Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-12
RISE OF CHINA'S EMPRESS.


LII the eyes OF tne ClVlliZ6u Wpflu,
centred at the moment upon China.
could penetrate the pink walls OF the
imperial city of Pekin-where stands
the palace of the reigning dynasty
and be focused upon the ruling spirit
of that palace, it would be found that
a woman holds in her hands the key
to the present situation. That woman
Is the Empress Dowager of China In
many respects she IL one of the most
remarkable as she is one of the most
monstrous figures of history. Fer
nearly 40 years she has played an in
creasingly powerful part in the affairs
of the Chinese empire, and her in
fiuence seems now to have radiated
over the entire civilized world We
have become accustomed to think that
modern woman has made notable pro-
gress in her influence and has achieved
large successes in this latter end of
the century. The effort of Western
women is, however, puerile, both in
scope and achievement, when contrasted
with the overwhelming tiiumphs
secured by this imperial lady Of the
Orient.
When her history is considered, such
of 1t at least as has drIfted to the out
side world-for the open door CT China
has never meant the open window for
her women to look through-her career
is the more remarkable. She was the
daughter of Manchurian noble, and
followed the fortunes of her family
from Pekin to Canton until, when she
was about years old, the condition
of her fathers finances necessitated,
or at least resulted in, her sale as a
slave into the family of Canton mer-
chant Her beauty even at that time
was pronounced, according to Chinese
standards, and her cleverness had
made herself very popular and useful in
her new home, and her residence there
of eight or ten years was prosperous
and fruitful. There can be little doubt,
in the light of her life history, and she
was even then en- the alert for an oppoi-
tunity to advance herself in her station
and scope of affairs, and that she held
CLOSELY to every possible helpful in
huence In this direction. The oppor
tunity came when she was about H.
At that time the Emperor Hsien Flung,
as is the Chinese custom, issued a pro
clamation calling upon the daughters
of Manohuria to present themselves at
Pekin for choice to be made among
them for the imperial harem. Tsu Isl
raw and instantly grasped her oppor
that it is said that her adopted father
not only consented that she should
enter the lists, but assisted her to
present the best possible appearance.
She travelled up to Pekin in the luxury
befitting her rank, triumphantly passed
the ordeal of inspection by the EN-.
peror's offices, and was promptly in.
stalled in the imperial palace among
the Emperor's women.
This was in 1S4S. Beautiful, accom-
plished, and possessed Of cunsummatt
tact and unusual knowledge, Tsu Is
soon stepped out from among tn,
throng of the harem residents into 1
separate and distinctive place. FRS
of al she attracted the attention of thu
Empress, or 'chief wife, of the En-
peror, and it is recorded that the it'll
Manchu princess actually succeeded il
being brought to the notice of the En-
peror, largely through the interes
taken IN her by his Empress. Whel
the jealousies and intrigues of al
Oriental harem are taken into con
sideration, the full measure of thi
success is better understood. An,
when, later, she presented the Empero
with son and heir to his throne, an,
still preserved the friendship am
affection of the ''chief wife," VIII
was childless, one must bow to tn
diplomacy of this Manchu girl.
In 1860, while the 10y was sti
young, his father died. At the time
was only vaguely limited that his deaf
was due to any but natural causes.
the light of subsequent events, how
ever, the extraordinary opportunenes
Of Hsien Fung's death at this momer
becomes significant Since 1860, Q
every difficult crisis in Tsu isis affair
death has most fortunately stepped
to put the person most impeding BIZ
progress out of the way. The ia,
that her son was the next heir, an
that the sooner he began to reign ii
longer the regency would be, ms
assist the careful student of Tsu Isl
history to correct diagnosis of Hsit
Fung's malady. In any event, b
death took Place, and very soon Il
small boy was proclaimed Emper
under the title of Tung Chi with Il
Dowager Empress and mother Empire
appointed coregents.
Things moved smoothly for a tin
after this. The Junior regent took pal
not to show herself too dominant, b
hers was, in fact, the strong hand
the pair, and was so recognized
Prince Kung, brother of the late FL
peror and chief adviser of the t,
regents. 1t was toward the end OF II
Emperor's minority that his moth
noticed certain unpleasant signs of !
dependence in her royal son. It
shrewd to seem to resent them. s
allowed matters to continue the
course until, with much comp a
ceremony, Tung Chi attained
majority, was duly proclaimed FL
peror, and the regency ended.
Appareptly Iau isis career vi
closed. Wise and silent, she drew ba
with her sister regent into private i
perial life. But she was in fact or
the shrewd, far seeing spider wit
drawing into the corner of his W
until the unsuspectlng fly should
deeper in his tolls. Trusted by her 8
and cognizant of all the state affai
Tsu Isl merely watched closely for /
moment to make her sortie. 1t cal
presently, prefaced by an alarmi
rumor that the Emperor's health "
failing seriously. Naturally the eovel
ment must be protected, and with
sick perhaps dying, Emperor, wi
more suitable and proper than that [
regents who had proved themsel
efficient before should be summon
again to take the reins of sta
Within month the youthful Empe
became, as his subjects were piou
informed, "a guest on high" But
government was saved, for the two L
presses were in full authority, and ,
viously, for the best interests Of
country, they would be asked to ret,
IA In lung Chi had married n w,