The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-02-06
MRS. CONGER SPOKE.
SHE REPRESENTED LADIES OF
DIPLOMATIC CORPSE.
Empress Dowager of China Also Made
Speech and Went ConiousIv

OPSSSi' anu VcPI OOpIOuSIY.
Picking, Feb. 3.-The dowager en-
press, the emperor and the empress,
Saturday afternoon, received the Ia
dies and children Of the members of
the diplomatic corps in the private
apartments of the palace. The au-
dlence was the most revolutionary
event since the return of the court to
Peklng. The eXclusiveness of Chinese
royalty and the prejudices against the
meetlng OF the sexes was waived and
the reception was less formal than
is usual in European courts.
The dowager empress occupied the
throne, with brilliant assemblage of
princesses and court ladies about her.
The emperor was seated upon small
platform in the center of the room
The visitors upon entering bowed
twice to the dowager empress. Mrs.
Conger, wife of United States Minis
ter Conger, as doyeness of the diplo-
matte corps, read a speach, which was
translated by Secretary Williams.
Mrs. Conger said:
I'VE heartily congratulate you and
the imperial court that the situation
which led you to abandon your beau
tiful capital has been so happily
resolved, that you are now permitted
to return in freedom and peace. The
events Of the past two years must
have been as painful to you as to the
rest of the world, but the stint of the
experience may be eliminated by the
establishment of franker, more trust
full and friendlier relations between
the Chinese and the other people of
the earth. The world is moving for
ward, the tide of progress can not be
stayed, and it is hoped that China will
join with the great sisterhood of ma
tons 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 dissensons in the
palace caused revolution, which
compelled our hasty departures; but
it is great qualification to us that
our return to the capital has caused
such rejoicing in China and abroad"
Baron Czikann, the Austrian min
lister and doyne of the diplomatic
corps, presented all of the ladies to
the dowager empress, who took the
hand of each of them. They were
next presented to the emperor, who
shook hands with them.
The guests then retired to an ante
room. The dowager empress, enter
ing this room, grasped Mrs. Conger's
hand, which she held for some min
utes, trembling, weeping and sobbing
loudly, and exclaiming in broken SEN
fences that the attack upon the le-
cations was a terrible mistake and
| that she repented ir bitterly
In reply Mrs. Conger assured her
that the past would be forgotten.
Bracelets and rings of great value
were then placed upon Mrs. Conger's
wrists and fingers.
| Following the reception a banquet
was given, the dowager empress sit
ting at the head OF the principal ta-
Bile, with Mrs. Conger and Nine Uchi-
da upon each side. The emperor was
the only man present, except Chang
Isl, prospective minister from China
to Great Britain, who llnelt beside the
doWager empress and interpreted what
she said.
The dowager empress talked ami
matedly. She said that China would
abandon her policy of isolation and
adopt the best features of western
life and would send many students
abroad.
Every lady of the visiting party was
given pair of jeweled bracelets and
solitaire pearl ring, besides other
souvenirs.
The project of sending special mis-
sions to Washington to thank Presi.
dent Roosevelt for the conspicuously
friendly policy of the United States
throughout the recent events and
during the peace negotiations is be.
ing discussed at the foreign office and
the American government may be
sounded concerning the acceptable.
ness of such a mission