Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-21
YU W0 AND Mr.. TAFT
Humble Chair Makers Contri-
button to Oriental Peace.
CONTRACT OF THE SEDAN
Done in Honor Of the American Wal
WI Pu
SAFETY OF THE SECRETARY
Official Documents in an Important
Case That Have Hitherto
Escaped Publicity.
CONTRACT OF THE SEDAN
SAFETY OF THE SECRETARY

In a recent speech at Philadelphia while
discussing the far eastern situation Sec
rotary Taft stated that the mind Of the
oriental is most easily and permanently
Influenced by impressions received through
the eyes. His long residence in the orient
and frequent visits to China and japan
should make his utterances authoritative,
and his reliability on this particular sub
ject is ,attested by no less a parsonage
than the American consul general at
Hongkong.
All the documents in the case have been
reverentiy collected and set forth in SOL
emn order and varacious sequence by the
New York Sun.
The interesting and fantastic text Of
the documents here published confirms
the Secretary's opinion in an impressive
and highly humorous manner.
Mr.. Tafts generous and winning smile.
his great weight and the ample proper
tons of his equatorial region have often
been subjects for Jokes and cartoons.
Even Secretary Root was moved to jest
when Mr.. Taft reported to Washington
his arrival on horseback at the Philippine
summer CAPITAL. 5000 feet above the sa
level. and the official reply contained the
query How is the horse?"
However. it remained for Consul Cen
eral Wilder of Hongkong to develop a de-
lightful situation in which Taft and a
Chinese chair builder appear in an en-
ttirelv new character sketch. Those who
know Mr.. Wilder will testify that elab-
crate official joking is not in his line, and
his record of efficient service in the State
Department reveals no trace of mirthful
mood or frivolity in the transaction of
consular business.
Documents in the Case.
The correspondence here published
needs no explanation. The story Is COM
plete. The Secretary's visit to Hongkong
was diplomatic and social success. No
accident marred the journey in the great
chair up the steep hillside Of Hongkong
to the British governors residence. The
fame of Yu Wo, the humble chair builder.
has become the proud boast of Hongkong,
and in all truth he has made good his
contract agreement Ito safeguard the
dignity of q friendly power and contrib
ute an honest chairmaker's part in pre-
serving the peace of the far east
Here is the contract solemnly drawn
and executed between Consul General
Wilder and Yu Wo, the chairbuilder Of
Wellington street:
Safeguarding National Honor.
HONGKONG. Oct. 7th. 1907.
I, the undersigned. Yu Wo Of 15B We'll
lington street. agree to make a sedan
chair for the American consul general in
the city of Hongkong. as the red haired
people foreigners) style 1t. or fragrant
streams in the vernacular This chair
is TO be used to carry the American giant
the Honorable William II. Taft. Said
Taft being one of the most conspicuous
ornaments of the American Wal WI Pu
Imperial cabinet), it would obviously dis
credit his nation if the chair should dis
integrate in Queens road or in front of
Government House. Such things have
happened. To avert international COM
plications of this sort, 1. Yu Wo, assert
my skill as chairmaker.
1t shall be reinforced at all weak points.
The crossbars over the shoulders of the
coolies shall be strengthened with metal.
The shafts shall be OF double diameter.
The body itself shall be of eventful width
and adhered to the shafts not merely by
the traditional bonds. but by ropes. Red
cloth shall adorn the seat of the chair
and cleaning brass look defiantly out on
the admiring bystanders to q point that,
unconsciously. folks amahs and dealers
In rice. frecrackers and jade shall say:
Certainly this nation Of the Open Door,
Kingdom. is a Great Power" Borne by
six coolies, the spectacle shall long finger
in the Oriental mind
The Consul General may have the use
Of this chair October nth and 18th. 1907,
after which the chair belongs to me, with
the explicit understanding that II ex-
President Cleveland. also reputed to be of
heroic size tours the world the Consul
General shall direct his steps to my shop.
My price is to be 5000 Five dollars.
but there is to be no charge against the
Consul for the making or use of the chair
II 1t breaks or humiliates while in the
use Of the said American giant.
With such precautions / do safeguard
the dignity Of q friendly Power and con-
tribute an honest chairmaker's part in
preserving the Peace OF the Far East.