New-York tribune., 1909-12-30
WI TING-fANG SAILS
VII Return IN Fifty Years,
Says Retiring Minister.

The Chinese government did not interfere
with his -'own little plan of itinerary" so
DR.. WI Ting-fang. the retired Chinese Min
ister TO Washington. sailed for his own
country yesterday on the Lusitania. He
was recalled some months ago. while in
Peru. and when he started northward from
Colon. the Royal Mail Steam Packets
steamship Oruba. the diplomat sketched out
what he called INV own little plan Of re-
turn
When the Oruba came uD the Bay from
Quarantine DR.. WI talked TO the reporters
on dozen subjects. and when asked which
route he would take on his return 70 the
Orient he said:
I'm not talking much on that Just now.
because / cannot tell what they are think
ing about over in China Once before I
arranged to go home by way of Europe and
Suez. but an order came commanding me
to come home quickly via San Francisco
and the Pacific You see. I am a student:
consequently traveller The more know
the more / want to know. and the more /
want to know the more 1 want 10 travel.
l have been in some of the countries in Eu-
rope, but there are others / have not seen.
i am delighted with Spain, and would like
70 visit there again But Germany Austria.
Italy and Russia are new fields TO me- and
/ want to spend some time in these places
on my way home. This is my own little
plan. but I am a public servant 1 receive
orders and obey them II a royal edict
comes designating San Francisco and the
Pacific. shall have TO obey"
DR.. WI was pleased Yesterday when this
subject was recalled 20 him. and expressed
satisfaction that the governS-1t had let
him have his way. Althoug( he had sew
eral servants and secretary attending to
his baggage. DR.. WI would not go aboard
the steamer until he was satisfied that
every piece had been taken from the pier
Then he dropped into an armchair and an
nounced that he was ready to be inter
viewed
OF course. he would be back here again.
fifty years hence. The aged diplomat said
so with such seriousness that those about
him were puzzled.
Il shall return TO New York in 1889 but
it is hard to say If I shall have the pleas
ure OF meeting the same people 7 know
here now. I hope find you all here when
I come back. but I fear I won't" Tapping
his finger tips the arms of the chair. he
continued. with just suggestion of a
smile, The fault will be yours if you are
not here when I come again in 1889 You
know how is the secret of longevity Your
mode of living in every particular Is char
acterized by haste. If you would have a
long and contented life observe three things
always-pure air, pure food and pure
thought Without these YOU cannot live
the long life YOU all hope for Change your
mode of life, and do not live in fast pur-
suit of the almighty dollar. Money is
necessary, but there is d limit in worship
ping it,
DIR. WI was not asked how old ne was.
but seemed amused when asked how old
he would be in 1879 II must take unto
myself the privilege of the American
lady and decline to give my correct age" :"
he said by subtraction you could find it
out were I to answer your question
will say that my age to-day will not inter-
fere with my return fifty years hence"
The retiring minister was accompanied
by his wife and daughter-in-iaw and the
latter's young son