The age-herald., 1897-11-23
BY MRS. GEORGE c. BALL

life chiefly through the pink glow of cherry blossoms, or across the heads of monstrous chrysanthemums. He is a man who desires to be benefited by the experience and observation which come from travel He is especially anxious to investigate lives and aspirations of American women, and what they are doing in this busy end of the Nineteenth century. The independence and general development of the feminine contingent of Americas feminine population afford him constant, never-failing interest.
 The wife of the Chinese minister, Mad anne Wu, is far above the average, and claims the bluest blood and longest line age possible in the fiowery kingdom She wears her native dress at Washington, which is very gorgeous and dazzling with precious stones and ornate em- broideres Madame Wu as a compara- tive newcomer, is an object of great concern to Washingtonians, and her state costumes and home gowns are thus described by correspondent:
 Madame Wu is pure Chinese, unadu1- terated by any mixture of Manchurlan blood. The eagle emblazoned upon the breast signifies that she is of equal of ficial rank with her husband, and may upon all occasions enter and leave a room at his side rather than behind him. Ihis court gown is of extreme richness and braliancy, presenting those strong ccnfrasts iii color so dear to the Chi nese heart. The petticoat, which, by the way, is one of the prettiest parts of a Chinese lady's dress, appears about a loot below the upper robe, and is of bright reds and blues, ornamented with heavily embroidered gold panels. The luhMs or purple and black affords a strik- ing background for the magnificent em- orolderies with which it is adorned The turpan IS a simple band of silk around tne mead, and is worn in the house by Ghlhese women only in cold weather me splendid jewel tin front and the clus- ters of flowers near the ears are tbe usual decorations of those worn at conrt The custom of wearing flowers in tbe nalr IS nearly universal in China fresh blossoms being prsferred when attain aDle and artificial ones at other times !lhe me tashhon of wearing the hair is mod med, not by time but by place. each separate province having it's distinct coifure to which 1t holds for all time. They all have a way, however. of at- tempting to disguise bald spots by paint ing the scalp black.
 'hc pSauS dipuHu Madame Wu'S neck are also a sign of official distinc tion. worn by men as we'll as women. Curi, ously enough they vary with the season. those of sandal wood baing distinctly summer beads. while coral, jade and other stones are, reserved for winter dec oratlons.
 Except for state occasions, Madame Wu's official costume is simpler re- ception gown of brocade and silk. Her nome gowns are all made after the same general pattern, and are simple in tex ture and trimming. Silk, cotton and grass cloth are the fabrics most used for summer, with the addition of brocades. furs and skins in winter. Woo1en is very little us;d. and so far as under wear is concerned there is with both men and women great paucity of linsn.
 'The various forms, fabrics, colors and ornaments are worn by gentlewomen, as we'll as those worn by all grades of officers, are regulated by sumptuary law, down to the throat latch. The emperor