Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1902-02-07
CHINESE CUSTOMS CHANGED
The Empress and Emperor Received
the Ladies' and Children of For
eign Diplomats In the Palace
Mrs. Conger's Speech = BANQUET
Followed Reception.

Pekin, Feb. 4.-The dowager en-
press and the emperor Saturday after.
noon received the ladies and children
OF the fourteen diplomats in the palace
The audience was the most revolu-
tionary event since the return of the
court to Pekin. The exclusiveness of
Chinese royalty and the prejudices
against the meeting of the sexes was
waived and the function was less form
al 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 a small
platform in the center of the room.
The visitors, upon entering, bowed
twice to the emperor and several of
them assembled to the throne and
bowed to the dowager empress.
Mrs. Conger, wife of United States
minister Conger, as doyoness of the
diplomatic corps, read a speech, which
was translated by Secretary Williams
Mrs. Conger said:
I'VE heartily congratulate you and
the imperial court that the unfortun-
ate occurrence which led you to aband-
on your beautiful capital has so hap
PLY been solved, that you are now per-
mitted 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 sting of ex-
perience may be eliminated by the es-
tablishment of franker, more trustful
and friendlier relations between the
Chinese and the other people of the
earth. The world is moving forward,
the tide of progress can not be stayed
and it is hoped that China will join
with the great sisterhood of nations
in the march.
'The recent imperial edicts give
promise of great good to your people
and your vast empire
The dowager empress reply was ex-
ceedingly friendly in tone. 1t was, in
part as follows:
Last year. the discussions in the
palace caused revolution which COM
PEELED our hasty departure, but it is
a great qualification to us that our
return to the capital has caused such
rejoicing in China and abroad"
Baron Czinakinn, the Austrian am
bassador and doyon of the diplomatic
corps, presented all the ladies to the
dowager empress. who took the hands
of each of them. They were next pre-
sented to the emperor, who also shook
hands with them.
The guests then retired to an ante
room. The dowager empress, entering
the room, grasped Mrs. Conger's hand,
which she held for some minutes,
weeping and sobbing loudly
and exclaiming in broken sentences
that the attack upon the legation was
a terrible mistake and that she re-
pented it bitterly.
Bracelets and rings of great value
we're then placed upon Mrs. Conger's
wrists and fingers.
The dowager empress made inquir-
es regarding the other ladies who
we're in Pekin during the siege of the
O6oIAOAo anu
and Morris, the wives of Secretaries
and Morris of the Amer
can and French legations respectively
we're warmly greeted.
Following the reception a banquet
was given which was spread upon
,hree tables, the dowager empress
sitting at the head of the principal |
able and Mrs. Conger and Nine. Uchi-
ia upon either side. The emperor was
he only man present except Chang
Isl, prospective minister from China
o Great Britain, who knelt beside
he dowager empress and interpreted
What she said. The emperor sat at
he head of the second table. He and
he dowager empress touched glasses
With the guests.
The dowager empress talked ami
She said that China would
Ibandon her policy of isolation and
4dopt the best features of western
life and would send many students
broad.
For a Mint mt Tacoma.