Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-14
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.

very rich man and acquired his wealth
by invisible means like 30 many Of the
Chinese princes and mandarins. No one
could reach the ear OF the empress dow
ager without his knowledge and consent.
and all her opinions and commands were
&C communicated through him.
Two OF his daughters married brothers
OF the emperor. Prince Pu Lun. who went
to st. Louis. Is the husband OF one OF them,
ana both daughters have baby sons in
training for the throne Of China. 1t is al
most certain that one OF them win be the
successor OF Kwang Hsu. ana the empress
d0wager may Issue an edict on the subject
at almost any time. 1t is understood that
Mrs. Conger, the wife OF the American min
ister. has engaged an American governess
Tor these youngsters at the request Of her
| majesty, and that she Is already on her
way from Iowa, where she has been en-
gagged In kindergarten work. 1t Will do the
future emperor OF the dragon throne no
harm to be educated by an Iowa woman.
Prince Ching, the emperor's uncle and
Jung LUIS successor as prime minister. Is
man OF fair abilities, concilia tory DISPOSE
ton, progressive tendencies and eminent
integrity, judged from the Chinese stand
point, but he has no particular force OF
character and lacks the enterprise the in
itiative and the breadth Of vision of Ii
Hung Chang and Chang Chin Tung, the
great viceroy who is now. beyond all COM
pariSOn, the foremost man In China.
Heir to Ii Hung Chang.
Ii Hung Chang died November II, 1901,
and is buried at Ho-fei, his native town,
near the city of Wuhu. in the province Of
An-huL on the banks of the Yang-tse river
half way between Shanghai and Hankow
We spent morning there not long ago
with Lord Ii, his adopted son, and had a
pleasant visit while the steamer was dis
charging and taking on cargo. When Earl
Ii, as the old gentleman was generally
known In China, had been married some
years and was still without children he
adopted Ii Ching Fang, the son Of an old
friend. and made him heir to HIS titles and
estates. He educated him in modern learn
ing. gave him an American tutor and sent
him out to see the world He has always
been known as Lord L. and now occupies
the family residence at Wuhu, where he Is
spending the period of mourning required
by etiquette on account of his adopted
fathers death and In the meantime is i'm
proving the place, planting beautiful gar
dens. digging an ARTIFICIAL lake and super
vising the education of his own family. He
has FIVE daughters and two sons. Lord LIS
ambition leads him toward the diplomatic
service, and at the end of his period of
mourning he intends to go to Picking and
ask for a foreign mission. He has visited
the United States and Europe on official
missions and private traveller, but has
never occupied any diplomatic position.
Since he completed his education he has
been engaged almost continuously with his
distinguished father, and usually acted as
his confidential secretary and looked after
his private affairs.
Six or seven years after the adoption of
Ii Ching Fang, Lady La bore her husband
a son, the Marquis Ii Ching Shi, who was
educated in English, like his adopted
brother, had an American tutor, and spent
several years in travelling. He. too, was at
tached to his fathers official staff and was
made his chief heir under an arrangement
with Lord Ii, the adopted son. who yielded
Ching Shi always had delicate health. and
died a few weeks after the death of his
father. His son, now about ten years old,
inherited his title of marquis and his es-
tates and Is recognized as the head of the
Ii family. He is now at Lu Chan-fu. the
home of his father in An-hui province. on
the Yang-tse river, being educated by an
English tutor II he lives and amounts to
anything he will occupy important posi-
lions, having inherited the prestige, rank,
wealth and the name OF his distinguished
grandfather.
Able Man Disposed to Frivolity.
Ii Ching-M Mel, the third son of Ii Hung
Chang, Familiarity known Prince L."
about twenty-four years Of age, now lives
in Shanghai. He is an uncommonly bright
young man. and everyone who knows him
hopes that he will soon pull up and change
his ways and apply mis- talents to useful
purposes. He was educated by Mr.. Tenny,
an American missionary. at Tien-Tsin,
talks English as well as IL he had spent his
entire life in Chicago, and has mastered the
science Of foot ball. base ball, tennis, golf,
automobiles and other sports. You can see
him any day in his machine on the Bubbling
Well road and other bou,evards of Shang-
hal, and the police are always on the look
out for him because OF his fast and reck-
less driving.
1t is the unanimous opinion of those who
know him well that Ii Ching-Mei has In
herited the abilities of his father and Is ca
pable of great things IL he would only aban-
don his frivolities and live serious life. He
has already passed the most important ex-
aminations required OF candidates for Office
and ranks as metropolitan expectant Of
the first grade" This makes him eligible to
the highest Office in any province of China,
and he might easily pass the examinations
required for the most responsible and lu-
crative imperial appointments but he
seems to have no ambition, does not care
either for office or honors. He has a spa
Bubbling Well road. Shanghai, which is the
resort of all of the aristocratic sports of
tie native population. Prince Ii recently
appeared in public for the first time and
made an admirable address at the dedfca-
ton of a memorial temple erected by the
nobility Of Suchow in memory of his father.
his speech and manners are very highly
commended, and indicate what he might do
IL he would change his ways.
Memorials to Ii Hung Chang.
BY imperial command temples have been
erected to the memory OF Ii Hung Chang
at hanscnow, Soochow, Marking, WI
chang, Canton. Shanghai. Tien-Tsfn ana
Peking. where he at different times serv-
ed In an official capacity during his long
and eyentful life, and at Ho-fei. his native
town. They are supposed to be voluntary
tributes to his eminent ability and pub-
lie services and cost from $40, 600 to SEQ. 900 |
each. The mandarins and officials of high
er rank In these different provinces are |
supposed to have contributed the money |
voluntarily. but the amount of each SUBJ |
scription Is determined by the governor,
who collects the money and dlsburses It.
The temples are dedicated to Confucius, |
but each contains a large tablet inscribed |
with the name of Ii Hung Chang and an |
epitaph setting forth his virtues and pub |
lie services.
Earl Ii had the reputation OF being one /
of the richest, II not the richest man In |
the world, but his estate did not come ND |