Ogden Daily Standard | 1902-05-24 | Page 12 | Humorous Stories of Li Hung Chang Section

HUMOROUS STORIES OF LI HUNG CHANG numerous are the good stories told 0 the late LI chang that most wily pt heathen chinese whom a few years ago we received as an honored guest during that same tour LI hung chang went to paris where he was feted and petted in truly french fashion in the course ot his visit he went to the credit lyonnais Lyon nals where he was vastly interested in its halls stairs and safes and the room where the bonds 0 the last city of paris loan are stored bonds of 1000 and francs were shown to him which he took in his hands examined carefully exclaiming as he did so jolt jolt finally he thrust the bonds into his pocket saying souvenir de paris afterward the governor of the credit lyonnais Lyon nals took a list of the bonds 10 the minister of foreign affairs and asked what ho should do it was decided that 0 bonds ysa ys into pocket asked to restore the bonds and therefore the foreign domce refunded the amount and the guest kept his souvenir de paris of italy LI hung chang had so poor an opinion that he did not consider it worthy a visit when the marquis salvage who became so well known during the siege of the legations in peking had his first interview with LI hung chang the latter was anything but courteous and wept so tar as to say 1 I congratulate you that your country could afford to bend you here wo are richer than you think re plied the marquis and could lend china money 1 I dont believe that said LI hune chang why see you and your compatriots all dress in wool whereas we ahlness wont look at anything but silk we must be richer that Is where you err retorted the italian minister we consider silk vulgar and discarded it for our clothes over a century ago now it Is only employed for linings exhibiting his overcoat with its satin lining you see china is fully a hundred years behind italy for ones we may believe that the great LI felt small at any rate it was tha last time that the marquis had cause to complain of disrespect on he part of the celestial