The suburban citizen., 1900-08-18
VISITED CHINA'S RULERS
MRS. coNcER's IMPRESSIONS OF THE
EMPRESS ooWAcER.

II. COnger, United States Minister to
China, described in a letter written to
q friend at Des Moines, Iowa the visit
made by her and the wives of the
other foreign Ministers at Pekin to
the Empress Dowager last winter.
She says;
"There is one more thing 1 must tell
you about, because l think you Will
see much in 1t. 1t is a visit that the
foreign Minister'S wives made to the
Empress Dowager 1t is stated, and
said to be true, that she had never
seen a foreign woman and that for
eign woman had never seen her. The
idea was conceived that the Empress
Dowager be asked that she allow an
audience to the seven foreign Minis
ters' wives. They wished to pay their
compliments to her on her sixty
fourth birthday The audience was
granted after some delay, and Decem-
ber 10 was decided upon.
"At 1880 mounted escorts, sent by
the Yamen. went to each legation,
and escorted the ladies to the
British legation, Lady Melon
aid being doyenne Each lady
was in sedan chair, having five
chairbearers and two mounted maf-
foos. From the British legation we
started at II o'clock for the Forbidden
City to see the Empress Dowager. Can
you see the picture? Seven chairs
with five bearers and two maffoos
each, and from fifty to sixty mounted
Chinese escorts sent by the Yamen!
when we reached the gate of the
Forbidden City we had to leave our
chairs, bearers, maffoos, escorts, all.
Inside the gate were seven red up
holstered chairs in a line, with six
bearers each and many escorts on
foot. We were taken to another gate,
where, inside, we found a fine railroad
coach, given by France. We entered
this fine car, and many eunuchs,
dressed in black pushed and hauled
us to another stopping place, where
we were received by many officials,
offered tea, etc. This railroad passed
through a beautiful city, clean and i'm
perlal after tea serving we were es-
corted to the palace. Our heavy gar
ments were taken, and we were ush-
cred into the presence of the Emperor
and Empress Dowager. We stood tc-
cordlng to rank and bowed. Our first
interpreter presented each lady to
Prince Ching, and he, in turn, present
ed us to the Empress DOwager Then
Lady Macdonald read little speech
in behalf of the ladies'. The Empress
Dowager responded through Prince
Ching. Another bow on our part
Then each lady was escorted to the
throne, where she bowed and courte-
sled TO the Emperor, who reached out
his hand to each. Then a bow and
courtesy to the Empress Dowager She
reached out both hands and we
stepped forward to her. She took
both of ours, then placed upon the
finger of each lady beautiful heavy
chased gold Chinese ring, set with
very large, fine pearl
after thanking her we backed from
the throne and took our places below
as before. From here we were escort
ed by many richly dressed highly
painted, decorated young Chinese
women and Chinese officials to the
banquet hall, where a large table was
filled to OyerflOwing with Chinese and
European food. Prince Ching, Prin-
cess Ching and five other princesses
sat at the table with us The EN-
press Dowager and Princess Ching
were dressed in most eXQuisitely en-
broidered rich satins and silks, with
large pearl decorations.
"They were not painted and their
hair was not extended TO the extreme.
The young princesses were beautiful
ly and carefully dressed in rich, fine,
embroidered satins in bright colors.
They had painted faces, hair extended
and deliberately ornamented, and had
long gold finger protectors. They were
pictures. The Empress Dowager and
all of her court have large feet. They
are Manchurians. The binding Of feet
is losing its popularity among the
highest classes Everywhere with us
were Chinese interpreters, who spoke
English and French well
after this meal we were invited
into other rooms and offered cigar
cites and tea. The table was cleared
away and we were invited into the
hall again. There sat the Empress
Dowager, and we gathered about her
as before. She seemed bright and hap
py. Her face was aglow with good
will. There was no trace of cruelty
to be seen. In simple expressions she
welcomed u.s. but her actions were full
of freedom and warmth. She arose
and wished us we'll She reached
both hands toward each lady, and then
to herself, and said with much en-
thusiastic earnestness:
One family, all one family
Everything she said was in Chi
nese. She presented to each lady the
Empress, the Emperor's wife, who
gave her hand to each. The Empress
is young and what is called a beauti-
full Chinese woman. She wore the
decorations, paint, etc, Of the young
women.