Dagger This
gave us a commanding lead, which our
opponents could never overcome, The
result OF the game was Immediately
flashed over to Andover, and when the
train arrived there with the victorious
nine we were met by the whole school
with torchllghts, brass band and an
omnibus drawn by enthusiastic stu
dents. Rome could not have received
Caesar with greater pride"
An oriental who can play baseball In
this fashion need have little doubt of
his success in diplomatic mission to
the American nation. Sir Lang has
been too busy TO frequent the Washing
D. .l.tll nrly ...-i., la 5e.VtN
season, but he expects to renew his
youth when the next contest for the
championship pennant begins,
ri Yuk LANG was one of number Of
Chinese boys who We're sent TO the
United States by the Chinese govern
ment to learn how they do things in
the west" lesson IN which they were
so quick that the emperor was con-
strained to recall them lest they be
turned into foreign devils" II Is said
that ri Yuk's baseball playing was re-
garded as the most ominous indication
of the evil effect of American educa-
ton upon youthful Cinnamon, How
ever. Pi Yuk was not long exiled from
America, being sent back here to act az
Interpreter for the Chinese legation un-
der Minister Chang Ying Hoop. When
that minister returned to China, Liang
went with him. He afterward held
many important positions in the gov
ernment service and was secretary of
the Chinese envoy to Victorlas dia-
mond Jubilee, at which time he was
knghted by the English queen.
The new minister IL extremely demo
cratic and is fond Of everything which
brings him into contact with the peo-
pie of this country. He is bringing
up his two little boys. aged respectively
eight and six. in American ways. and
they play with the other children Of
the neighborhood either In the legation
grounds or on the daisy sprlnkled hill
across the way. His l6-year-old
daughter has not the same freedom,
Chinese conservatism with regard TO
strong to be broken even by go adj
Vanced q man as Sir LANG.
W ATILg ~ l-ER NlC,II