Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-15

the state, it was the dowager who held
the reins of government, transacted
business with foreign plenipotentiaries
and occupied the highest seat at pub
lie functions. 1t was her rigorous
measures Of repression and extermi-
nation that compelled the Chinese re-
formers to flee to foreign countries II
they would save their heads, and the
Boxer outbreak Of 1900, which resulted
in the international expedition to Pc
kin, has always been attributed to her
Vaccinations. After the imprisoned
embassies had been rescued by the
! European and American forces, the
Chinese capital pacified and terms OF
reparation imposed upon the Chinese
| government, 1t was the empress who
was regarded as the most important
factor in the future course Of the
country. An English correspondent
furnished a vivid sketch Of the return
Of the imperial court to Pekin, whence
it had fed at the first sign Of danger.
|
yellow, red, blue-the variegated ban
ners that fluttered in the breeze, the
glittering swords and tridents, had a
fine scenic effect as the bright sun be-
gan to shine on the throng. By 7.45
the advance cavalry passed. Then
came the eunuchs in carts, followed by
yellow jacketed officers with flow
ing plumes and prancing ponies
Then the royal sedans were carried
past, each containing some important
trophy. Next came the royal mounted
kneel, and instantly they Topped on to
their knees. Soon the outriders, pull
ers, bearers of the first yellow-dra-
goned chair were in view. The emper-
| or was pulled by twenty and borne by
sixteen men, dressed in decorated silk
gowns. His chair was richly draped
with embroidered satin and decorated
with jade jewels. His majesty sat bolt
upright, with features that were as
| fixed as a statue. He looked only
straight ahead, as If unaware Of the
lines Of his kneeling subjects, or, more
| likely, afraid he might not manifest
the self-possession that is the essential
mark of dignity and rank. His chair
was followed by that of the old Bud
dha'-as the dowager is Familiarity call
ed. She was dressed (or rather
'drownedD in dragoned yellow satin.
Her face is long and wan, with high
cheek bones, big mouth and thick lips.
Her eyes cleaned like fire. She was as
awake and alert as the emperor SEEM
ed inert and Indifferent. Nothing es-
capped the sharpness Of her vision. The
beggars received tablets Of silver and
the curious glances Of scorn. Every
one remarked how careworn she look
ed, and that she was quite ten years
older since last year."
Lately the old empress had given
many signs of her appreciation of the
changing condition with which Chi
ma Is confronted. She abandoned her
attitude of determined hostility to all
things new or foreign. She gave re-
ceptions. to the ladies Of the diplomatic
corps, granted audiences to western
visitors in the most sacred hall of the
Forbidden City, and encouraged the in
PRODUCTION of foreign dress and Co.'S
tunes. Not long ago she permitted a
foreign artist to paint her portrait, but
strictly according to her own direc-
tions. Europeans who have had op-
portunities Of observing her have told
Of her imperious temper, her fits Of
temper followed instantly by an as
sumption of the blandest courtesy, Of
the cruel light in her eyes, and her
unfailing suggestion of intellectual
power. Her whole appearance CORES
ponded with the conception Of her as
a ruthless, treacherous, bigoted and
highly ambitious woman, with the
guile>an glitter and grace Of an Orien-
tai serpent, such a woman in short as
she proved herself to be when she in
quired anxiously about the comfort and
health of the besieged and starving
embassies in Pekin, sending them
meanwhile presents Of vegetables,
which were useless as food, and may
have been poisoned.
The personal qualities Of the en-
press dowager are said to have been
great and such as belong to a gifted
woman. Though whimsical and stub
born and exacting with her officials,
and often pettish and Jealous with the
women of the court, she had a gift Of
humor, and sometimes turned solemn
audience into a laughing one, when
provoked to mirth by the awkward
drolleries Of some Of the old councillors
who had to be helped about in their
courtesies by oftimes still more infirm
associates.
In the awakening In China" w. A.
F. Martin described her thus last year:
"A trifle under the average height Of
European ladies, so perfect are her
proportions and so graceful her car
riage that she seems to need nothing to
add to her majesty. Her features are
vivacious and pleasing rather than
beautiful; her complexion not yellow,
but sub olive, and her face illuminat-
ed by orbs of jet half hidden by dark
lashes, behind which lurk the smiles of
favor or the lightning Of anger. No
one would take her to be over 40. She
carries tablets on which. even during
conversation, she jots down memoran-
da. Her pencil is the support Of her
sceptre"
ARCTIC TEMPERATURES.