The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-02-03
KUNG PAO. THE ]. p.
MORGAN OF CHINA

Frank g. Carpenter, in Washington Star.
shanghai.-I ia just returned from an
interview with one Of the richest M
aolest men OF all Asia. l refer to Sheng
lAung Pao, the Pierpont Morgan OF China;
anu l might Say, the Rockefeller as we'll.
snehs is worth his tens Of millions. Like
ilerpont Morgan he started life rich; and,
IKE him, he has multiplied HE inherited
fortune MANIFOLD. All his life he has been
the organizer Of great enterprises. and to-
oaS his financial fingers are mixed up in
every profitable undertaking on this side
the globe. He owns railroads. factories,
mines and steamships. He has a steel
plant 600 miles up the Yangtze KiAng,
which Is capitalized at Sl6.O00,O 600. and has
mountains of iron n great beds OF coal
not far away. 1t was Sheng who had
much to do Will organizing the telegraph
TOT China. 1t was he who built the rail-
road from Hankow to Picking, and he got
the concession for the Americans to con-
struct a road from Canton to Hankow.
Sheng kung Pao is one OF the leading
officials OF this empire. He succeeded Ii
Hung Chang as the government minister
OF commerce., and he is now The vice
minister of the imperial board of COM
munications. He is also a chief owner OF
the China Merchants Steamship COM
panN, and Is largely interested in the
Chinese Imperial bank. lie is by ali
odds the best financial authority among
the Celestials, and his ideas as to the
present conditions are Of great :alue.
600
1t was at Sheng Kung Pao's home tina
I met him. This is in a section of Shang-
hal where the land is SO valuable hat one
has to almost plate it with silver to buy
1t. Sheng's establishment consists OF a
half dozen great buildings, any one Of
which would be a mansion in Washing
ton or Chicago. Its grounds cover more
than 10 acres and are surrounded by
walls so high that you mo see over
them. Wide driv lead through the lawns,
and the whole is kept like a park. One
Of the buildings, devoted to Sheng's busi-
ness offices. is as large as that OF a gov
eminent department. Among the others
are residences occupied by Sheng and his
Wife, and his relatives and servants. All
are beautifully furnished, and some have
a great framework in front of them, over
which mating can be stretched IN summer
and shut out the sun. There is no sign
of poverty, which we associate with the
ordinary Celestial. Sheng belongs to the
rich, and, like his class, he wears satins
and Nelvets and entertains in great style.
His butler always has champagne on
tap, and among the dishes served at his
feasts are pigeon-egg stews, shark fins
and b.rds'-nest soup, the latter costing
several dollars a plate.
1t was in the finest of his buildings that
his excellency received me. 1t is a com-
bination OF Chinese and foreign architec-
ture, built of gray brick. three stories high
and of vast extent. Passing through a
wide hall 1 came into a court, over which,
on a framework, OF poles, mating was
stretched. This was surrounded by rooms.
most OF which are intended for receptions.
The servants led us into a large parlor,
furnished in Chinese style. Heavy chairs
Of black wood, inlaid With mother Of
pearl and wonderfully carved, stood
against the walls. There was a divan al
the back. and in the center of this a low
table, upon which two guests could rest
Their elbows, as they sat there and chat
ted. There were Chinese painting on the
walls, and here and there shone out a
classics. In the center OF the room was
q table. This was Of carved teakwood.
1t had no cover, but, with a view 10 my
reception. 1t was set with refreshments
OF various kinds. There we're cakes, fruits
and candies, and other dainties were
brought in during the audience.
was able to meet Sheng Kun9 Pao by
si SS NUN LIZ. JO!lIl ~. f6rEu-
son, an American who is high in the
confidence Of the leading Chinese officials.
He was for a long time, and is now, one
of the confidential foreign advisers of
Sheng, and he has been associated in a
similar capacity with the v:ceroys of
Marking and Wuchang. lie accompanied
me to the palace and performed the cere-
mony OF Introduction, after which he
LEFT me with Shens and the interpreter.
We had but a short time 10 wait. lis
exeellencN came in through a side door
and as DR.. Ferguson presented me he
reached out his hand and shook mine iii
American fashion. He used the right
hand, giving me a strong grip with his
long yellow fingers. AS he did so he
looked me straight in the face, and his
bright black eyes seemed to be searching
my soul. Indeed his eyes We're so keen
that the remainder of his personality was
thrown into the background, and it was
some time before / took III the details,
Then l observed that the eyes belonged
to an old Chinese, of medium heigh,
and stopping shoulders. They shone
out or a sallow complexion, over high
cheekbones, and from a rather thin face,
His excellency was dressed in a long
owr or blue silk. He had a black silk
hat on his head. the rim of which was
turned up all around. and out of the
back Of which extended a broad waving
feather. He wore a white turn.ove,
collar and his coat had buttons of gold
me great hnancier smiled as he greeted
me. He led me across the room ana mo.
toned me to sit down at the table. giving
me a chair at his left. which is the seat
of honor IN China. AS we sat there, GU,
elbows almost touching, he rested his left
hand on the table. and, as he became In.
rl11