Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-17
DID IOWA WOMAN
CONVERT EMPRESS?
Mrs. E. H. Conger Intimate and
Influential Friend Of Real
Ruler of China
RECEIVED FORTUNE in GIFTS
Property Brought From China by Mrs.
conser Not Loot, as Once Alleged
State Refuses to Permit Issue of
Watered stock-DeveIopins Libraries
and State Institutions
Special to Times-Republican

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines. Nov. 17.-Was the late
dowager empress of China a convert to
Christian Science? Was an Iowa wo-
man the instrument thru which the
brilliant and once beautiful empress
saw the light so that her whole career
was changed in it's later days and her
closing hours made serene?
1t is an open secret that no other
person ever had such wonderful influ-
ence over the late dowager empress
as had Mrs. Edwin e. Conger, when
she was at Pekin, the wife of the
American minister. Her intimacy with
the dowager was so marked that at
one time there was serious trouble
among the ladies of the legations be-
cause the wives of European diplomats
of high rank became jealous Of the
American woman. But the dowager
not only showed, in an official way.
marked preference for the American
minister's wife, she also showed her
great personal and social favor. Ntak-
ing her into the palace and spending
hours in private conversation with her.
In fact it was in this way that 1'si An
became deeply interested, in western
civilization and western religions Mrs.
Conger was follower of Christian
Science, brilliant woman, well fitted
for giving the empress an insight into
the mysteries of the science. That
she included religion among the top
les of conversation cannot be doubted.
It was during the boxer rebellion
when Mrs. Conger was shut up with
the other legationers and manifested
the most sublime courage in the face
Of imminent danger, that the empress
became most impressed with the phil
osophy which the minister's wife had
brought from America. After that
time the conversations of the aged
empress and the highly cultured Amer
lean woman became more frequent.
Their intimacy never ceased until Mrs.
Conger returned home.
Mrs. Conger still possesses splendid
diamonds that were given her by the
lent of many valuable gifts, far more
than ever received by any other wo-
man, showing how deeply attached the
empress had become to her. 1t was
thru the personal Intervention Of Mrs.
Conger that an Iowa woman secured
sittings from the empress for her por-
trait and two pictures were painted.
One Of them was given to Mrs. Con-
ger by the empress.
After the death of Minister Conger
few years ago, Mrs. Conger sold some
of the articles which she had brought
from China It was said that these
were taken without right by the Cong
ers AS a matter of fact, most Of the
articles were either gifts of Tsi An to
Mrs. Conger or they were purchased
outright by Mrs. Conger with her own
money. None of the things ever be-
longed to Minister Conger.
Mrs. Conger now lives in Pasadena,
Cal, in cottage purchased by her
from the proceeds Of the sale of one
rug which she bought in China.
The secretary of state has collected
information regarding the members Of
the legislature much earlier this year
than usual and will issue a pamphlet
containing; this information in a few
days. In fact it will be ready when
the senatorial special session convenes.
These statistics will show that forty
four of the house members are native
born Iowans, a larger number than
ever before The oldest member Of
the house will be John A. Cousins, Of
Butler, county, aged II, and the young
est will be H. H. Boettger, of Scott
aged "a. The youngest senator will
be H. L. Adams, Of Fayette, aged 80,
and the oldest, James A. Kirkpatrick
Story, aged 6s, with Capt. John D.
Brown, of Decatur, same age. There
will be only eight farmers in the sem
ate, but in the house there are forty
seven who give their occupation to be
farming or some industry that is prac-
tically farming. OF course some Of
these also admit they are bankers. The
lawyers number only twenty, bankers
sixteen, merchants five, real estate
dealers, manufacturers and editors
three each; druggists two, doctors
three, insurance agent one, preachers
three, abstracter one, electrical engin-
eer one and teamster one. Four Of
the senators have had military service
and fifteen of the house members.
An illustration of the workings Of
the new Iowa law in regard to corpor-
atfons came to light this week at the
state house, and 1t shows the practical
nature of the law which James G.
Berryhill, formerly in politics in Iowa.
declares to be running the state. The
officers sf the Waterloo, Pella q
Southwestern railroad have asked for
permission to issue additional stock
for the purpose Of building railroad
from Waterloo to Charlton They say
they are ready for business and have
submitted a contract with construc-
ton company they have formed and If
they are permitted to issue more stock
the road will be built. It is the busi-