Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-28
THE D0WAGER EMPRESS
SOURCE OF HER POWER OVER
CHINESE EMPEROR.
Marriage DEMONSTRATIONS Have No
Voice in Choice of Hus-
bands
From the Boston Transcrlpt.


In his lecture on Woman In China"
Mr.. Chester Holcombe defined the status
of the woman in three different periods Of
her life and explained wherein lies the great
influence which the present empress dow.
ager exercises over the affairs of her n1-
ticn. In all Chinese history probably no
circumstances have occurred which might
serve to illustrate so completely the MAJ
ural position and autOcratic power OF "A
mother as those of the last few years in
which the dowager empress has played tho
most conspicuous part.
The dowager is the sole surviving widow
of the Emperor Hsen Feng who Gied
in 1sG1 In later years. by a process
of adoption known only in China, the
present empress dowager became the grand
mother Of the present emperor Actually
she is of no discernibe relationship TO him.
But, by that process Of adoption. constant
ly practiced and everywhere recognized n
China, she is his only surviving grand
mother. And here Is the one source II
power and authority, alike over MIN and
over the Chinese race. Not as empress, but
as mother, she has the full right - rule
under every foundation principle Of the
Chinese governmental system. However I'M
wise, absurd and disastrous to the empire
any act OF acts of hers may have been.
they have been well within the limits OF her
authority, according to the constitution AMI
laws Of the empire. Only death or an en-
tire overturning Of the entire system OF
authority can either relieve or rob her Of
her rights, not as empress. but as mother.
Woman's Unhappy Lot
In early life many OF the women In
China commit suicide. One has no legal
protection against her master. man. He
may abuse her and neglect her, fail TO pro-
vide for her wants desert her and divorce
her In practice husbands divorce their
wives for any reason and for no reason.
ANY scrap of paper upon which the fact Of
divorce is written, and stamped with the
impression Of the thumb of the husband, is
all that is necessary. The most serious OF
all hardships which fall to the lot Of the
Chinese, woman come with her marriage.
And these are often so bitter as to be Gnen-
durable and to end in self-destruction. She
Is betrothed in infancy or childhood to a
boy whom she has never seen. ana whom,
certainly, she does not know.
The betrothal is legal ceremony, no less
binding than marriage. She has absolutely
no choice regarding whom or when she
shall marry. and any expression of opinion
or semblance of interest in a matter which
so vitality concerns her would be as sadly
immodest to ruin her reputation The
members of her own family take no part in
the wedding ceremonies; usually they are
not present. She has separated from them
forever, and her relationship is broken
completely. She is dressed by her mother
and when her toilet is completed and the
a large bag, made of red satin and bril-
liantly embroidered, is drawn down over
her head and shoulders to the waist where
1t is tied, thus completely binding her and
pinioning her arms TO her sides.
The Bridal Procession.
Meantime a procession has come from
the house Of the parents OF her future hus-
band, headed by a band of music. and in
which the most conspicuous object is a red
sedan chair-the wedding chair-borne bv
four or eight men. This chair is brought
close TO the door of her room and she ia
half led and half carried to a seat in II
The curtains Of the chair are closely drawn
SO that not ray or light can enter. When
she has been placed within IL the door is
closed and locked by the girls mother.
Such precautions are taken that the we'd
ding chair shall be tightly closed and no
one given even glimpse of the inmate
that, In hot weather. at the end of the
snort journey dead bride may be de-
ivered to the waiting groom the moor girl
having been suffocated.
The average Chinese old woman, be she
the wife OF a boor or the consort OF a
prince, has one terrible weapon which
long continued exercise has rendered keen
er than a two-edged sword and nimble
beyond belief. In force, volume, rapidity
of action and general nastiness it is prob
ably unrivaled upon earth. 1t is her
tongue And when she opens her throttle
valve. turns on a full head Of steam and
allows 1t to play at full speed the boldest
warrior who ever led armies TO battle will
If he has a morsel of discretion mixed
with his valor. take at once to his heels
One able-bodied old Chinese woman would
have routed Wellington or Napoleon, caused
Grant to retreat and settled the Schley-
controversy Of