The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-11-16
The End Came on Saturday
Evening
DOWAGER AT POINT DEATH
Unable to Assume the August Rela-
tionship Of Grandmother to the
Successor to the
Throne.

Pekin, Nov. l0.--The emperor Of China
died at Pel,in soon after > o'clock Sat
urday evening. The emperor had been i'll
long time and during recent audiences
lie was unable either to sit upon the
throne or even in an erect attitude. Re
cent climatic extremes caused the de-
velopment Of fatal complications and
resulted in his death. At the moment Of
the death Of the emperor, the dowager
empress's own death chamber chair was
waiting in the courtyard She, too, had
been in a serious condition and word was
brought to her earlier in the day that
the emperor was dying, which caused
her TO collapse. This has prevented her
from assuming the relationship OF grand
mother TO the successor TO the throne,
which, according TO the Chinese system,
would enormously augment her author
ity.
There is little indication Of emotion
among the people over the emperor's
death and the probable death Of the
dowagcr empress within a short time.
There are no signs Of mourning. Kuang
Hsu's later life was q pitiable spectacle
TO his attendants. His feebleness had
rendered him mere puppet, and he had
suffered long from i'll health, which was
combined with fear and despair. Lat.
terly he showed marked signs Of mental
disturbances, and even went so far last
August as to declare himself mad.
The difficulty OF confirming the re.
ports from the palace lies largely in
the face that IL is the custom OF the
court to make a secret Of any imperial
death. Public attention was diverted
Saturday to the new government for
China as indicated by the edict promot.
ing Prince Chm to the regency, and his
infant son, Pu Wei, to be heir presump
tive. The edict grants Prince Chun prec
edence over all other princes. The ap-
pointment satisfies the reformers and
appeals to the sentinents held by the
people Of Kuang. Hsu, because 1t respects
the close blood Ties in the matter OF the
succession and introduces q new and
more modern element into the govern
ment OF the empire. The appointment
" III tNlutbtt Nl tHt ftsbukt VI tue re-
formers. The government Saturday no,
titled the American legation officially
that Prince Chun had been made regent
and that he was therefore the head OF
the state. This is recognition Of the
retirement Of the dowsger empress.
The Associated Press, says a dispatch |
from Toxic, has excellent grounds for
believing that the situation in China. in |
the event Of the death Of the downger
empress, win be treated by Japan only |
in agreement with all the powers.
Present Empress Would Ascend Throne.
II do not think an uprising would |
follow the death OF both the emperor
and the dowager empress of China, said
Mrs. Il. II. Conger, widow Of the late
United States minister to China, when
seen Saturday at her home in Pasadena,
Cal. II have been bit skeptical CON
corning the reports Of the emperor's
death" she continued. but if he is
dead, and il the dowager dies, the present
empress will ascend the throne. | knew
her quite we'll She has been untried
except in the domestic affairs of the
court, but ALWAYS seemed yery capable