OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13543, 16 March 1906, Page 8

OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

(Fbou Our Own Correspondent.) NEW YORK, February 10.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Plans have been prepared for the erection in New York of a. 20-storey office structure to occupy the entire south side of Cortland street, from Broadway to Church street, with the exception of one corner budding. Four biddings will be demolished for the purpose of erecting this mammoth structure. The building will be 25 stories high at its lowest point, and will rise to a height, of 30 stories over a largo area.in the centre of the structure. Paul Laurence Dunbar, the negro poet." and author, whose charming poems have appeared in many of the best magazines, died at Dayton, Ohio, on February 9. He was born at Dunbar, Ohio, in 1372, and was educated in the public schools at Dayton. By private study he overcame the natural disadvantages under which the average negro labours and made up for the loss of a college education. On finishing his studies he made a living for his mother bv writing for the local papers and for the eastern magazines. His first book ".The Oak and Ivy," was published in 1893. llio first edition of his second hook, Alajois and Minors," was nearly exhausted when their sale was give'n an impetus by a review written bv William Dean Howells. J n this review'the Dean ot American literature spoke of Mr Dunbar as "the first black man to feel the Mo of the negro esthotically and to express it lyrically. From that time Mr Dunbar 189°/° lW ° B 3 y ° al ' up t0 18S9 ' cxeept

The. recent death of Brigadier-general Joseph Wheeler. United States Army (retired), removes a. man who had a union* anil unusual career interwoven into the vital history of his nation. General Wheeler was known as ".righting Joe," and was a. man of great military ability and attainments. l|,o remarkable fact about his career was that, although he fought against the Union and attained a brilliant record in the Confederate army during- the Civil war 1,0 occupied at the time of his death I an honoured position as a'retired general . m ho TJmon army, having been in charge at the- time of his recent retirement, of the , Department of the Lakes. Geim-al Wheeler j came of Lnglish parentage.. He was born lenn. He then _ served in Kansas and JNcw Mexico in scouting oamnai-ms JjJ..«t the Indians. At the" ti»Civil war he resumed his commiLn with the Government and entered the Confederate »„.,„. He oommissionpd eolonel of the Ninotronth Alabama In fwtry, and became attached to tho armv of Mississippi H 0 was „ short Uli man, of great activity M d he distinguished 0 f&hiloh ho had two horses shot under him, and so conducted himself in Iho last charge made and in the capture of General 1 rentes division that he won therein his itlc lining Joe." After the war l.eneral Wheeler practised law in Alabama , and wns wilt. t o< Congress. Ho was serving in tho House ot Representatives when tho Spanish war broke out. It is said of hi m that when he weso to speak in the House he invariably began: "I arise for a. moment, .Hist to f.ay ono word." This always brought forth a laugh from his colleagues. In I 1898 General Wheeler offered his sen-ices !to President M'Kinley. and was ma do -Major-general of Volunteers. Although this appointment, of an old confederate veteran .was crilicised by unthinking persons it. is believed that it had the effect of breaking , down much of the prejudice between the worth and the South and of cementing the two sections of the country in a common cause. Despite his 62 vears i..eneral Wheeler distinguished himself in CJtiba. General Shaffer said of him: "To Major-genera' AVheeler. of the cavalry division, was probably given the most difficult task—that of crossing a. stream under fire and deploying under the enemy's rifle pita These ho immediately charged and carried in the most gallant manner, driving the enemy from his strong position to tho shelter of stronger works in the rear." After returning from Cuba General Wheeler asked to be sent lo tho Philippines, and (hero participated in II? engagements. Tho President scon thereafter appointed him Brigadier-general in the regular army. Although General Wheeler was a modest mail and seldom talked of his achievements, it . is known that his services in the late war I and tho recognition it brought, including j reinstatement in the Federal army, were | matters of the greatest gratification to ■him.

The Imperial Chinese Commission, which is now visiting the United States as part of a tour undertaken for the wurpose of studying constitutions and institutions of representative American and European Governments, has before it a most important mission when it is known that its investigations may lead to a constitutional Government for China. Tuan Fans, who, at the time of the Boxer rebellion, disregarded the Imperial edict to kill all foreigners in his province, and who is now governor of oyer 30.000.000 psonle, heads the commission. This commission will proceed to Germany, Belgium, Russia, and Italy. Another commission, under Prince TsaiChen, will go to England. France, Holland, and Switzerland. The importance of the commission has been recognised by the Government, and its officers at San FranChicago, and Now York were ordered to give the members of the commission every facility for conducting their investigations. Professor Jeremiah AV. Jenks. of Cornell University, was sent by President Roosevelt to meet them and to conduct them to Washington. At Chicago the commissioners wore tendered a fitting reception, and they and the 20 or more Chinese officials and educators who accompanied them (many of whom are products of American and European universities), were given every opportunity to inspect Chicago institutions. Similar courtesies were extended in New York. In the course of the varied programme followed in New York, the commissioners entertained at dinner 41 Chinese studemts—

young men studying in this country who will some day return to their native land to do the lion's share in evolving a modern iwtica The young men arc receiving their educations at various easterrF 1 universities and colleges, and they came to New York to nay their respects to the commissioners and to invito them to visit, the schools where they are receiving their educations. The visit came as a surprise to the commissioners, who, realising that they could not accept all the invitations, invited their young countrymen to a reunion and a dinnev. Only the High Commissioners and members, of their retinue attended in

native attire. The 01iiiie.se students appeared in Western attire, and many of them wore evening clothes. His Excellency Tai Hung-Chi made a speech, in which lie said: " I believe that lam looking at the present time upon some of the future emnire builders in Asia." This was preetcd with _ great ap'plause. He admonished them tc display zeal and thoroughness in their studies, as _ their _ native land would have need of their services. He also urged them to strive In; uprightness of life and character and dignity of deportment; to give American people a favourable impression of what a Chinese gentleman is like. "You can do more," he said, "than you imagine to bring about closer relation's and a. better understanding between vour native lamd and this great, country. China is looking for you to fulfil an important mission." Milton B. Marks.