The San Francisco call., 1904-03-13
FAMOUS HOST
WAS CHANG
The Once Popular Minister
From China to United
States Is Well Remembered
LIVED AT STEWART CASTLE
Became Too Progressive for
His Colleagues at Home
and Finally Fell Victim

and Finally Fell a Victim
Did you ever know what became of
Minister Chang, who represented China
here during Cleveland's administra-
tion?" asked a we'll known resident of
Star reporter the other day. mo?
Well, his career was a very unusual
one. You remember, doubtless, that he
resided in Stewart Castle, fronting on
Dupont Circle, and his prodigal hospi-
tality broke the record. He gave en-
tertainments on the most lavish scale,
and invited hundreds of people, some of
whom fairly wallowed in champagne.
Tried to Modern1ze China.
Chang was a very able man, and
made many friends in this and other
countries to which he was accredited.
He had very progressive ideas about
the future China, and when he was re-
called he carried with him a firm de-
termination to put them in force. He
became one Of the intimate advisers of
the Emperor, and was one of that little
band of Chinese statesmen who en-
deavored to modernize China in the
good progress until the Empress Dow
ager assumed control and took all
authority from the Emperor and made
only dummy of him. In order to do
that she had to get rid Of these liberals.
who had held such influence over him.
This she did by condemning all of them
to death. Chang was among the num-
Der condemned to be beheaded. Before
the sentence was executed an effort was
made to save him and 1t was success
full.
1T came about in this way:
Mr.. John w. Foster, who knows
China and the Chinese better than any
other man in this country, and who was
personal friend of Chang, decided to
save his life, If possible. He called on
Secretary Hay and placed the facts in
the case before him, and asked him to
use his good offices in Chang's behalf
and to ask the British Government to
join in the good work. Mr.. Hay readily
agreed to do so, and both the American
and British representatives at Peking
were at once directed to ask a COM
mutation of sentence as a favor to their
governments
Life Saved Once.
Their efforts were successful and
Chang's life was saved, but he was
banished for life He wouldn't have
asked anything better than to live in
one of the western countries that he ad-
mired so much. but that, of course, was
not allowed. He was sent two or three
thousand miles into the province Of
Mongolia, and he was sentenced to
\ l.
trip in a crude Oriental cart, and it
took him a long time to reach his des-
tination. He was always fond of good
living, and succeeded in gaining per-
mission to take his cook, a good one,
with him.
"The present Chinese ambassador
was at that time Chang's secretary, and
he was allowed to accompany his mas
ter part of the way. The Governor Of
Mongolia, whose duty 1t was to see
that Chang's sentence was carried out,
had at one time NaAu a protege Of
Chang, fortunately, and he saw to it
that Chang was not compelled to labor.
That much of his severe sentence was
not carried out. But there he was in
that distant province cut off from rela-
tives and friends, living the life of an
outcast.
Final Execution.
"Then came the uprising of the Box
ers, and the conservative element
gained absolute control at Peking.
Chang's enemies used their influence
with the Empress Dowager to secure
the execution of Chang's original sem
tence. A secret messenger was dis
patched to Mongolia, and on his ar
rival Chang was promptly beheaded.
1t was very unfortunate for China, for
Chang's advice would have been inval-
liable in the unsettled affairs at Peking
which followed.
Now, here's the sequel to the story:
Not a great while ago Mr.. Foster re-
ceived a pitiful letter from a young
son of Chang, telling him that his
fathers property had been confiscated
and the family name had been de-
graded. He begged Mr.. Foster to use
his influence to have his fathers good
name restored, so that his descendants
would not be disgraced forever. Mr.
Foster was touched by the appeal. He
promptly called upon Secretary Hay,
told him the story and asked his as
sistance. 1t was promptly given, and
his efforts proved successful. Chang's
good name was restored, and I think
some, If not all, of his estate was re-
turned to his family. Curious country,
that China, isn't it?"-Washington
Star.