The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-10-26

F~@'
rather fine looking. During her last
days her face was drawn awrv from
a stroke OF paralysis. This can be seen
IN some of the photographs which /
nave been able TO secure III Picking.
Her majesty objected 70 being photo
~graphed. and she would not permit
photographers 10 come into the pal
ace. However. one OF the court Ia
dies who had been abroad as the
daughter of the Chinese minister To
Paris brought in a camera and made
some pictures. In some way the
plates fell into the hands of outside
photographers. and soon the likeness
OF her majesty were sold over Picking.
When this was known the girl who
owned the camera was dismissed and
her family diSgraced.
Behind the scenes With the Dow
h woman tells me that the dow
aSer was fond Of pretty things and
show YOU that l did ThereupoH she
PAINTED pictures herself and wrote
Chinese scrolls most beautifully. She
supported a school for artists ard had
something like eighteen scholars in il
who worked for her.
As TO her p~enmanShip. at an audi
ence which she gave to Mrs. Conger.
Mrs Miles and other ladies when Gen.
Miles made his trip around the world.
she presented each of the guests with
d scroll OIL ntI OWN MAKING. saying.
Some people charge that / do not
write these scrolls myself, but | will
show yocu that / do" Thereupon she
called for large pieces of red paper,
and with a brush which she graSped
tightly in her whole hand, she made
some exquisite Chinese characters. I
have seen portfolios containing scores
o. her paintings OF flowers. Some
OF these are owned by DIR. George
Morrison, the correspondent of the
London Times in Picking.
Her majeSty'S quarters in the palace
contained many works of Chinese art,
and among them were some which
were exceedingly valuable. At one OF
hr l~uncheonS to the ladies of the di-
plOnatic corps a jade bowl was shown.
This was two feet high and nearly
three feet in diameter; 1t was deco
rated with grapevines cut in the jade
A the same luncheon was exhibited
another piece of jade. of the shape of
a mountain, with trees, hOuSeS, men,
animals and bridges carved upon ii.
1t was five feet high, and more than
that thick. When il is remembered
that a piece of jade as big as ones
thumbnail is worth several dollars,
the cost of such work can be appre-
ciated.
The great dowager was fond Of
children. At one of her luncheon
parties she asked the wife Of our
hines secretary, who acted as he
interpreter, to bring her little girls
with her. Only one came, and the en-
press dowager carried her off to her
own bedroom and allowed her to play
with carvings of jade and other pre-
ciouS stones. Upon leaving, the little
girl was given a jade doll baby, which
she carried home.
Her imperial majesty was fond of
fine dressing. She had as many gowns
as Queen Elizabeth Of England, and
all were of the most beautiful silks,
SatinS and velvetS. She wore much
jewelry, and also the wigs and other
hair decorations Of high Manchu Ia
dies. Her shoes were Of Manchu
style, each having n big heel in the
center af the foot, which raised the
Wearer five or six inches.
Great DOwager and ode Reform.
During her latter days the empress
doWager was the soul Of the reform
movement. She knew but little of the
condition of her people until The
Boxer trouble occurred, when she was
forced to flee TO a far-Off province.
The Chinese had no opportunity TO
prepare the way for her, and she was
for the first time the real poverty of
her people. During that period she
evidently made up her mind to change
things il she ever got back to Peking.
AS soon as she returned she advised
the foreign office to that effect.
Before arriving at the capital she
sent word that if foreigners would
like to see the return of the court it
could be arranged, and thereupOn
windows were rented along the line
Of march. The quarters of our Iega-
tion were in a balcony over q silk shop.
and those who saw her majesty tell
me she was carried in a yellow Sedan
chair. and that she waved her hand
to OUr minister as she passed.
During that trip the great dowager
was very tiInid. She was upset by he
war and the new innovations, and
was as near real fear as she ever was
in her whole eventfui life. A part Of
the return trip was made on the rail-
road, when her majesty took her
first ride on the cars. When the
whistle of the locomotive blew she
was frightened and asked what was
the matter. She was told that the en-