The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-28
ONCE A SLAVE
The Woman Who Is Now Empress
Queen of China
(From the Boston Trsnscript)

From the Boston Trsnscript.)
The true story of The woman who is at
the head of the Chinese Empire. and who
has just summoned Ii Hung Chang back
TO power. is of extraordinary significance,
as we'll as interest. 1t has been told how
disappointed with her sons weak and
characterless rule she has again taken
into her own hands, openly. the reins of
power which she has held in truth for a
generation. This monarch who is COM
parable to Catherine of Russia in her
sagacity and shrewdness and judicial wis
dow, was once a slave When she was a
little girl she was sold by her father to
be slave in the family of a yiceroy in
a remote province of China. Her father
was of Tartar blood, and one of those
who could read, and would not have
thought of selling his child although she
was nothing but a girl but as the
family had become destitute in a rebellion
the little girl of eleven suggested this
means of getting bread for her motner
and little brother and her father, the lit
tie who long after she sought out and
made rich and powerful Tuen served the
viceroy's wife and mother-in-law and was
taught spinning and other useful arts by
their maids. When she was twelve she
embroidered a beautiful tunic for the
viceroy. and he was delighted with 1t
she wished most. Then Tuen fell on her
knees and declard her hearts desire. She
wanted to learn to read like her father,
1t was most extraordinary request.
The viceroy told her that girls could
not learn such thing but Tuen told him
she was not TO blame that the gods had
made her girl, and she could not help
longing to know how to read. So her
master had her taught, and his own
daughter dying after a time. she was
adopted as a daughter of the house and
given beautiful clothes as well as lessons.
Later the viceroy received some political
honor from the Emperor of China, and
being DESTROYS to give him a beautiful
and worthy present in token of acknowI-
edgment, he followed the artiess Oriental
custom and sent Tuen to Pel1in. The
girls feet had never been bound. of
course, and she could walk upon them.
and her mind was developed beyond that
of most Chinese women. The favorite
slave of the Emperor of China became
the fayorite wife, and when the en-
press eonsort died she became Empress
of China. On the journey by river to Pc
kin, with servants sent with her by the
viceroy. she had given a ring TO a young
lad who saved a man from drowning in
the river. She had promised the ring to
anyone who would save the drowning
man. The youth to whom she gave the
ring had bright, intelligent face, he was
a sailor in the coarse clothes of the lower
class. That was Ii Hung Chang
During her sons minority Tuen was re-
gent, and now as empress dowager she
again assumes command. The emperor
is about twenty -four, the empress is six
ty. Bishop Galloway says her birthday
was to have been celebrated with great
pomp. but the Chinese-Japanese war pre-
vented He says truly that it is signifi-
cant that in China, where women are at
discount, are secluded and kept In ig-
norance, are protested against at birth,