The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-16
Remarkable and Bloody Career of Brainy Woman Brought
 to a Close
WHOLE CHINESE NATION
 MOURNS DEAD EMPRESS
AII-PowerfuI Tsze Hsi An Crooked No Opposition While She Lived and Controlled Her Successor
 After Her Death.

Pelxin, November 15.--Tsze Hsi An, the Dowager Empress of China, the auto cratic head of the government which she directed without successful interference since 1861, and without protest since 1881, died at o'clock this afternoon
 The announcement of the Dowager Elm press' death was official and followed closely upon the announcement that I<uang Hsu, the Emperor, had died yes- terday at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, but it is believed that the deaths of both the Emperor and Dowager Empress occurred a considerable time before that set down in the official statements.
 An edict issued at o'clock this morn ing placed upon the throne Prince Pu Vi, the s-year-old son of Prince Chun, the regent of the empire, in accordance with a promise given by the Dowager Empress soon after the marriage of Prince Chun in 1908. An ediet issued on Friday made Pu Vi heir presumptive. The for eign legations were notified this morning by the foreign board of the death of the Emperor and the succession of Prince pu Yi
 Troops have been in readiness for sev- eral days to quell any disorders that might arise on the death of Kuang Hsu. The possibility of uprising was made greater because of the fact that the death of the Dowager Empress was known to be close at hand. Two divisions of troops have been held in reserve and these are now stationed in various quar- ters of the city. Twenty gendarmes were f< the legations but up to the present the duties of the forces have been slight. Royal Orders Issued.
 Prince C4.ih. fhe regspr n:is ordefed the viceroys and governors to take precau- lions for the continuation of the ad- ministration of the provinces as hereto fore, and he has ordered 100 days of mourning. The court will go into mourn ing for three years.
 Pekin already has been greatly trans formed; all red objects have been re- moved and blue instituted. The people learned thas evening of the death of the Dowager Emphess and although the Chin csc are In no wise emotional, they showed that they were profoundly i'm pressed by the passing of their powerful ruler. The foreigners in the city are watching the strange ceremonies with h great interest.
 II Atsthe palace elaborate rites are being
 bserved and flood of edicts has been \ snt forth.
 II Death-bed observances of 5000 years ago \ I lrked the passing of the Emperor and "A I Jwager. They died alone and unat- tended although surrounded by circles Of abject spectators who remained a rod distant, as on account of the sacred per- sons of their majesties they could not be approached The Emperor died as he lived, without ministration of what ever kind scientific aid. For months he refused to permit the services of for eign representatives and although it was stated that he had gone back to the old form of medical treatment, it is be- neved that lattery he received no treat ment at all.
 Edicts Approved.
 The government has given out that the Dowager Empress, in a lucid interval on Friday last, received Prince Ching, who is a Manchu and member of the royal family, and approved the edicts declaring Prince Pu Vi heir presumptive and Prince Chun regent of the empire. Prince Ching |s was, at the beginning of the Boxer out IT break lord chamberlain of the court and commander of the Pekin field forces. It was on Prince Ching that the foreign of ficials hung hopes of the safety of tho envoys
 That the Dowager Empress took this step is discredited. Nevertheless she is believed to have successfully established the Chun regime, which is the Manehu regime without obstacle, and the opin- ion is held here that this solution of the difficulty which has necessarily confront ed the government is the best possible. Until word of the Dowagers death is spread broadcast, no general disorders are apprehended China is queter now than | at any time since 1900. Local disorders in the south are possible on any pretext but the north is more inclined to peace There are few signs of antagonism to foreigners, and there is manner of doubt that Prince Chun will be able to i meet the situation.
 Child of Poor People. Tsze Hsi An Cor western Empress) was born November F. 1884. She was the child of poor people who lived in Pekin. At an early age, following common practice in China, she was sold as a slave by her parents on account of their poverty She . became the property of a famous general who, enchanted with her great beauty, 1 adopted her and offered her as present | to the reigning Emperor, Hsln rene. Sno ] so charmed the Emperor by her looks and intelligence that he made her his secondary wife and on her bearing him a son, the future Emperor, Tung Chin. raised her to the first rank. On his death she became the regent of the empire, ad- minisrering the national affairs with more yigor than any of her predecessors
 Her authority was complete over about 14O0O officials and over the welfare and lives of the vast majority of the in habitants of China, who number close to i27o.OOo,ooo.
 The Dowager Empress was in China a k.foreigner being a Manchu, and was N.uder the ban Of Chinese patriots and an
 1reasing anti-Manchu party which
 k,sht the suppression of the dynasty.