Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-01-16
CELESTIAL ROYALTY.
The Empress DOwager of China, and Not
Tartar.
An Interesting Romance Connected with One
Of the Principal Members Of the Imperial
Family-Miraculou Power Of the Tartar
Dynasty Over Cinnamon.

Family-Miraculon Power Of the Tartar
Dynasty Over Cinnamon.
Chinese laws prohibit the printing
OF the lives and doings OF living per-
sons, says Wong Chin Foo in the New
York Sun. AS regards royalty this
rule is most seve rely enforced. The
acts Of the emperors and OF their
families must not be printed during
the entire reign OF the dynasty. Here
is an interesting story concerning one
OF the principal members OF the pres
ent imperial family:
About 1856, when Tseng Kwo Yon, q
near relative of Tseng Kwo Fon, the
famous general who suppressed the
Tapping rebels by recapturing
Marking, was governor-general OF the
province of Kwong lung, timid, but
pretty little girl was taken TO him by
her relatives TO be sold as slave. She
was only IL or II years OF age. Her
manner was gentle, and Nine. Tseng,
the governors wife, a kind-hearted
woman, bought her. Little Chi Shi
appreciated Nine. Tseng's kindness,
and began at once to do all things TO
please her mistress, and soon. by her
diligence as we'll as by her amiable
ways, she not only made the madame
love her, but even the old governor
WIS delighted. Chi Shi progressed
rapidly, both physically and intellectu-
ally. At 16 she was as beautiful u
young girl as could be found in the
province, and accomplished in letters
and music. Gov. Tseng was more tn n
proud OF her; so were the rest OF the
family, but there was one thing puzzled
them all: What were they going TO do
for pretty Chi Ship
To find her sutton among the first
families of the land was impossible ow-
ing to the prejudice Of such husbands
against big feet wives. To give her
in marriage to poor youth would rob
her OF her luxuries.
That same year the governors term
OF Office expired, and according TO Gus
tom he had TO report in person to the
throne. 1t was likewise the custom
for retiring governors to bring some
presents as a token OF their great re-
spect for the emperor. But what was
Gov. Tseng to take his majesty?
"Ah! said fhe governor, as II happy
thought struck him. There! Why
not ask Chi Shi TO be an imperial con-
cubne, constant companion to his
imperial majesty, tho Emperor Hen
Fungi"
The governor asked his good old
wife. and she preached the subject TO
Chi Shi. The latter consented.
His majesty Emperor Hen Fung was
then almost an old man. and yet he
was so pleased with his extraordinary
present that he conferred "a still higher
degree upon the already influential
Tseng Kwo Yon. The latter being n
Tartar, the emperor took it for granted
that young Miss Chi Shi was likewise
OF that nationality, especially when he
saw that she had natural feet, for such
is the custom with the Tartar ladies' of
high rank. Chi Shi was duly installed
as a member of the imperial harem,
and became the imperial favorite. In
due time she gave birth to a son. For
this honor the emperor Immediately
made her an empress.
Upon the death OF Hen Fung in 1862
1t was discovered that his only other
son was disqualified for the throne by
reason of his wife giving birth to a
child within three years after the death
OF his own mother, This was consid-
cred unfilial, as according to custom.
all dutiful sons should be praying and
fasting for the space of three years to
mourn the loss of their greatest friend
"a mother-instead of raising family,
as seemed 10 have been the case with
this unfortunate prince.
Tung Chez. the son OF Chi Shi, was
then only five years old. He was the
next legal heir to Hen Fung's great
throne, and by the acclamations OF the
ministers he was Immediately made
the emperor His mother, Chi Shi,
was made regent during his minority.
For $50 years previous to this time
the ministers OF the courts OF the en-
perors OF the Ia Tszing dynasty were
all Tartars. The highest offices whic b
Cinnamon could obtain we re those OF
governors. For this the Chinese col
leges refused to grant to Tartar the
noble order OF Chung Yuen.
Had the ministers OF Emperor HEN
Fung known that Tuug Chee's mother
was a Chinawoman they would never
have dared to crown him emperor.