Evening star., 1900-06-08
QUEER DOINGs IN CHINA.
Behind the Scenes in the Palace With
the Imperial Aunt.


From the North China Daily News.
The following letter is from a member of
the reform party in Peking, who got his
information from eyewitness, one Of
the empress dowagers eunuchs:
ITO begin at the beginning previous
to the 22d of January last Peking was
filled with disquieting rumors, which grad
ually filtered into the palace. Some de-
clared that the emperor had already been
secretly deposed; others again stated that
the emperor had been made away with
by poison; but when the empress dow
ager heard of them she simply smiled in
that grim way of hers, which, to the ter
rorized eyes of those around her meant
that she had decided on some course
| which, even If it were paved with the
| blood of thousands, would not deter her
from her subsequent goal. 1t Is also sig
nificant of the woman that none-except.
perhaps her favorite eunuch Ii Lien
ying. and Prince Ching-of those who daily
attended upon her. knew exactly what the
empress dowager intended to do, although
it was quite clear that some sort of coup
oath of January, 1850, came every one
knew that only a few hours before the
emperor had been. forced to sign his abdi-
cation, and a gloom spread over the CAPT.
| tai like a pail, accentuated as 1t was by
chilly, lowering skies.
II was one of those who stood around
with ink slab and pen for the emperor to
use, while the empress dowager herself
held out the pen TO. him. Even then his
majesty hesitated to take 1t and sign the
ready-prepared imperial decree of abdi-
cation held out to him; but an imperious
stamp of the right foot and those piercing.
menacing eyes of the empress dowager
frowning upon him seemed to enthrall and
fascinate the emperor, who Immediately
stretched forth a trembling hand and the
next moment, with a groan and a gesture
of despair. as it. were, the fatal deed was
done. and the empress dowager triumph
nephew's hand, Then a sudden change oc-
| Cured, with those around her were too
+ accustomed to see to be startled or aston
! ished at. The empress dowager's face be-
came instantly asuffused with smiles, her
| eyes became soft and benevolent, and she
was all kindness and motherly solicitude
| for her imperial nephew! He, poor fallen
| majesty! had sunk Down on his chair after
| signing the fatal paper, while a sudden
deadly paleness manifested itself on his
| countenance, and a moment after he had
dyed his robe and the carpet beneath him
, with his life blood. His majesty's excite
| ment had been too much for his weak
health, and it seemed that he had burst one
of his lesser blood vessels. Very kindly and
gently the empress dowager herself at
| tended to the emperor, and when he
| seemed to have somewhat recovered him
| self. herself supported him on one side.
| waving away the eunuch who had come for
| ward to do so, and with surprising solici-
| tude for his health and comfort, arranged
| the pillows and cushions In his majesty s
/ sedan chair. which was to carry him back
| to his usual prisOn-the water-surrounded
kiosk at the Southern Lake palace. which
| residence of Eho Park. She herself escort
| ed the emperor to his place of retreat,
| called the Ying-t'ai. and having seen him
] securely confined within Its high walls and