The Chinese Minister, who is nothing if not progressive, recently gave a dinner followed by a fancy-dress ball at the Legation. It need hardly be said that his ciency did not attempt to disguise his personality. He wore his ordinary official dress and spent the greater part of the evening in an arm-chair, beaming on the guests through a pair of immense spectacles. His family entered int" the proceedings with the utmost zest. One of the Minister's sons appeared as Napoleon and carried his study of the character so fur as to give lifelike imitations of the Great Corsican's habit of taking snuff from his waistcoat pocket. Another member of the staff was " great success as Louis XV, his queue being skilfully stowed away under a pondered wig. One of his Excellency's daughters made a great impression as Prince Charming. There were about one hundred and fifty guests.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.