The evening times., 1899-11-16

The members of the Chinese Legation in
this city have just celebrated the Empress
Dowager's sixty-fifth birthday. The prin-
cipal event was banquet at which Minis
ter WI gave an historical sketch of the
Dowager's life and spoke of the many ad-
mirable qualities OF their renowned sover-
egn. Only those connected with the lega-
tion were in attendance.
In China the celebration is now going on
with unabated enthusiasm and great splen-
dor. IL will continue by the people as long
after the state ceremonies have ceased as
they have the wherewithal to pay for their
celebrities.
Although the Empress Dowager's birth
day takes place only once a year, it is
stated that the event is celebrated at any
time and as often as Her Majesty's SUBJ
jects need to be impressed. 1t was cele-
brated when she desired to reinstate Ii
Hung Chang and again when the powers
threatened 10 retire her from the throne
and restore the Emperor Tsi Thsi
For three days before I'll Chos birthday,
ali the high officials and dignitaries wear
what they call the flower dress. 1t con-
sists of the richest silks embroidered with
flowers from top to toe in pure gold.
At o'clock in the morning of I'll Cho's
birthday il is the duty OF the first minister
10 go TO her palace and salute the sover-
eign. After that the doors are opened and
the other state officials in order of their
rank PROSTATE themselves before her. The
common folk in the meantime are cele-
brating according to their various inclina-
tions.
Throughout the day the emblazoned
troops march up and down the streets Of
Pekin and execute military maneuvres in
the court of the palace. At night the En-
press Dowager repairs TO the private thea
tire in the palace accompanied by all the
high officials at the capital player who
appears before the footlights on this occa-
sion has his fortune made. After the per-
formance Tt Cho retires and the scenes Of
rejoicing end.
How well I'll Cho has governed the great
empire and promoted the interests of the
country for over thirty years may be easily
seen by comparing the China of recent
years with China of 1s60-'6I. when rebel
lion was triumphant and the imperial au-
thority almost effaced. Upon the outbreak
Of the war with Japan the Empress re-
quested that the money being set aside for
her birthday celebration be used for the
purposes of war. showing that she is self
denying as well as exacting.
All China is now Teasing with great GER
emonies and wonderful displays, in honor
Of the beloved Empress, who. ii is said,
was fifty years ago sold as slave girl by
a starving father.
II is nothing new to students of Oriental
history TO read of a woman ruling a vast
empire with more than masculine vigor.
but the extraordinarily successful record
of the Empress Dowager Of China has
never been surpassed, if it has ever been
equaled. in the records of feminine state
craft in the East.
She found China, in the words of one
eminent writer. with the prestige, re-
sources, and peace of the realm reduced to
their lowest ebb:" with the most fruitful |
provinces desert; with three great and
apparently successful rebellions raging si- |
multaneouay in different parts of the en- |
pre; with load of debt caused by an un- |
successful foreign war. during which the |
capital was in the hands of the invader
she found all these when her husband, the |
Emperor Hienfung. died in 1861
The world knows how all this was chang
ed. and when she handed over the reins of /
government TO the young Emperor in 1889.
And how she took it away from him again
in 1897. when his powers failed. Profound |
peace reigns over the eighteen provinces
and the vast regions outside them, and
there never was time in the history of
China when she was more respected by
han 4