Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-03
MRS. CONG[R HONOR[D
Wife of United States Minister
at Pekin Shown an Unusual
Courtesy.
Dowager Empress Tells Her in
Tears Of Sorrow for Attack
on Legation.
Mrs. Conger and Other Ladies
Given Jeweled Bracelets and
Other Souvenirs.

Pekin, Feb. 3.--Ihe empress,
the emperor and the empires received
the ladies and children of the powers
the private apartments of the palace.
Mrs. Conger, wife of the United States
minister. as doyenass of the diplomatic
corps, and the dowager empress eX-
changed speeches. The visitors after
wards were entertained at a banquet,
during which the dowager empires and
the emperor mingled informally with
their guests.
The dowager empress grasped Mrs.
Conger's hand. wept copiously, and in
broken words expressed the sorrow she
felt on account of the occurrences dur
ing the siege of the legations.
Magnificent Jewel bracelets, rings
and other souvenirs were presented to
the visitors.
The dowager empress occupied a
throne with a brilliant assemblage of
princesses and court ladies' about her.
The emperor was seated upon a small
| platform in the center of the room.
The visitors, upon entering. bowed
twice to the emperor, and some of them
assembled the throne and bowed to the
dowager empress. Mrs. Conger. wife of
United States Minister Conger, as doy-
eness of the diplomatic corps. read a
speech, which was translated by Secre-
tary Williams.
Mrs. Conger said.
I'VE heartily congratulate you and
the imperial court that the unfortunate
situation which led you to abandon
your beautiful capital has been so hap
PLY solved. and that you are now per-
mitted to return In freedom n peace.
The event of the past two years must
have been as painful to you as to the
rest of the world, but the sting of the
experience may be eliminated by the
establishment of franker. more trustful
and friendlier relations between the
Chinese and the other peoples of the
| earth. The world is moving forward,
the tide of progress can not be stayed.
and 1t is hoped that china will join with
the great sisterhood of nations in the
grand march.
THE recent imperial edicts give
promise of great good to your people
and to your vast empire"
The dowager empress reply was ex-
ceedingly friendly in tone. 1t was in
part as follows:
Last year the dissensions in the PAL
ace caused a revolution, which compel
led our hasty departure; but 1t Is a
great qualification to us that IL return
to the capital has caused much ~rejoic-
ing in China and abroad"
Baron CZikkan. the Austrian minis
ter and a doyen of the diplomatic corps,
presented all the ladies to the dowager
empress. who took the hand of each OF
them. They We're next presented TO the
emperor, who also shook II with
them.
The guests then retired to IN ante
room. The dowager empress. entering
this room, grasped Mrs. Conger's hand,
which she held for some minutes, trem-
bling, weeping and sobbing loudly, and
exclaiming in broker sentences that the
attack upon the legations was a terrible
mistake, and that she repented it Bit
terly.
In reply Mrs. Conger assured her that
the past would be forgotten.
Bracelets and rings of great value
were then placed upon MIS-. Songer
wrists and fingers.
Following the reception a banquet
was given, the dowager empress sitting
at the head of the principal table, with
Nine. Conger n Nine. Uchida upon
either side. The emperor was the only
man present except Chang Isl, pros
pective minister from China to Great
Britain, who knelt beside the dowager
empress and interpreted what she said.
The dowager empress talked animal
eddy. She aid that China would aban-
don her policy of %isloation and adopt
the best features of western life. and
would send many students abroad.
Every lady Of the visiting party was.
given a pair of jeweled bracelets and a
solitaire pearl ring, besides other SOU
Yenirs.