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Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - MY father and mother,
Lord and Lady Yu Keng, and family, together with our suite
consisting of the First Secretary, Second Secretary, Naval and
Military Attaches, Chancellors, their families, servants, etc., -
altogether fifty-five people, - arrived in Shanghai on January 2,
1903, on the S.S. "Annam" from Paris, where for four years my
father had been Chinese Minister. Our arrival was anything but
pleasant, as the rain came down in torrents, and we had the
greatest difficulty getting our numerous retinue landed and safely
housed, not to mention the tons of baggage that had to be looked
after. We had found from previous experience that none of our
Legation people or servants could be depended upon to do anything
when travelling, in consequence of which the entire charge devolved
upon my mother, who was without doubt the genius of the party in
arranging matters and straightening out difficulties. When the
launch from the steamer arrived at the jetty off the French Bund,
we were met by the Shanghai Taotai (the highest official in the
city), the Shanghai Magistrate and numerous other officials, all
dressed in their official robes. The Taotai told my father that he
had prepared the Tien Ho Gung (Temple of the Queen of Heaven) for
us to reside in during our stay in Shanghai, but my father refused
the offer, saying that he had telegraphed from Hong Kong and made
all arrangements to go to the Hotel des Colonies in the French
Concession. We had had previous experience staying in this temple
while on our way to Japan, where my father went as Minister in
1895, and did not care to try it a second time. The building is
very old and very much out of repair. It was a beautiful place in
its prime, but had been allowed to go to rack and ruin. The custom
is that the magistrate has to find a place and supply the food,
etc., for high officials when passing through, and it is not
exactly the thing to refuse their kind offer, but my father was
always very independent and politely declined all proffers of
assistance.
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