Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-11-30

ter OF Austria, were the guests.
At 10 80 o'clock mounted guards
from the imperial palace drew up be-
fore the door of each legation, and the
ambassadors wives, gowned in mag
nificent costumes and with all their
jewels displayed, stepped into sedan
chairs carried by six bearers and es-
corted by two of the legation guard,
started out for the British legation
At III o'clock the ladies left the Brit
ish legation for the Imperial City.
There were seven sedan chairs, uphol-
stored in red, each borne by six bear
ers, with If legation guards and so or
60 mounted Chinese soldiers. All
along the route crowds came out to
gaze at the procession, and many en-
vious glances were cast after them,
for it was felt by the Chinese that the
wives of the "foreign devils" were be-
ing too highly honored by the queen
of heaven, who might have found
more befitting guests nearer home.
The crowd OF beggars, mandarins,
eunuchs, generals and bannermen
that constantly throng the Imperial
City gate stopped to gaze open
mouthed at the foreign women as they
stepped from the chairs, and the
guards at the great lowered and tur-
reted gate respectfully saluted them
aud stood aside to permit them to
enter. Inside this gate were other Sc
dan chairs, and into these the ladies
stepped and were swiftly conveyed q
little farther. At the second gate
that of the Forbidden City-they were
again required to dismount. Inside
this gate stood handsome street rail-
way car. 1t had been presented to
the Empress by France. When the
ladies were all aboard, they were
pushed by a number of black.robed
men through beautiful, we'll kept,
suburban looking city. They were
helped from the car at little waiting
room, and tea was served in beautiful
cups of china, the tea being quite
clear, without cream or sugar. The
The cups had no handles and were
provided with two saucers, one to sup
port the cup and the other to cover it
and retain the fragrance OF the tea.
Stepping across the courtyard. after
having taken off their wraps in the
waiting room, the party was escorted
into the presence of the Empress.
The Emperor sat on throne beside
her, but was a mere figurehead in the
ceremony. Prince Ching, who acted
as the interpreter, introduced the la.
dies one by one to the Empress
Then Lady Macdonald made her little
speech, and the Empress responded
through Prince Ching. All the ladies
bowed at its close, and then they were
one by one escorted to the throne
They we're in n fine state of trepida'
tion, for the more nervous ones fell
that there was no certainty whether
the fierce little old woman on the
throne meant to cuff or kiss them
The ceremony happened to be of s
more pleasurable sort than either o.
these, for the Dowager, reaching out
both hands, placed beautiful ring
set with pearl, on the hand Of eact
lady. After thanking her the ladies
backed away from the throne ant
again took their places in line, looking
very much like a country spelling
class.
Next the guests were escorted by {
gorgeously dressed company Of cour
women and officials to a banquetinl
room, where European and Chines'
dainties were served to them. Tht
Empress Tsze An, the Princess Ching
and the Emperor, arrayed in rich silk
and satins embroidered with pearls
partook of food at the same table
The Empress and the Princess Chin,
were not painted, but all the othe
ladies' were. Chinese Interpreters
speaking English and French, wer'
plentiful and voluble. After the mea
the ladies we're escorted to anothe
room, where tea and cigarettes wer
served. The cigarettes must hav
been intended as a subtle satire on tn
western women, for Chinese womel
do not smoke them.
Then the party was escorted to tn
palace theater, where Chinese pla.
was presented for their amusement
The Empress Dowager is said to b
very fond OF theatrical performances
More food was served, and at last tn
time came to say goodby. The ladies
before leaving, were presented to tn
Empress, wife of the young Emperor
meek looking. pretty young crea
ture. So genial did the crafty Dowa
ger become that she descended fror
her throne, the better to examine an
talk to each of the queer trained, col
seted, beruffled and lace trimme
creatures, who were as great novelt
to her as she was to them. Her fac
fairly glowed with good nature, and i
parting she extended her hands i
motherly benediction, while her fac
beamed with benevolence. Noddin
her jewel-trimmed head, she lispe
sweetly in English, "All one famil.
all one family" Then more present