Sosislly hie was most engaging. on trary to the expectation of many, he took very kindly to English hospitality and Western methods of dining. Chop-sticks. those tantalising obstructions to gastrono mie enjoyment, were sbjured on such occa sions. He liked soup, fish, "ind champagne, but detested strong tea. His hostesses were often surprised at this, A chocolate-coloured brew was generally pro: duced, under the impro sion that tes, ing e Chinese product, must be provided if not in its native purity (it was generally 'Assam tea), at- all evente in fullest potency. But in China the tes is-a lemon-coloured Qeverage, in cups swith lids but without handles, and the leaves, not the twigs, floating' on the top.
Sir Chihchen was very proud of ins insignia of the Knight Commandership of the Victorian Order, He always wore it on grand occasions and loved to narrate how our late Queen had conferred on him the dignity. was when he repaired to Windsor with old Li Hung-chang and signed his name in the visitors' book si the Queen's request Li contented himself with inscribing his autograph in Chinese characters, but Lo Feng-lu went one atter then bir chief, and, like a tree cour jer, appended a distich from the Chinese Shakespeare," recording the fact that the Prophet of the East had come forth to-meet the Goddesa of the West! The double-edod compliment was thoroughly ints sliplomatic ways.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.