DIPLOMATIC RECEPTION
An Evening at the Chinese Legation

There was a party last night on Rue de Babylone. The Chinese Legation Hotel was brilliantly lit to welcome the Parisian diplomatic corps and the political and social figures invited to spend a memorable evening in the territory of the celestial republic.
Mr. Tcheng-Loh, the Chinese Minister, welcomed his guests with a smile, his coat adorned with the large yellow and orange ribbon and enhanced with sparkling plaques beneath a generously furnished skewer. At his side, Mrs. Tcheng-Loh wore a sumptuous national costume embroidered in porcelain blue. Behind them, their children, and they have charming ones!, were dressed in rich silks in the style of the country watered by the blue river, to the great delight of our delighted eyes.
One could have thought oneself far from Paris! And yet, all of Paris was there. Here is Mr. Painlevé, occupied by Mr. Sie-Ton-Fa, the amiable head of the press office, who intends to initiate him into the mysteries of Chinese politics. Mr. Bergery introduces friends to General Nollet. Mr. Groussier parades a haughty beard from petit four to petit four while Ms. Boni de Castellane talks tirelessly about America, and Ms. Chescar Grain simpers, surrounded by a court where one notices the delightful daughter of the Minister of Peru.
We are definitely still in Paris, despite the exotic scent of the plants in the winter garden, despite the oriental costumes and the languid flutters of distant music. We are there without being there, for our imaginations wander to the land of the calm morning and the blooming lotuses.

ROBBY.