The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-20
REPUBI.T- SPECIAL

|
| received In Des Moines from Mrs. z. II.
| conSer. wife Of the American Minister to
China. within the past eighteen months.
some Of them quite recently These letters
! tell Of the visit Of Mrs. Conge-. her daugh-
ter. Laura, and her niece Miss Mary Pierce,
to the wife Of Ii Hung Chang and the re-
turn visit paid by Mrs. Ii. the visit OF the
| foreign Ministers wives TO the Empress
| Dowager and Imperial family OF China and
the visits OF the Yaraen to the American
| Legation.
The ladies' ~ the American Legation are
| the only foreign women ever seen by Earl
| LIS wife and in the Chinese woman's will
ingncss to receive the American ladies Mrs.
| Conser sees desire on the part o.. Ii to
| secure the friendship OF America
| Mrs. Conger's letters also tell of her Chi
| nese servants and OF her observations OF
Chinese life. Taken together they have a
| pathetic interest in view OF the reported
| tragedy at PeHin. They show that Mrs.
| Conger entertained the mos; kindly feel
| ings for the Chinese. She sympathized
| thoroughly with them. Her only regret was
| that she could no; fully understand them.
| Nevertheless. she had great faith in the
| Chinese. and believed their professions Of
| friendship for America. Sae confidently
| believed that better day was coming for
/ NA.c i<Hip.'t, lIldI MI
| Conger ard herself had been able to cul-
| tivate relations with the Chinese. which
| promised n lasting friendship between
| America ard China. She believed that tho
| Empress Dowager and Earl L. DO really
| entertain feelings of friendship for Amer
\ iCa and the rest OF the Western world.
| Visit TO Mrs. Lii Hung Chang.
Mrs. Conger wrote at length OF the visit
| o: herself. daughter and niece 10 Ii Hung
| Changes wife Earl Ii made the arrange
| ments one day while paying a ceremonial
| call TO the American Minister. Mrs Con-
| ger wrote:
| There were FIVE of US who started out
| from the United States Legaton-the second
| secretary's wife. young American lady
| who is visiting Us, and we three. We were
| received at the gate Of the Ii compound by
| Nj. Patrick. an American, who is Ii Hung
| Changes private secretary. He presented US
\ to Ii Hung Changes youngest son, who
speaks English well. This young Mr.. Ii es
corted us to the home and presented US 20
| his mother. Lady IL. his wife, sister and
cousin. They each received US standing
! near the door and shook hands with us. II
| Is their custom 20 clasp their own hands in
greeting people. We remained about thirty
minutes. They served tea and cakes.
These ladies. which We never see on the
streets or elsewhere except III their homes.
were exceedingly interesting 10 US. They
were dressed IN the choicest satirs, richly
| ments Of precious stones. In few days
letter came to us that the ladies would be
pleased 70 return our call on such day al
such an hour. Lady Ii sent her compli-
ments. but the young ladies came escorted
by Mr.. Ii
I'm speaking OF these visits to those who
have been here long. they say this is surely
a great compliment to tlie American Min
ster. Ii Hung Changs American doctor
said Us that this Is a great departure. an
unheGrd-of thing for Ii Hung Chang 10 do.
He IL very choice Of that daughter. and
will let her go nowhere He has greatly
complimented the American Minister. This
Is the first time. Dc you see anything in IL?
! can. Indefinitely, something through
the clouds. or. at least. think So
1T has been permitted TO US TO go 90
many places Of interest aud instructive. 20
some places where foreigners are seldom
permitted to enter. ] appreciate these
grants. because Il gives insight into
the though; of these people for centuries
back. l never even read of such a people
such steadfastness to customs. 10 worship
and living.
Call Cpoc Empress Dowaser.
Mrs Conger wrote a long description of
the visit OF the foreign Ministers wives
visit 10 the Empress DowagsT. She was
greatly impressed with the friendiness Of
the Chinese. She tells how the audience
came to he granted.
The ladies' entered the imperial city with
Lady Macdonald, wife Of the British Min
lister as deyenne. Prince Ching, who is
now reported to be befriendins TIE foreign
ers acted master of ceremonies. The
party having entered the palace, Mrs. Con-
ger describes what followed. thusly:
Our heavy garments were taken and
we were ushered into the presence of the
Emperor and Empress Dowager. We stood
according TO RANK, the longest time in
Pekin. and bowed. Our first interpreter
he in turn presented US to the Empress
powaeer. Then Lady Macdonald read a
little speech in behalf of the ladies. The
Empress Dcwager responded through
Prince Ching. Another bow on our part.
then each lady was escorted to the throne
where she bowed and courtO d TO the En-
peror. who reached out his hand to each.
Then bow and courtesy TO the Empress
DowaGer.
she reached out both hands and We
stepped forward TO her. Size took both OF
ours. then placed UPON the finger OF each
lady beautiful heavy chased gold Chinese
ring set with a very large. fine pearl After
thanking her. We backed from the throne
and took our places below. as before.
From here We were escorted by many
richly dressed, highly painted, decorated
young Chinese women and Chinese officials
to the banquet hail. where a large table
was filed to Overlooking with Chinese and
European food. Prince Ching. Princess
Ching and FIVE other Processes sat at the
table with us. The Empress Dowager aad
Princess Ching were dressed in most ex-
Gulsite embroidered 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 beautifully and
carefully dressed in rich. fine embroidered
satins In bright colors. They had painted
faces. their hair was extended and elabo-
rately ornamented. and they had long gold
finger projectors. They We're pictures. The
Empress Dowager and all of her court
have large feet. They are Manchurians.
The binding of feet Is losing Ito popularity
among the highest classes. Everywhere
with us were Chinese interpreters, who
spoke English and French well,
After this meal We We're invited into 9TH
or rooms and offered cigarettes and tea
The table was cleared away and we were
invited into the hall again. There sat the
Empress DowaSer. and We gathered about
py. Her face was aglow with good will.
There was no trace OF cruelty to be seen.
Ia simple expressions she welcomed US.
hut her actions were full of freedom and
warmth. She arose and wished well.
She reached both hands towards each lady.
and then 10 herself. and said. with much
enthusiastic earnestness: One family,
all one family everything she said was in
Chinese. She presented 10 each lady the En-
press the Emperor's wife. who gave her
hand TO each. The Empress is young and
l. H.. a krur ff,.r