Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-07-12

tered at the moment upon emma, cOul(
| penetrate the pink walls Of the impe
rial city of Picking, where stands thu
palace of the reigning dynasty. and b'
| focused upon the ruling spirit OF tina
palace. it would be found that WON
| an holds In her hands the key to the
present situation, says a correspond
ent of the New York Post. That WON
an is the empress dowager of China
In many respects she is one of the
most remarkable as she is one OF the
most monstrous figures of history. Fol
nearly 40 years she has played an in
creasingly powerful part in the affairs
of the Chinese empire, and her infu
ence seems now to have radiated over
the entire civilized world. We have
become accustomed to think that mod
ern woman has made notable progress
in her influence and has achieved large
successes in this latter end Of the cen
fury. The effort of western women is,
however. puerile, both in scope and
achievement, when contrasted with the
overwhelming triumpbs secured by this
imperial lady OF the orient.
When her history is considered, such
Of 1t at least as has drifted to the out
side world-for the open door of China
has never meant the open window for
her women to look through-her career
Is the more remarkable. She was the
daughter OF a Manchurian noble and
followed the fortunes of her family
from Picking to Canton until, when she
vas about years old. the condition Of
her fathers finances necessitated or at
least resulted in her sale as a slave in
to the family of a Canton merchant
Her beauty even at that time was
pronounced. according to Chinese
standards, and her cleverness had al
ready developed. She seems to have
made herself very popular and useful
in her new home. and her residence
there of eight or ten years was pros
porous and fruitful. There can be lit
tie doubt, in the light of her life his
tory, that she was even then on the
alert for an opportunity to advance
herself in her station and scope of af-
fairs. and that she held closely to every
possible helpful influence in this direc-
ton. The opportunity came when she
was about Il. At that time the En-
peror Hsien Fung, rs is the Chinese
custom, issued proclamation calling
upon the daughters of Manchuria to
present themselves at Picking for a
choice to be made among them for the
imperial harem. Tsu Isl saw and In
stantly grasped her opportunity. So
II 81. Iav .Ic hat &c
said that her adopted father not only
that she should enter the
lists, but assisted her to present the
best possible appearance. She travelled
up to Picking in the luxury BETTING
her rank, triumphantly passed the or
deal of inspection by the emperor's Off
GERS, and was promptly Installed in the
imperial palace among the emperor's
women.
This was in 1913. Beautiful, accom-
pllshed and possessed of consummate
tact and unusual knowledge, Tsu Isl
soon stepped out from among the
thronS of the harem residents into
separate and distinctive place. First
OF all. she attracted the attention OF
the empress, or ''chief wife" of the en-
peror. and it is recorded that the little
princess actually succeeded
In being brought to the notice Of the
emperor, largely through the interest
taken in her by his empress. When
the jealousies and intrigues of an
oriental harem are taken into consid-
Grafton, the full measure of this sue
cess is better understood. And when.
later, she presented the emperor with
a son and heir to his throne and still
preserved the friendship and affection
Of the chief wife," who was childless. |
one must bow to the diplomacy Of this |
Mantchoo girl.
In 1850, while the boy was still |
young. his father died. At the time it |
was only vaguely limited that his death |
was due TO any but natural causes. In |
the light of subsequent events, how |
ever, the extraordinary opportuneness
of Hsien Fung's death at this moment /
becomes significant. Since 1850. at
avery difficult crisis in Tsu isis af-
fairs. death has most fortunately step
ped in 10 put the person most impeding |
her progress out OF the way. The fact
that her son was the next heir and that |
the sooner he began TO reign the longer
he regency would be may assist the |
,areful student of Tsu Tsi's history to
correct diagnosis of Hsien Fung's
nalady. In any event. his death took
place. and very soon the small boy
vas proclaimed emperor under the
tile of Tung Chi, with the dowager
impress and mother empress appointed
,oregents-
Things moved smoothly for a time
Ifter this The Junior regent took
,ains not to show herself too dominant.
tut hers was, in fact, the strong hand
4 the pair and was so recognized by
Prince Kung. q brother of the late en-
,eror and chief adviser Of the two
egents. II was toward the end OF the
minority that his mother
Ioticed certain unpleasant signs Of in
dependence In her royal son. Too
hrewd 10 seem to resent them, she