The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-07-18
MINUTE CHATS
WITH GREAT MEN
Sir Chentung Lang cheng.

Sir Chentung Lang cheng.
Now, please don't let us discuss
automobiles" said Sir Chentung
t, Eang-C heng, the minister from China,
because my own experience with the
things has been so unhappy that II
can't talk reasonably ON the subject
at ALL"
''Why, what happened?"
'Tt skidded."
The laconic reply was all that SIR
Chentung would vouchsafe for several
minutes. till the memory of his auto
1 Esobile wrongs spurred him to a re-
cital of them.
! 1T happened out in California, about
month ago. j was going over to the
Slate University to make a talk to|
some Of my countrymen there, and the
| trip was about five miles in extent
Just exactly in the middle of the dis
tsnce, noticed in front OF me long,
| wet stretch Of muddy street, and with
out any warning, the machine headed
for the nearest lamppost. told the
! chauffeur to straighten his course, and
he Just stuck his nose further over
the wheel, and I decided he was in
! toxicated.
But, do you know, he was just as
sober as he could be. and he said the
automobile skidded At any rate. we
smashed into the sidewalk. and had
the whole right side of my head bruis-
ed and swollen, and had TO get out
and walk to the university"
Have you tried it SINGER"
"No, indeed. I never was very fond
of them. and now that their little Pc
: culiarity of 'sddding' nearly cost me
my right eye, I shall leave them strict
ly alone"
But about the injuries. Didn't you
have to be repaired before you spoke
to the university students?"
mot at all, because just went out
and told them why my face was I'm this
condition, and addressed them as best
I could. My face got bigger with
every word, though. and think I
didn't look very handsome when was
through.
''But you know my hobby is base
! ball, anyway. Every chance / get I
slip out to the National Baseball Park
I, and watch the plays, for you know l
used to be player myself. and / al.
ways know when they make errors.
did you play in American"
81 played myself right out of Am
herst College. was sent over here
!, by my government to learn American
ways, and VISA big, lively fellow, so
/ took up with your national game. 1t
! got back to my government that was
/ over there in America, doing nothing
but playing baseball and they decided
~ wasn't doing what 4 was sent for. /
i finally had to be educated at Phillips
Andover. in Massachusetts.
Couldn't you win over the govern.
ment to the cause of basebalr?"
u hardly think could. In the first
place, if we Chinese men wanted to
play, our clothes would be too much
| in the way Do you think / could
make home base in this costume?"
pointing to his hight skirt with smiling
derision.
well, you don't want to play, any
way, do vou?"
Indeed, there are times when L
should certainly like to play again,
but you see, 1T would not be at all
dignifled If played baseball now. It
would not sound very nice at home.
But 20 up to Amherst every sum-
mer. and we have splendid tennis
courts there, where we work just as
though 1t were baseball"
Are you good player?'
| "This is not diplomatic question,
though will make you a diplomatic
reply. have son who can beat me
playing, and he plays very we'll"
This with much smiling diplomacy
that one was forced to admire the
gift Of saying so little and telling sol
| much.
Il would like to go to my own coun-
try for my vacation, but 1t takes so
long to get there and back. Then,
| too. every time foreign minister re-
turns to Pekin 1t inaugurates a time
OF feasts and rejoicing; he must be
| presented at court and receive al the
courtesies due his rank; and II he
doesn't he is guilty of a grave Of
fenser
"A vacation in your own country
doesn't rest you much, then, does it?"|
mot very much. In Amherts 1t isl
all different There is Just a nice
little colony there. and We all know
each other, and do not need To be
formal. There is no water near there.
but, do you know" he said rather
wistfully, "there is so much water be-
tween me and my own country that II
do not 90 where ] must see 1t. OIL