Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-23

- not so much from necessity as to be
commensurate with the dignity of the COM
missioners. Tuan Fang is the head of the
mission, and happens to be the governor OF
two provinces. One of them has only 49,
0O0OO0 people In 1t, but the other has 34,-
100000, so in the aggregate he is the gov
ernor of a population pushing that of the
United States. The head of the mission is
short man even for Chinaman, and
wears an even more lengthy and pendulous
goatee than did Ii Hung Chang. 1t Is not
yet gray. and looks as though 1t might have
been built in sections Despite his short
ness of stature, he makes up for 1t in
girth, and Secretary Taft would not have
much the better of him in an argument at
the scales. Tai Hung Use is a gentleman
built on much the same lines, but he Is
merely addicted to a mustache, not being
a governor, though he and his chief both
wear the same headgear as Sir Lang
Cheng, the Chinese minister-an Opaque red
agate button and a black horsetail stream
er bound with white celluloid.
The Party in Waiting.
Sir Chentung Liang Cheng the Chinese
minister accompanied by the whole of the
legation staff, was at the station to meet
the party. They arrived about 10 O'Clock.
but finding that the train was then nearly
hour late, improved the opportunity to
take a frugal luncheon of about seven
courses in the station dining room. Only
the minister and six of the higher members
OF the staff sat down at the table. The re-
mainder waited around in order of seniority
from the door of the dining room to the
front pavement.
Meantime the State Department had not
been idle. Mr.. DENLY, the chief clerk who
was selected for the duty owing to his long
residence IN China and his intimate ac-
quaintance with Chinese customs was at
the platform to meet the party. Sir Lang
came out with his staff to meet him and
they stood for more than half an hour
waiting for the beated special Meantime
rumor of what was doing reached 41s street
and the whole of the local Chinese colony,
In every state OF dress, from cutaway
American coat and green sweater to a
blue denim laundry blouse, drifted into the
station or peered through the ratings from
the outside. There was a considerable force
of policemen to keep the platform clear
and the truckmen and porters stopped and
stared at the uncommon array of gorgeous
ness in the dingy old station.
When the special was finally signaled the
heads OF the waiting party lined up ready
10 board and pay their respects to the dis
tinguished visitors. There was a comb.na-
ton car In the lead and the reception was
held In the drawing room. Mr.. Dulaney
Hunter OF the State Department who had
gone over to Baltimore to meet the party,
introduced some OF the members who had
not met before. and then leaving the heads
of the mission to chat with The minister
and Mr.. DENLY. hurried out and marshaled
the fifteen carriages that were needed to
take the party to their hotel
General Exchange of Greetings.
Mr. DENLY and the two visiting commits
sioners shook hands, and there was gen
eral exchange of greetings among the other
members, though the army officers accom-
panying the party were the least demon
strative OF the lot and stood like gold-laced
caryatids in the corners of the saloon Sew
eral OF the younger members of the party
ooZed out of the various sections of the
train and projected themselves into the
party OF legation attaches shaking hands
with old friends and chattering volubly
One little man with an ascetic face and
long black gown almost like an anchorite
monk. but with flaming red frings to his
hat swOoDed down on the mass of lega-
tioners and fairly embraced several of them
Then the heads of the mission and Mr..
Yung KVgai their secretary interpreter
Were all helped off the train, and the gov
ernor, Tuan Fang. bowed gravely TO his re-
spectful fellow-couutrymen and shook hands
with himself.
II was gray, muggy morning. and the
station was about as cheerful as morgue
on a wet day, so the party did not linger,
but piled into the waiting carriages and
dashed OF to the hotel at a rate verging
closely on the speed limit. Sir LANG. Mr..
DENLY and the two commissioners occupied
the first carriage, and the others followed
In order OF their rank down to a grave
faced fat little man In sad-colored tunic,
who appeared to be about the third assist