The Washington herald., 1909-04-27
WASHINGTON CHAT.
By THE SPECTATOR.

10 China during the Boxer revolution. has
written a book, entitled Letters
from China. which viii add much to
our knowledge OF the Celestial kingdom.
both in its political and domestic aspect.
AS wife Of a diplematist in Pekin. Mrs
Conger's experiences enables her to give
a more intimate account Of the people Of
China than any one who has so far writ
ten on the subject. She enjoyed the
unique experience OF being among the
first foreign women TO have an audience
with the Dowager Empress. The occa-
sion was a memorable one, the United
States, England, France. Germany. Rus
STA, Holland, and japan being represented
by the wives Of the ministers from these
countries, whom the Dowager Empress
not only received with the utmost gra-
ciousness, conducting them herself through
the apartments OF the palace, but send
ing them home laden with gifts OF rich
silks. tortoise-sheIl combs Of wonder
full workmanship. and beautiful rings OF
hand-wroUght virgin gold set with rare
pearls. These rings were extremely in
teresting because Of the hneness and
delicacy with which they were made. and
because Of the delicate clasps that fast
ened them on the finger. The most vaiu-
able souvenir. however. was a scroll of
silk. painted by the empress own hand.
10 which WAS appended her photogrC 2h.
Mrs. Conger writes Of this remarkable
woman: She was bright and happy.
and her face glowed with good Will
There was no trace Of cruelty TO be seen
IN simple expressions she welcomed Us.
a. 4 Er- Fr-rT - =
warmth. Her majesty arose and wished
Us wei. She extended both hands to-
ward each lady, then. touching herself,
said with much enthusiastic earnestness,
one family; all one family
This interview marked the first Of many
which the wife OF the American Minister
had with the rea! ruler Of China. IN which
were revealed to her much Of the con-
cealed force and value OF China's women
Ignorance % these qualities has brought
a pronounced misrepresentation Of chi
mas womanhood In describing the
siege Of the legations in the foreign COM
pound Of Pekin by the Boxers. Mrs Con-
ger relates in her diary kept during that
terrible time the following incident. which
gives some idea OF the strong feeling re-
garding caste in China
The other day I said 70 A scholarly
Chinese, VIII you help 20 fII these sand
bagsT He replied. 7 am no coolie.
Then I in turn said. I am no cOolie.
either but We must ali work here and
now. I will hold the bag and you come
and shovel the sand I took a bag. and
-
and filed Il. He spoke no English and
7 10 Russian. but We both understood the
language o. the situation. other people
rallied about Us and we soon stopped
aside Our work was finished This
scholarly Chinese was one Of the Amers-
can legations staff helpers As rank IS
so respected IN China. ana as the Chinese
do nor wish 10 degrade the ranks. this
man. from his point Of view. could not
fiji sand bags Nj Conger talked with
him. saying. Your life. as well as ours.
IS 10 be protected here. and YOU must
do your part. or We cannot feed you
The man was in hiding three days. As
our coming troops did not come, and he
was near 70 starvation. Re came 10 the
front. willing 20 do what he could ="
Both BIZ her book and By word of
mouth. Mrs Conger has testified 10 her
appreciation OF China and the Chinese
Indeed. they have no fTmer friend IN this
part OF the world. and she gratefully
accepts the task OF making this country
and this people more familiar 10 people
in this part Of the world.
One of the lions IN town last week was
Gen. Horace Porter. who has won laurels
or the battlefield. IN diplomacy and lit
erature. His mission here was 10 attend
the meeting OF the International Law So
ciety. and. as usual he made a happy
speech. for he has long been known as an
eloquent speechifer. and the way in
which ne earned his reputation is this
When he was aid az the White House
President Grant made a tour OF New
England and Canada, and was naturally
welcomed with many addresses and feted
a. many banquets. bat the President was
no speaker. and 10 this young. handsome.
and vOiuble aid Ihe duty Of replying 20
the addresses OF welcome fell. and ever
since then he has been counted one of
the p0st-prandi2l speakers In America
Gen Porter has had an unusual career
and an unusual equipment for IT, He
was graduated al West Point and the
Lawrence Scientific school at Harvard
and holds c7~rees in law from Union and
Princeton But OF all he has done since
he received his commission al West
Point al tie beginning Of the war. he is.
perhaps. 1rOudest OF his work IN con-
nection With the Grant mausoleum. which
was e labor OF love. for both in life and
death, the young officer who served under
him. was noted for his devotion and 10y
atty 70 the great commander. Sixty days
before the subscription for the nonu-
ment closed. $4,000 still remained TO De
subscribed. and Il seemed Well-niEh in
possible to raise that amount. but Gen
Porter devoted himself heart and soul,
night and day. TO the task. with the re-
suit that when the time expired the
money was al paid in.
One OF Gen. Porter's favorite stories is
OF q party OF Gen. Shermsn's bumpers"
who were forced 10 swim across the
Georgia River. which at the point they
entered was nearly mile wide and flow
ed through the middle OF swampy dis
trict extending some three Or four miles
on either SIDE OF #.
say. JIM remarked one Of the raid
ers. when he had struggled through some
two miles OF the morass. 81 think we're
crossin' this here river endw Sc"
Gen Porter has recently celebrated his
seventy-second birthday. but there is still
much about this distinguished and sol
dierly figure that recalls the dashing
young army officer who occupied IN the
Grant administration much the same Do
sition that Capt. Archie Butt held in the
Roosevelt and now holds in the Taft
administration. only his duties we're more
extensive even than the much overworked
Butt. for he was not only military aid
but secretary as well, and the whole re-
sponsibility for the social affairs at the
White House fell on his shoUlders-in
fact he was the Man Friday" Of the
Grant administration.