"Is Li Hung Chang at home?"
T put the question to a man who stood in the doorway of Lord Lonsdale's residence in Carlton House Terrace. It was a little after eight, o'clock on Saturday morning. I wanted to interview Li Hung-chang, and Thad heard that in order to do that I' must. be-up very early in the morning. So I had got 1p at-four o'clock, and had spent several hours in learning off by heart..a long and important list of questions I ished to ask the great man.
I was informed that Li*Hung-chang was at home, but that he was soon going out in yellow carriage to decorate the Gordon statue, and it would be impossible for me to see him.
"Oh, but I must see him I persisted, "I wrote to him yesterday, and told him I was coming. Why, I was up at four o'clock to be ready in time, and then I started off without my breakfast, fearing I shouldn't be here early enough "T'm-afraid you will not be able to see him this morning. You must try another "Very well," I answered. 'I'll come to-morrow morning at seven o'clock, and after that I'll come-an hour earlier each morning' until I get my interview."
Then I stood back on the steps, so that I should be able to see Li Hung-chang when he came out: Five minutes later I found myeelf.in the midst of a great commotion.
"He's sent for you!" exclaimed an thoughts and be ready to interview him English voice at my elbow. "Collect your Li Hong-chang that'an American lady sympathetic gentleman had reported reptosenting The Daily Courier had come to interview him without having had break-elderly gentleman for the compliment he fast and furthermore was. intending to paid my countrywoman, but at the same come every morning until she got the time I could not help wondering whether his interview, and the Chinese statesman had answer would have been thesame had I been given orders that she should be admitted. an English woman instead of an American. 'Whether it was my nationality, or my 'There was but one woman in that assem-breakfastless state, or my threatened raids plage. I was that woman, and I was an on Carlton House Terrace that proved an American! Ah, wily men of the' East, "open sesame" for me, 1 do not know. who shall say you are one whit behind I was conducted through the corridor your Western brethren in knowledge of towards an open door, inside of which the surest way to win the approval of I noticed a company of Celestials, who woman appeared to be watching for me with great After that stroke of diplomacy the states-interest. Then I was led into the room man proceeded to interview me further. past the lines of intellectual faces. At "Tam told," he said, that America is first I thought it was only an ante-room the land of old.maids. Is that true Shrough which I must pass; and that farther "Indeed, I have never heard that, your waiting for me,. with only an interpreter vould find Li Hung-chang privately Excellency," I answered.
"Yes, ton Li Hung-chang: " T at his side. But I was mistaken, for in have been told that many women there do the middle of the room I beheld the Grand not marry. They. work, and earn much Old Man of China, in his richly brocaded money for themselves! "They should not robes of yellow and: dark blue. He rose, do that, they should marry." smiled kindly upon me, shook hands, just "You believe all women should marry as an Englishman would do, and waved his
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.