Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-13
OMAN WITH FALSE SMILE"
Death of Chinese Empress DOwager's
FavOrite Reveals Corruption at Court.
From the London Express.

Much 10y, naively remarks the North
China Herald, has been manifested In Pekin
at the news of the sudden death of Ii Lien
yin, alias THE Man with the False Smile
the favorite of the empress dowager. which
occurred on April %. after only a couple of
hours illness. passed in extreme agony.
This has led to the supposition of poison
at the hands Of the mans enemies. of
which he had very many, and this is some
what confirmed by the fact Of his burial
within seventy-two hours of his death.
This Is a most unusual circumstance, for
even among the ordinarily well-to-do the
respect due to the dead requires that 100
days, at least should elapse.
This most remarkable fayorite left
estate valued at IS 100000 taelS. one-third
of which is in hard cash, obtained through
brides and presents" from princes of the
down to the official of the seventh rank or
district magistrate who wants his name
recorded in the grand council books for i'm
mediate substantive preferment."
Nothing, it seems, was too small or in
significant for Ii Lien-yin. All was fish for
his net. AS matter Of fact, the mans
annual income from these sources IS said
to have been something incredible in figures,
for once any person was "honored'' by be-
ing allowed to send him a gift, 1t became
the duty of that one to send the favorite
something at the end of each year in order
not to be forgotten
Ii Lien-yin's twelve millions or so of cash
were deposited in gold shops banks pawn
broking institutions, wholesale drug shops
etc, and can be withdrawn at any time.
His landed estates were spread over the
three provinces of Chh-Li, Shan-Se and
Holman, namely. nearly 100000 NOW in
Chih-Li, 150,0O0 NOW in Holman and 500 900
NOW in Shan-Se-all cultivated lands.
Whole streets of houses in Pekin and
Taiyuenfu Capital of Shan-SeD stand in the
Ii familys name. while the value of pre-
cious stones and jadestone and bronze an
tiqultles received as presents bought
by the favorite in a career of ten years
faYoritlsm was almost incalculable.
Being a conno!SSeur in ANTIQUITIES Ii not
only eagerly accepted such presents" but
paid enormous sums for such things as the
bronze sacrificial utensils of the Shang (B.
c. 1I66-1154) and Chou dynasties (B C.
1l2-215). For instance, hearing a Che
kiang family possessed a beautiful bronze
sacrifcial utensl of the first named dy-
nasty a beautiful cast urn, nearly five
feet high. Ii Lien-yin sent. in 1893, two
special agents TO buy the thing
The owners being in no wise poor refused
TO part with a treasured heirloom that had
belonged to the family for over 100 years.
put pressure was put upon them by aid of
the then governor of the province. 1t was
hnally sold to the favorites agents for 49,
ouD taeisxhoW much they charged their
principal for 1t is not known-t being also
promised to give a substantive taotaiship
TO member of the family in Shan-Tung
and good appointments at Pekin to two 9TH
ers then acting as third-class secretaries
IN the boards of puniShments and revenue
All these promises were made good within
a month of Lii Lien-yins receipt Of the
bronze urn.
Among his collection Of antiquities is a
large bronze vessel. standing on a tripod,
the whole nearly seven feet high covered
with hieroglyphic characters and figures
Of birds and animals, aI.eged to have been
cast by the Emperor Yu the Great TIA
Iu, b. {. 22QJ-2l91). For this Ii paid an
enormous sum. and. although the empress
dowager also wished to possess it, he fiaty
refused to part with 1t.