The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-22
EMPRESS Of CHINA
interviewed by the Russian
Minister'S Daughter.
SUCH A DEAR OLD SOUL
As This Young Person Makes
Her Out to Be.


remarkable woman ever published
Its author is herself a woman OF ass
tinction-aille de Giers. daughter OF the
Russian Ambassador at Pekin. who has
enjoyed unrivaled opportunities for study
ing the female Bismarck" as the En-
press has been called.
The world was electrified 20 hear .ast
Monday that Her Imperial Majesty. ith
the Boxers ravaging China and the gyms
OF Europe turned upon her. had taken ref
uge at the Russian Legation. OF which
Mss de Gier's father is the chief This
gives a peculiarly timely Importance 10
the brilliant young Russian woman's &C
count OF her conversation with the aged
Chimes monarch
BY MILE. DE GIERS.
1t was during q theatrical performance
given at the palace In honor of myself
and other womentolk of European diplo-
mats that the Empress Regent OF China
expressed herself with freedom and am
liability strangely at variance with the
terriable reputation she bears in Europe.
She asked US about matters Of family.
toilet and woman's progress and seemed
singularly wen informed on the latter sub
ject as far as Europe and America are
concerned.
"All sorts OF prejudice and economical
conditins keep down the Chinese woman. !"
said she, but reform Is only question
of time. The Chimes woman must be
gradually emancipated Now she is moth
ing more than a drudge; at the age OF
eight she must be able 10 spin; when she
is ten she learns weaving. sewing and en-
broidering. Numerous girls of that age
make their own living and begin saving
toward marriage portion.
in many poor families" continued the
Empress. 1.-The wife must pay for her own
keep. besides furnishing her husband
with clothes, shoes. sc.
This is equality with a vengeance. IS
1t not? With US women have full liberty
to compete with men in earning a living
but the advantages are all on the other
side. Maybe your womans rights advo-
Gates will learn lesson from this-the
lesson of not going to extremes"
We all agreed afterward that the En-
press had displayed quite extraordinary
knowledge of non-Chinese affairs.
At the close OF the performance Her
Majestys Chief Chamberlain begged each
lady's permission TO be allowed to send
to her house a quantity of silk broeade,
for which his mistress thought that we
might find some use. The interpreters al
so received royal presents. Each found
three rolls Of silk at his hGyae after re-
turning from the palace.
The performance lasted until o'clock
and by that time although dinner had
been served to us only a few hours be-
fore, we were believed to have raised
another appetite. The tables were set
with cakes. sweetmeats. bonbous and
there was champagne and tea and a
battery OF cordials. When We had drunk
and eaten, the Empress sent word that
she would Ike to take leave OF Us. We
found her seated on the throne, a carved
chair Of exquisite workmanship. lacquer
ed in red, and partly covered with a
sable rug.
She asked us to step up to her. and ex-
cused herself for remaining seated.
Il am quite an old woman" she said,
land my days work won't be finished for
many hours
Then she raised her hand displaying on
the index finger fac-simile Of the pearl
rings which she had presented to each
one OF Us before dinner
You must regard me as your sister
and friend" she said, "the ring shall sig
lify that we all belong to the same fam
~ And that, / hope. IS not mere form
II speech, for we have a common purpose
n view-that OF trying our little best TO
make the world happier and wiser
81 know each OF you ladies' has her
phere OF usefulness cut out for herself
have mine. and. though am an old
roman. ] hope to do justice to It for
ears to come.
II have been genuinely glad IA reneg |
our acquaintance. and hope that VIII |
AVE the pleasure every little while. But /
( ! do not Invite you oftener. don't think 4
forgotten I am unoomoaly |
usy for q Woman-Cbines women have I
0 work hard, and the Sovereign 81 this
ountry s kept buster than the poorest
collie
This has been a festive day; It VII be
source OF pleasant memories fJr a long
'hils TO come"
With these kindly words the Empress
topped from the throne and embraced
er quests one after another.
That was our leavetakinE Sog ist NJ
escribe ctr reception was zffh ny
'o,her and Lazy Mcdonald. wife q The
Irish Ambassakior. Mrs. Dsabr. wife q
be American MiE.istsr ard Barozezs Ven
IsyEng. Nina. B4rars. Nine Ya-o
unsso ard Nine Knobei & ire German
reneh, japanese sad Netherlands I.erz~
CHS respectively.
On reaching TIRE Imperial apartments
seh lady had three maids assign 5 20
p, anz mere Efficient mails nsYsr me-.
eey Se-s pretty girls and r3ost bscorn-
KY dressed. Our EsFopssa costumes
sve them rot BE- % troabis
One q two % the g1FIs were SIX COWS
sslca exquisite beauty thst car coar,
.ssssa BOXED cutie cheap reside them |
Tie Euuorsss-TeVsEsr zccupss8 ;hs /
'incfszl chair q ne fhr1zs. the sscklT.
ssk. Emperor Eas seated - hsr gsft. a
- loser d1En- Bosh were 6ressss a.
oss alike Fl sl4ksa F1Ens. ysIloxasa s.. ,
lar and TiehgY sza5ross~re1
TIE Ez5Tsss - taller fhaz TIE aTsrazsf }
s.ass woman a>d zsa ss85orsl.rss.. !
r fare = ttra5x. bet EsaciT ! aslouis
ess Asr . D. sbost ssFsnfg peas q 4
= Her sTss ast-zy stvaritg. ~sssvrr
= \ rssvc-fzl elssszit3sz- saast s@asv~ 4,
3 wonSa ea9zhs1 ss sszfaa eraslty.
I-z1F MeDs1asA RAJ ~ frssvfsshss
eress Il EaSslss aas nsa-vsssss a re
zslv tgss - waasa Er- &zssssr a.
'srss fsst sfs,s formal soezzssas
Taea s4eh = zs aaesa6ss - ssrn-- =
sEe - e@ssszsHET 10zrtssy hefasa szs
a-zxezes- :
- =