Norwich bulletin., 1909-06-05

the consulates was one Of the most
interesting and satisfactory tours ever
made by foreign official In China
The colonel was very weal Mixed in Pc
king. He was the tallest OF any OF the
ministers. and a very fine looking man.
The closing scene OF his tour IN June,
1886, was q dinner at Ii Hung Changes
yamen in Tlen-tsin. by far the most
agreeable Chinese dinner I ever al
tended. The viceroy told me that dur
ing that journey OF the Seventh Prince
the latter often spoke OF me and OF
the liking he took to me, which was
certainly very gratifying. II pleased
me that the vioeroy should repeat
these things to me. The viceroy, by
the way, was much interested in my
account OF a circus ] had attended in
Shanghai. No child ever listened 70 a
fairy tale with so lively an interest
as did Ii Hung Chang. the greatest
man in China, TO my description Of the
circus. 1t seemed TO him almost On
credible that the horses. elephants. IL
gers end Hons could be taught TO do
what I told him had seen them do.
He expressed a strong desire TO see
the circus himself. Later on, by the
way. the viceroY had his desire grant
ed, for the circus troupe came north
and a private performance was given
for LIS pleasure and that Of some Of
In6 lInIltIlad ldIIitiNs IN TINS CUuIs6 VI
the dinner the .viceroy called out from
the other end Of tho table and asked
me whether was a democrat or re-
publican. answered that l was
United States consul, and left my poll
ties at home when I came to China
The vioeroy smiled at this answer,
which seemed to please him.
William NJ. Pethick. my vice consul.
and for a long time connected with
the TTnffaH Sfnfda .rnnCTflafqs IN
terpreter, and of whom ex-Gov. Low
had spoken to me in very high terms
-as a good man to know gave me a
most cordial welcome at Tien-tsin. and
showed me many kindnesses during
my stay there. Mr.. Pethick was born
in New York and was IN the union
army during the civil war. He went
to China in the late sixties and was
for eight years an English tutor In
the vioeroy's family. consequently. he
was on term of intimacy with Ii Hung
Chang such as but few enjoyed. His
influence was sought after bv all the
syndicates, but he always gave II to
the Americans. He had 10 fondness
for. society but I found him a charm
ing companion and a good friend
Mr.. Fethicks part Of the compound at
the consulate was always a beautiful
spot In summer. He had exquisite
flowers in pots and on state occasions
would make the whole consulate a
bower OF beauty with the tropical
blooms. Mr.. Pethick had quite an ad-
venture on the occasion of one OF his
visits TO Picking during my term OF
office. He had been outside tho city
to a Chinese bookstore two or three
miles from the gates, where. having
found an interesting Chinese book. he
had remained reading until I'VE
O'Clock, when he started 10 return IN
his Chinese cart. At about a quarter
of a mile from the city some one
shouted that the gates were closed.
and sure enough, when he arrived they
were shut so tight that nothing short
Of dynamite could open them. lie had
TO make the best Of II, but il was long
after dark before ne could find any
place to stay. and then only a miser-
able Chinese inn where the horrible
smells were only equaled by the deaf
ening noises. 1t seems that during the
absence OF the emperor at the Tombs
the gates are closed earlier than usual
to prevent any usurper from entering
and occupying the vacant throne. and
for the same reason a Gordon OF sol
diers is encamped outside the walls OF
the Forbidden City.
An early Californian I happened on
in China was Captain Wells, captain
of a steamer running between ITEM
tsin and Shanghai. He was a mem
Der of the California Commandery and
we found many subjects to talk about