Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-11-16

Age did not seem to have embltterct
her at the close of strictly terrible
career, although the past dread had
intensified her record
She became the mother of an En-
peror and her political career began
with the wholesale beheading of princes
in 1861 by which she established E%r
son on the throne. A slaughter of re-
formers and others took place 81 years
later. Two years after this she delib-
erately upon advice set about siaugh-
tering all Christians and foreigners,
giving 100000 taelS from her private
funds toward carrying on the work.
but, even with this, it is said OF her
reign that it has been free from the
blood thirstiness that characterized
the reigns of her predecessors
Two nominal Emperors succeeded to
the title held by her husband, and she
was responsible for both. She put her
son, Tung Chus, on the throne and,
upon his sudden death, enthroned the
son OF ner dead husbands brother The
latter'S son was the late Emperor,
kuang HSu. She dethrOned him in 1900
and made Pu Chun, son of Prince
Tuan. heir apparent without authority.
as the succession in China is only
rightfuily determined by the Emperor.
Pu Chun again she degraded in
obedience to the mandate OF the allies,
because his father was the leader Of
the Boxers in the palace, restoring
kuang Hsu. During the minority of
her own son. she ruled through her
appointed regent, Prince kuns.
AS to political wisdom her talents
appeared TO be strictly limited to the
narrow field of the palace. This ground
she knew we'll. She personally passed
however on much of the business with
foreign nations, which she would de
eide upon the advice of the council
lers. But in the realm of international
politics hers was a long record of way
wardness and lack of knowledge. She
inspired the declaration of war in 1894
and, although it recoiled upon the
throne. she apparently took to herself
no lesson from the defeat by the Jap
arese. for in 1900 she entered upon a
struggle for third time. and this time
with AL the foreign nations combined
The greatest Of her political acts was
the coup etat Of 1898. In this she show
ed her power combining craftness and |
courage. She stopped to the roll of re- |
fo,-cer that she might conquer and |
when she had perfected the disShSe |
she slaughtered the reformers and in |
carcerated the Emperor in whose name |
she acted, keeping him prisoner for near
~ TWO years. Following this she cham
pioned the Boxer. war, which proved to
he the greatest strain upon the empire
that it has had under Manchu
She was regarded by the progressives,
educated abroad. as Chinas greatest
enemy, because she was the greatest
obstacle to advancement. 1t was point
ed ont by some of the most enlightened
Chinese that she could by 10 possibility
have any conception OF the real signi-
hcance of constitution in China. the idea
of which ridculed always by her most
advanced minister Chang Chi Tung. who
did not believe r hcr apparent deter
mination TO give Il constitution to the
country.
She managed the empire without mod
crn advisors and as far as the repose
of her people went managed it we'll, for
she put down three rebelfions. IT has
been said of her that she was more able
ruler than any one man who ever sat
upon the Dragon throne.
The whole nation is now thrown into
mourning, the rites attending which ore
of a stringent character For n hundred
days the court and people of rank wear
white, trimmed with white fur. this he
ing the mourning color in China. For
the same period the men abstain from
shaving, while the women lay aside
their favorite ornamental head dress. At
ter this first term the garments assume
a black or dark hue for the following
- months During this period no bethroth-
al takes place amongst the better classes.
while for the others the corresponding
term is limited to 100 days. All enter
tainments and public rejoicings are strict>
~ prohibited for one year.