Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-12

secluded by her master. as were the leglt-
mate daughters OF his house. the girl Tsang
so behaved as 10 win tho affections Of heF
pocket parents" as her owners would be
gracefully termed In China. and they graft
ned MI her wishes.
When this girl, unnamed Tsang was
fifteen years cld the relgning Emperor.
Hen Fung. issued a ukase requiring all
eligible maidens between the ages Of fifteen
aud eighteen to present themselves at the
Imperial Palace at Pekln with a view 70
examination and selection as Imperial con-
sorts and concubines. The girl read the on
clai notice and was seized with an uncon-
trollublc desire to enter the lists In vain
her pocket parents" tried TO dlssuade her.
In vain they pointed out that she was a slave
nirl. that she did not have cramped feet ana
that abe had to compete with the fairest
virgins Of the land. She induced them %
make her their foster daughter. and. relying
upon her beauty and her brains, she went up
to the capital.
In the physical examination the doctors
pronounced her an ideal woman; In morals
she won the hearts Of her inquislturs, VINO
passed her as fautlessi In general intcln-
gence she was declared. and undoubtedly
with truth. to be the superior Of many
scholars. After a long ordeal she came OUT
with flying coors as one OF tho Imperial
| wives.
Once Installed in tho Palace. she paid
] particular attention TO the Empress, aud ere
two months had passed was the latter's com
/ panlon and favofite friend. In this wise sno
kept herself continually In the EmperoTs
| presence without seeming so TO do In
short time she won his love also. and In due
season became the mother Of a son. In those
days sno displayed great SIKH In intrigue,
and by her quick perception and shreWd
maneuyers kept the imperial fancy from
| wandering far away.
II t,aN al n which
! the Empress had no male Issue. she pre-
vailed upon the Emperor TO Issue proc
| lamatlon making hnr tho Empress or the
| West the highest title 10 which con-
cublnn can rise, and which put her on par
| with her MISTRESS who Is do juro the EN-
press OF the East" She became by degrees
! the real power behind the throne. and yet
at tho Hame time she preserved her friend
! shin with the Empress unimpared.
On the death Of the Emperor, Helm Fung,
hor son. Tung Chi. aHcendcd the throne
which no hold for fourteen years. During
the Arst part o. his reign the two women
! were Joint DoWngur Empresses IN name,
hut HIS mother was the only one IN fact,
| ON the death Of her mistress she had her
| self recognized as Emprcsa Dowager.
when her son. Tung Chi, died in Janu-
/ ury, 1876, there was dire confusion In the
| capital. She was undauntod by the fact
! that she was IN "h0peless minority" and
I 49, "'. N'NN NiN i.'i'''N :.
/ forbade nor Vows and conduct before
the opposition could unite upon plan OF
/ action, or settle ON candidate she had
! erected a peaceful coup detat ana placed
/ her nephew on the throne. During nus
] minority she ruled with great wisdom ana
| success. Win view to the future she nad
! nor Imperial ward ever near her 80 that
! long before hts toens she bad won his love
! ana brought him under hcr control TO-
! day although ha Is the ruler OF AOO,OD0Oll
| or people, she is the real power, even II
/ nunuwhat hidden by the throne,
The birthday festival Itself is to be held
| In Pckng, but a general celebration or me
/ mortal service Of some sort is to be held
/ Ia ovory Chinese town, Hamlcts Ia siberia
| tents IN Mongolia, stone cabins In Thibet,
| bamboo houses ia the Shan States, and mud
! houses IN Corea VIII echo the praises Of the
/ woman who for twenty years at least has
] directed tho Middle Kingdom. The details
OF tho plan 81 celebration are extremely
| curious. To show her appreciation Of tho
! literAu Of The land she has directed the
proper officials TO hold special and oNtraor-
/ binary examinations Of the countless army
] Of students.
This has ontalled an expense, Il Is said.
I OF so 0l0,0 600. For the local celebration
I 40 Pooling an appropriation OF IS, 900 900 from
the Imperial Treasury has been made 10
/ this fund the twenty-onp provinces have
contributed sums ranging from S35 600 TO
! 500 900 each. IN addition ls a subscrption
! from an the officials 0f tho Empire, which
now cNceod8 }9.r10.0JO The receipts will
be larger than the original estimate OF 500
400 OUO far patrIrts 1I,v. ri. t,,,t - -.