Cochise review., 1900-10-24
CHINA'S FIRST LADY.
The Empress DOwager Said to Have
 English Blood.
Remarkable Intellect. and Wonder ful Characteristics of the Wom- an Who Rules the Desti-
 nieA of the Chinese.

Few people are aware that the em- press dowager is credibly believed by well-informed people in China, Japan and India to have British blood in her veins! There is no doubt that her mother was a European, though whether British, Portuguese or Rus sian deponent saith not says the Lon don Sketch. Though close on 70 years of age, she is still a good artist. and is said by those familiar with the Chinese language to be fine poet. Some 13 years ago she solemnly pre- sented long poem of her own com position to the Hanlin college Trans lation of those articles dealing with Chinese affairs appearing in leading European newspapers are carefully read by her, so she is quite aware of the jealousy and suspicion which animate the powers the moment the Chinese problem comes under dis cussion
 Very, very few of the million. whom she rules with an iron hand have ever seen the empress dowager As regards all outward forms and ceremonies, she is intensely conserve tive, and it is said that she even dis cusses high affairs of state through door and through curtain. The Purple Forbidden City in other words, the imperial palace, at Pc king-is 8 huge human rabbit-war- ren, for there must dwell all those connected with the court, with the nominal emperor, his harem, and the thousand eunuchs who wait on the imperial family, and who aid the em- press dowager in bringing on her en- enies the mysterious disease, pressed in anger of the inside" which has re- moved so many unpleasant people from her path, including, it is said, two empress consorts.
 Tsze-Hsi enjoys wonderful health, and nowhere is her remarkable intel feet more shown than in the matter of doctors and hygiene She early grasped the fact that European wom- en owed their strength of body and mind to their habit of taking a great deal of exercise Accordingly, she learned to wrestle, and each morning takes it out of herself in this, for Chinese lady, astounding fashion Then, again, she is a great believer in the efficacy of cold water, and she has horror of doctors and of Sorcerers-indeed she sends for one only when she requires the loan of peculiarly deadly and potent drug.
 It is believed that the empress own life has been attempted no fewer than so times, but, thanks to her wonder fully well.organized detective system and also, it is but fair to add, to the real affection, and even respect, she inspires in her own faithful band of eunuchs, she has never been serious ly injured. Very characteristic is her intense interest in all that concerns Queen Victoria Pictures cut from London papers and representing the more notable events of the great sov- ereigns life have been framed and hung up in her inner chambers.
 The empress dowager, as her name and, indeed early career prove, was once very noted beauty She has remained much interested in the art of beauty, and dresses with extraor- dinary magnificence. On the other hand she remains faithful to the Chi nese custom of wearing no precious stones, only very finely wrought gold en ornaments and splendidly carved jade. Nothing makes her more con temptuously angry than to see a Chi nese woman in European dress or aping any of the ways of ''lady for eign devil"