Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-28
WAS A FAMOUS HOST
Chang, Once the Minister
From China. a.
Is WE'LL REMEMBERED
ENTERTAINED WITH GREAT HOS
PITALITY AT STEWART CASTLE.
Became Too Progressive for His Col
leagues at Home and Fell Victim
to the Foreigners Party.

Did you ever know what became Oh Min
lister Chang, who represented emma mere
during Cleveland's administration asked
a well-known resident of Star reporter
the other day. mo? Well. his career was
a very unusual one. You remember, Doubt
less, that he resided in Stewart Castle
fronting ON Dupont Circle, and his prodigal
hospitality 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 Modernize China.
"Chang was very able man, ana mace
many friends in this and other countries to
which he was accredited. He had very pro-
gressive ideas about the future China,
and when he was recalled he carried with
him a firm determination to put them In
force. He became one of the intimate ad-
visers of the emperor, and was one of that
little band of Chinese statesmen VINO en-
deavored to moderniDe China in the mneues,
and who were making very good progress
until the empress dowager assumed con-
troll and took all authority from the en-
peror and made only dummy of him In
order to do that she had to get r1d OF these
liberals who had held such influence over
him. This she did by condemnlng all OF
them to death. Chang was among the
number condemned to be beheaded Before
the sentence was executed an eHert was
made to save him. and it was successful.
at came about in this way:
Mr.. John w. Foster, who knows CHINA
and the Chinese better than any man IN
this country, and who was a personal
friend of Chang, decided to save ms me- II
possible He called on Secretary nay ana
placed the facts in the case before him,
and asked him to use his good offices In
Changes behalf and to ask the British gov
eminent to join in the good WORK. Mr. hay
readily agreed to do so, ana Doth the
American and British representatives at
Picking were at once directed to ask a COM
mutation of sentence as favor TO their
governments.
Changes Life Saved.
.'Their efforts were successful and
Changes life was saved, but he was ban
ished for life He wouldn't have asked
anything better than to live in one of the
western countries that he admired 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 SEN
fenced to hard labor for life He had to
make the trip in a crude oriental cart, ana
it took him long time to reach his desti-
nation. He was always fond of good liv-
ing, and succeeded in gaining permission to
take his cook, a good one, with him.
The present Chinese ambassador was at
that time Changes secretary, and he was
the way The governor of Mongolia, whose
duty it was to see that Changes sentence
was carried out, had at one time been
protege of ChangS, fortunately, and he saw
to it that Chang was not compelled to
Ia bor That much of his severe sentence
was not carried out. But there he was In
that distant province cut off from relatives
and friends, living the life of an, outcast.
Changes Execution
Then came the uprising of the Boxers, and
the conservative element gained absolute
control at Picking. Changes enemies used
their influence with the empress doWager
II secure the execution of Changs orisinal
sentence. secret messenger was dis
patched to Mongolia, and on his arrival
Chang was promptly beheaded. 1t was
very unfortunate for China, for Changs
advice would have been invaluable In Inc
unsettled affairs at Picking which followed.
Appeal From Chapg's Son.
Now. here's the sequel to the story: Not
a great while ago Mr. Foster received
pitiful letter from a young son of Chang,
telling him that his fathers property had
been confiscated and the family name had
been degraded. 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 assistance. 1t was
promptly given, and his efforts proved sue
cessful. Changes good name was restored.
and l think some, if not all, of his estate
was returned to his family. Curious coun-
try, that China, isn't it?'