The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-12-05
HER MORNING TOILET
EMPRESS OF CHINA IS ROUGED
WITH GREAT CEREMONY.
Often Necessary To Paint and Pow.
der Her Thrice Before the I'M
perini Ideal Is Reached-Tho Ted
ium Relieved by Song aud story.


ium Relieved By Song and story.
The empress OF China u rouged
every raorIing regularly after break
fast until tser checks fame delicately
against the creamy composition with
which the rest OF her face has been
coated A huge mirror is then roll
Ell to the couch upon which the
source OF all power In China reolines.
TBi Hsu studies the effects OF the
labors OF her young ladies 30 criti-
cally that Il n said to be necessary
occasionally to rogue her twice or
thrice before the technic Of the oper-
alton quite realizes the imperial i'd
cal. The monotony is made less ted
ious by song. the narration of court
gossip and not infrequently applica-
tion OF her majesty's rattan cane to
sensitive surfaces.
The penciling OF the eyebrows and
eyelashes has had to be abandoned.
II we may trust French sources of
Information. owing to the growing
weakness OF tho old lady's sight. But
the lips co--.H to be carmlned.
The slightly SJulycrn growth OF
hair on chin and upper lip Is dealt
with after the fashion Of those West
ern artists who oblIterate black eyes
BY the application OF heavy paint
A wig OF extreme lightness, not
withstanding the suggestion OF
weight conveyed by It's crown OF
black hair, parted centrally, is ad-
justed to the Uranium. The false
teeth are nicely established in the
appropriate place, one OF the most
trying achievements of the whole
toilet, evidently, as the chronic
swelling of her majesty's lower Jaw
is rumored to be due to somo pain
ful experience with artificial denu-
ton.
No attack OF illness could bo too
severe to Justify the slightest ci"'ss-
ion of cometical detail by the several
ladies concerned with the empress
dowager's toilet. Though Tsi Hsu be
80 III that her day must be spent In
bed, she is rouged, penclled and
massaged on the f.. OF her back.
She emerges from ftr toilet. we are
confidently informed by the French
daily Just referred to, looking per
.ectly natural"
Her appearance. even in the severe
stsge of the recent paralytic spell.
was that OF the blooming matron"
IN ian autumnal glory OF enchanting
womanhood." Our contemporary ad-
mits that to a critical Western eye
the complexion Of Tsi Hsu would
seem "greenish." But that colora-
ton renders feminine cutlcle all
the more seductive to the Manchu
eye. Tsi Hsu being Manchu herself
to the tips of her extremely long
finger nails. -.
Her majesty wears peculiarly con-
trived gloves in bed. not. as has been
inferred, for the Identification of her
supple, delicate hands. but for the
preservation OF that unpaI allied leng-
IN to which her finger nails have
attained. The nails viii break at
times, the phenomenon portending,
IN her n' 'a>.s opinion, calamity
70 the coL-c--y.
BY the time the last dash of car
mine In tho Cupid's bow OF her ma
jesty's upper lip has been made ap-
propriate to the charm OF woman at
40. the enuchs have begun to admit
the throngs into the hall OF audi
euce. They comprise usually the pri-
vilsgsd ones of the court of Pehin
a yiceroy or two In favor, support
porters OF the four candidates for
the post OF heir apparent and some
memhs The diplomatic corps bear-
ing a sess-AAl message from his sov-
erign. The progress OF the imperial
toilet Is bulletinsd by the snuGhs.
The fate OF decree abolishln9 the
opium traffic or the Iromulgation OF
an edict for which whole province
s signing may depend upon the sdll
OF the young lady with tbs rouge
brush. Once the wig is adjusted and
the empress has passed into thS hal
OF audience-not TO bs confused with
tho grand apartment In which the
diplomatic corps Is otIicially welcoml
ed-the serious business OF Isl Hsu's
day commences. Ii may be summed
up in the word evasion. SO deS
ferrous has the aged woman become
IN the art to which her life has been
given that II is a saying In some
parts Of Pekin that she has ceased
TO live, but Is evading death.--Cur'
rest Literature.