Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-11-19
DEATH OF THE EMPRESS.

Pekin, Nov. 16.-Tse Hsi An, the
Dowager Empress of China, died at two
o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The announcement of the Dowager
Empress death was official, and follow
ed closely upon the announcement that
Kuang Hsu, the emperor, had died Sat-
urday at 5 O'Clock in the afterenoon.
An edict issued at eight o'clock yes
terday morning, placed upon the throne
Prince Pu-Yi, the year old son of
Prince ChuD, the regent of the empire,
in accordance with a promise given by
the Dowager Empress soon after the
marriage of Prince Chun in 1903.
Deathbed observances of three thous-
and years ago marked the passing of the
emperor and dowager. They died alone
and unattended, although surrounded by
circles of abject spectators, who re-
mained rod distant, as on account of
the sacred persons of their majesties,
they could not be approached. The en-
peror died as he had lived, without min
istration of whatever kind or scientific
aid. For months he had refused to per-
NIT the services Of foreign physicians,
and although it was stated that he had
gone back to the old form of medical
treatment, it is believed that, latterly,
he received no treatment at all.
Use Hsi An Tor Western empress) was
born November II, 1884. She was the
child of poor people who lived in Pekin.
At an early age, following a common
practice in China, she was sold as a slave
by her parents on account of their pow
erty. She became the property of a
famous general, who, enchanted with
her great beauty, adopted her and offer
ed her as present to the reigning en-
peror, who was so much impressed by
her looks and intelligence, that he made
her his secondary wife, and on her bear
ing him q son, the future emperor,
Tung- Ching, raised her to the first rank.
On his death she became the regent of
the empire, administering national af-
fairs with more vigor than any of her
predecessors,
The dowager empress was in China
a foreigner" being a Manchu, and
was under the ban of Chinese patriots
and an increasing anti-Manchu party.
which sought the suppression of the
dynasty. She wore the Manchu gar
ments, bpt her speech was Chinese. She
was dominating to the last degree and
magnetic and seemed to be all-seeing to
her courtiers who stood as if on eggs in
her presence. She was theatrical in
public, exhibiting the stage training she
had acquired in private. Her officials did
not hesitate on occasion to speak OF her
fierce temper, her Tartar character and
to refer to her as terrible woman.
Among the populace, she was feared
and hated, principally because of her
treatment Of the emperor, for whom
the enlightened and the common people
had a sympathetic liking. She was com
monty referred toby the sobriquet, "the
old Buddha."
She was law unto heraelf. She
violated the constitution of the dynasty
that forbids woman ruler and broke
the sacred customs given by the sages.
The greatest of her political acts was
the coup e'tat of 1893. In this she show
ed her power, combining craftiness and
courage. She stopped to the role OF
reformeF that she might conquer, and
when she had perfected the disguise, she
slaughtered the reformers and incar.
cerated the emperor, keeping him a pris.
oner for nearly two years. Following
this, she championed the Boxer war
which proved to be the greatest stain up
on the empire that it has had under tn.
Manchu.
The whole nation is now thrown int
mourning, the rites attending which ar,
Of stringent character. For hundre.
days. the court and people of rank wea,
white, trimmed with white fur, this be
ing the mourning color in China. Fo
the same period the men abstain from
shaving, while the women lay aside tn,
favorite ornamental head dress. Tn,
court will be dFaped in mourning TO
three years.