New-York tribune., 1902-02-02
EMPRESS DOWAGER WEPT
REMARKABLE SCENE AT A RECEPTION
BY THE IMPERIAL FAMILY.
EMPEROR PRESENT WHEN THE WOMEN
AND CHILDREN FROM THE LEGA-
TIONS VISIT THE PALACE

I1ONS VISIT THE PALACE.
Peking. Feb. 1.-The Empress Dowager, the
Emperor and the Empress this afternoon re-
ceived the women and children of the members
OF the diplomatic corps in the private apart
ments Of the palace. The audience was the
most revolutionary affair since the return of
the court to Peking. The exclusiveness of Chi
nese royalty and the prejudices against the
meeting of the sexes was waived and the func-
ton was less formal than is usual in European
courts. The Empress Dowager occupied the
throne. with brilliant assemblage Of princesses
and court women about her. The Emperor was
seated upon a small platform in the centre of
the room.
The visitors upon entering bowed twice to the
Emperor. and several of them ascended the
throne and bowed to the Empress Dowager
Mrs. Conger, wife Of United States Minister
Conger, as doyeness of the diplomatic corps
read speech, which was translated by Secre-
tary Williams Mrs. Conger said
We heartily congratulate you and the i'm
perial court that the unfortunate situation
which led you to abandon your beautiful capital
has been so happily resolved that you are now
permitted to return in freedom and peace The
events OF the last two years must have been as
painful to you to the rest of the world. but
the sting of the experience may be eliminated
by the establishment OF franker more trustful
and friendler relations between the Chinese
and the other peoples of the earth. The world
-
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's reply was exceedingly friendly
in tone. 1t was in part follows:
Last year the dissensons in the palace caused
a revolution which compelled our hasty depart
ure. but it is a great qualification to us that
Capital caused such
in China and abroad.
Baron Czikann. the Austrian Minister and
doyen Of the Diplomatic Corps presented all the
women TO the Empress Dowager, who took the
hand of each OF them. They were next present
ed to the Emperor. who also shook hands with
them. The guests then retired to ante-ro6m
The Empress Dowager. entering this room
grasped Mrs. Conger's hand, which she held for
.Cme minutes. trembling, wAering and sobbng
loudly and exclaiming in broken sentences that
the attack upon the legations was terrible mis-
take and that she repented it bitterly. In re-
ply. 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. The Empress Dowager made
INQUIRIES regarding the other women who were
in Pekng during the siege of the legations. and
Mines Rainbridge and Morisse, the wives of
Secretaries Bainbridge and Morsse, of the
American and French delegations, were present
ed and warmly greeted.
Following the reception, banquet was given
This was spread upon three tables. the En-
press Dowager sitting at the head of the prin-
cipaI table with Nine. COnger and Nine. Uchida
on either side. The Emperor was the only man
present He sat at the head of the second
table The Empress Dowager and the Emperor
touched glasses with their guests. The En-
press Dowager talked animatedly- She said
that China would abandon her policy of isola-
tion and adopt the best features of Western
life and would send many students abroad.
Chang Ts prospective minister from China 10
Great Britain. kneeling beside the Empress
Dowager. interpreted what she said.
Afterward the Empress Dowager and the
Emperor mingled with their guests. and her
majesty cOnVersed with every one, and par
ticularly noticed the children. The Emperor
was addressed through interpreter, and
bowed without speaking. The interpreters COM
posed his replies.
To every woman of the visiting party
given a pair of jewelled bracelets and sol-
taire pearl ring, besides other souvenirs.