SIR CHICHEN LOFENGLUH

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6901, 15 September 1900, Page 1

SIR CHICHEN LOFENGLUH

The Chinese Ambassador 1 to the Court of St. James. (Tit Bits.) It is no exaggeration to say that no foreign Minister in London to-day is so busy in official work as his Excellency Sir Ohichen Lofengluh, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of H.I.M/the Emperor of China. This statement, however, must not be taken to mean that a foreign Minister is not as a rule a busy man. Indeed, few men work harder and have euch grave responsibilities as a foreign Minister, and the Chinese Minister is no exception to this rule. True to his country, Sir Chichen wears the national costume ; otherwise there is nothing in his appearance to denote his Oriental birth, save, perhaps, his complexion, peculiar to the races of the Far East, and his keen black eyes. In his Chinese dregs has Excellency makes an imposing figure. He is of medium height, well built, and his face, save when he smiles, is as impassive as a diplomat could desire. Pew Ministers representing their country in other lands can boast of such a distinguished career as the subject of our sketch. In 1881 he served as First Secretary for Foreign Affairs under Viceroy Li Hung Chang ; in 1885 he was appointed First Secretary to the Peace Mission to Shimouseki; in 1896 he was appointed First Secretary to Li Hung Chang's special Embassy j to Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the United States of America, and Great Britain. In November of the same year, 1896, he was appointed by the Emperor of China as his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to* the J Court of Sb James* or, in other words, China's representative in this country. Before he left Pekin to fill this high position, which he has now occupied with distinction for nearly four years, has Majesty THE EMPEROR RECEIVED HIM THREE TIMES. Sir Chicken was born in Foochow. His father was a retired military officer, and, seeing that his son had a Btrong inclination for philology and mathematics, he sent him to the Naval School at Pagoda Anchorage. Lofengluh was then in his seventeenth year, and had finished his studies of Chinese literature. . In -the Naval School lie greatly distinguished himself, especially in the studies of nautical astronomy and the European languages. Indeed, he was always first in his examinations, and his scholastic abilities were often the source of praiseworthy comments from his tutors. From here he went to Europe to complete his western education, and s for a year was a student at King's College, in the Strand. At King's College he studied and attended lectures^ on political economy, chemistry and natural philosophy under Professor Bloxam. He then attached himself to Kuo Suntatao's Mission in England. In 1879 he was transferred to the Chinese Legation in Berlin, which may be said to be the beginning of his diplomatic career. Undoubtedly, the Chinese Minister is one of the most enlightened men of the day. This is the impression a "Tit-Bits" man received after .paying a visit to the Chinese Legation in Portland Place recently. The idea, that Chinese people are averse to the foreigner is dispelled after a conversation with their Minister. But there is ©tie thing which his Excellency will not do. He will not talk politics with anyone. Apart form that, however, the Chinese Minister is an interesting man, with a still more interesting story to tell. Last December, when, he made a tour through the manufacturing districts of this country Sir Chichen repeatedly expressed his high opinion of the British .nation. On more than one occasion he made many flatHering remarks about the wonders of the Press. Indeed, he looks upon the Press as a great instrument by which the nations are enabled to exchange ideas, and upon the great industries of the world as the connecting link in THE BROTHERHOOD OP MANKIND. In this tour he visited nearly every manufacturing town in England. Everywhere he was well received. When he went to Coventry, he was accompanied by ihis two sons, a secretary and three other members of the Legation. They went round the town attended by the Mayor and other dignitaries dn fifteen motor-cars. In Liverpool he asked a great crowd of business men in the Liverpool Exchange News-roomi to ffcin with him in giving three hearty cheers for the Queen. His object jn undertaking this tour of inspeotion of our large manufactories was not merely to gratify his own d>esire for'Westem knowledge, but rather to stimulate and encourage a development* of Western arts in his native country. The numerous questions he a,-;kei when vs'ting foundries, works and factories proved the Chinese Minister to be not only very thorough in his methods, but also showed that he had a wonderful knowledge of our country and its industries. It is 'his intention to write a book as a result of this tour, which will be jrablisniad in English and Chinese. That it will be the means of stimulating trade with that Oriental nation there is not the slightest doubt, when we remember the (author and the pains he has taken in gathering the material for his work. Before his appointment to the Court of St James Sir Chichen took a two yeai .' tour round the world. On this tour he "was received by the Queen, the late President Faure, the Emperor William 11., the Queen Regent of Holland, the King of the Belgians, the Czar of Russia, and President Cleveland. Shortly after his return, from this trip his Excellency ca-me to this country to fill the important post as representative Minister to the Emperor of China.. He brought his wife with (him and his four children. They took up their quarters at the Legation in Portland Place, and the tact and foresight which his Excellency displayed in all diplomatic questions won for him the respect and esteem not only of our own Government, bub of all who came in contact with him. He had, not been a resident of ■ this country long before he remarked to a visitor : " I want to make many Mends here, and I mean to do all that I can to bring this about." his excellency's recent marriage to a notable beauty from the Flowery Land caused quite a sensation. This is the Min-

