Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-12

ommending that Pu Lun be sent as a Spe-
cial envoy to England, France, Germany,
Austria. Italy and the other European pow
ers to ask that second Berlin conference,
like that held after the war between Tur-
key and Russia, be called, with delegates
from all the European nations, to take
measures to restore peace between Russia
and Japan. and to preserve the integrity of
the Chinese empire. No imperial edict has
been issued on this subject, and hence 1t is
not known what action. If any, has been
taken.
The practice of sending princes abroad is
most important. and ought to be encour-
aged as much as possible by the diplomatic
corps in Picking. Until the Boxer troubles
no member of the imperial family had ever
been allowed to leave the capital except to
visit temples or tombs, but since that date
Pu Lun has visited the United States,
Prince Chun has been sent to Germany,
Prince Chen attended the coronation of
King Edward VII, and again last spring
went to Japan to attend the exposition at
Osaka and to study the educa tional system
and various other institutions of that coun-
try in which the Chinese are interested.
Another prince recently made a tour of the
ports of China, and went as far south as
Singapore where he remained for several
weeks. All of these princes will be i'm
portant factors in the government of China
during the next fifty years. They all
young men; they are all inclined to be pro-
gressve. and they cannot have too much
knowledge or experience in foreign coun-
tries They cannot help being benefited by
contact with men and things which will ex-
ercise broadening influence upon them.
Liable to Humiliation.
Furthermore, 1t is equally important that
an example of travel be furnished to other
princes and the families of high rank man.
darins. who have always been reluctant to
&C abroad. Nearly all the Chinese who
have visited foreign countries belong to the
oil Hum Nha wa
the first man of high rank and official posi-
ton to send his sons abroad, but now that
the princes have set the fashion, 1t Is be-
coming for mandarins' sons to visit Europe.
More of them would visit the United States
were it not for the infamous laws and
regulations which have been enacted by
our Congress and devised by the immigra-
ton bureau at Washington Already there
are in Washington sons of Chang Chin
Tung. viceroy of Human; Tuan Fang, vice
roy of Hupeh. and a grandson of Sun kia
Mai. the emperor's tutor. and the sons OF
other officials of high rank. But they could
not have entered our country without suf-
fering shameful indignitieS and humilia-
lions If they had not accompanied Sir
Chen-Tung, the minister at Washington,
as part of his suite.
No Chinese gentleman, whatever his rank
or wealth or purpose, can enter the port of
| San Francisco without suffering insult from
| the immigration officials there.
| Three young gentlemen, educated in a
| Christian college, came as far as 4OkO-
| hama with Prof. Beach of Yale University,
/ intending to make a thorough tour of the
United States. Their father, who Is a rich
man, gave them 1900 taels a year for
| three years to pay their expenses in a tour
around the world, and they engaged pas
| sage on the steamer fremont of the North
| ern Pacific Line, which is bringing us over.
| When they got as far as Yokohama they
| heard such stories about the treatment
| other Chinese travellers had received at San
| E'ran riS ha
gave up their steamship tickets and decid-
| ed to go to Europe instead.
| Grim Humor.
| While the disposition of the empress dow
ager seems to have been remarkably sof-
| tened since the Boxer troubles, occasionally
| We hear a story of the grim humor with
which she treats some of her officials. Il
Lien-Ying was attacked with fever not long
| dozen of the most eminent native physi-
his case and a consultation they furnished
the venerable despot a written certificate
that their patient was Suffering from only
a trifitng indisposition and was in no dan
| ger whatever. Her majesty returned hei
thanks for the gratifying assurances anC
instructed her secretary to require from
them a written guarantee that they woule
restore Ii to complete health. AS Ii is &
man of advanced age and Is beginning {,
show the ordinary infirmities of his years
the unfortunate physicians found them
selves in very bad box. and If he shouIC
die their lives would be forfeit.