Norwich bulletin., 1909-05-29

talk to him as he had to talk to me, so when the prince had exhausted his list of inquiries l addressed him on my own responsibility.
 Your excellency, my vice-consui and myself heartily congratulate you upon your safe arrival at Tien-tsin. and ourselves upon the honor and privilege of meeting you. We sincere ly hope that your voyage to Port Ar thur will be a pleasant one and that you will return to the imperial city well pleased with all that you have seen and heard"
 They all seemed to wonder what ir the world I was talking about, but when the interpreter had told them, their faces lighted up with surprise and pleasure. l afterwards learned that I was the only one of the callers who said anything except to an- swer the regular routine questions which inc prince had propounded.
 The prince asked my age the first thing, and with twinkle in his eye Ii Hung Chang told him before I had a chance to answer. The prince said that I being an American he hoped our government would protect his people in my country. I assured him that he could depend upon the pro- tection of our army and navy. It was about the time of the Wyoming mas sa cres, and I noticed u laughed at my answer. He seemed to think it was sarcastic
 The viceroy accompanied the prince to Port Arthur and remained with him during his visit Upon their return the prince proceeded immediately to Picking but shortly afterward the vice. roy gave a state dinner to which all the foreign officials were invited. During the course of the repast the viceroy took occasion to remark that while on the steamer the prince had said that of all the foreigners he had met none impressed him so favorably as the American consul. and that the little speech he had made at the re- ception gave him more encouragement than anything he had experienced since leaving Picking. My natural modesty received a shock at this an nouncement, but I hid my blushes be- hind a large glass of champagne and passed through the ordeal in safety. In all that company of mixed nation- alities and heterogeneous interests, there was not an envious thought har- bored, and 50 I found it throughout all my official life in the Orient. 1 seem ed somehow, unconsciously and with out effort, to have gained the good will and esteem of all with whom I asso- ciated. whether officially or otherwise.
 Upon being placed in possession of the consulate I was surprised, and not a little mortified to discover that the flagstaff was but a diminutiye stick and unworthy of supporting the flag of my country. But I was told that the orignial flagstaff had been blown down, and the present stick was all that was left of the wreck. It had been placed in a corner of the roof of the veranda as the best that could be done and it looked as if I would have to put up with it. But I happened to be down at Taku one day where came upon a spar of Oregon pine. l stepped it's length through the weeds and found it was about hundred feet long and straight as an arrow. I was not long in hunting up ifs owner who proved to be one of the Taku pilots. asked him about the spar. and he said he had taken it in part payment for a job of pilotage from the captain of shin that came to Taku from Oregon loaded with lumber and that I could have it rar one dollar foot. It meas ured one hundred and ten feet, and I closed the bargain telling him to come to me at the United States con- sulate at Tien-tsin for his money. then ordered it taken to the shipyard where I gave instructions to have it fitted with topmast wire rigging and crosstrees. It was then the twenty fifth day of June. and it must certain ly be finished and in place for the Fourth Of July.
 On the morning of July second I saw from my veranda a long process sion of Chinamen coming up the road towards the consulate. and I was won- deringtwhat 1t was all about. Lo, and behold. they were bearing on their shoulders my new flagstaff. The Taku pilot and the superintendent of the shipyard were with the procession. and M'th thcir assistance soon had 1t in place In about four hours time