ister's second wife. Hte first, the lato Lady Lo, died after a long and paiirful illness in February of last year. Her body was embalmed and taken buck to Chihfl, where iti was buried. Unfortunately, his Excellency; was unable to accompany' tin body, much to his sorrow, as he had then instruction* to go to Italy on a special mission, and it) wa« .impossible to delegate his diplomatic) duties to another. Her children and relatives followed their mother's coffin to their" native country, where it was duly burled according to Chinese custom. The Chinese Minister has four children* two eons and two daughters. Hie sons are being educated in this country. He say* he intends to make one a lawyer and the other an engineer. At present they are being educated just like English boys, indulging in the games and amtttement* which! English boys delight in, such as cricket, football, etc. His two little girls are being educated in China. This, it seems, wad their mother's wish. When at sch'col the bovfl dress just th« same as English boy«. At home and during holidays tlhey always wear the Chinese costume. When thoir parents first decided to send them to school at Norwood a pe J cutler difficulty arose. What could they do with their pigtails? Like all Chinamen, they were naturally loth to pnrt with them* but to bo dressed in English style with ft pigtail hanging down their backs was oub of the question. At last, however, a neat) little wig was resorted to, which completely hides the saored pigtail, and also prevents 1 their fellow-schoolboys from playing pranlci With them. Like most men, the Ohim«e Minister delights in some form of recreation. Has favourite hobby is undoubtedly that of walk J ing through a picture gallery and adtnirinrf its pictures. Even at play he is as thorougu as Ihe is when «t his desk. Before visiting a gallery he makes a careful Btudy of the catalogue beforehand, *o that he fcnoweJ what pictures to expect, and looks out for those which he thinks will interest hint most. "At the National Gallery/ he told the writer, "I have often been amused at the utter ignorance of the people I have found there. They know nothing of the pic* tures, less of the artists Who painted them< and the remarks they make are often- decidedly stupid." Indeed, Sir Chichen could pass as an art critic of no mean ability. He 1 is of the opinion that our great paifttert snake * AN ERROR IN T7BING ONLY ONE " itODßli. 0 His Exoollency is very fond of readings He will frankly admit that he nas gone into the bod habit of reading the newspapers in bed. His Excellency has a wonderful kttow^ ledge of English literature. lii lite travel* he makes a practice of pleasantly parsing the time by assiduous reading. He read the whole of Emerson's works when travelling between Vancouver and Yakobfcffi*. OB the journey between Yokohama #n$ Shanghai he devoured Hofones's work*. He is a great adanirer of Darwin and Herbert Spen, cer. He has translated into Chinese and published the work, " Jean's Problems ori Nautical Astronomy," while he has alsa written pamphlets on the "Intermediate Equations in Algebra." He has also Writ*' ten scores of biographies of the greaj. ftnetf of Europe for the perusal of the 'Chines* Emperor. Sir Chichen considers our sociail functions very pleasant, but very -fatiguing. He delights, however, in the theatre j *nd *d the opera, because he is fond of flftfasio. He often takes his two sons to see a 6haks» perean play, as he believes that this formi of entertainment is education and helpful W them. Before going lo the theatre, how^ •ever, their tutor is told to see that ..they, read up the particular play, so thet they may better follow the acting and also arp' predate the fine passages to. be "found in tins works of the great poet. • It is interesting to note that Sir Chic-hen has a very high regard for her Majesty the" Queen. " She is a very fine . woman, he* equal could never be found," were his worda to the writer during an interesting convert sation recently at the Legation. He ad» mires the woman of domestic tendencies, for he oonsiders that a -woman's sphere id home. Not long after he had taken up hii resi» dence in this country as China's representative the"* Queen conferred on him the ordet of Knight Commander of the Royal VictoTian Order.