Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-24

the morrow, and on the day following
all the girls must appear in red
The next day the order would be for
yellow, or perhaps green. and the court
lady who came in wearing the wrong
color was punished.
When in her prime her majesty was
rather fine looking. During her last
DAYS her face was drawn awry from d
stroke of paralysis. This can be seen
in some of the photographs which [
have been able to secure in Picking.
Her majesty objected to being photo
graphed, and she would not permit
photographers to come into the palace.
However. one of the court ladies who
had been abroad as the daughter Of the
Chinese minister to Paris brought in
camera and made some pictures. In
some way the plates fell into the hands
of outside photographers. and soon the
1ikenesses of her majesty were sold
over Picking. When this was known tho
girl who owned the camera was dis
missed and her family disgraced.
This woman tells me that the dowager
was fond of pretty things and that she
had great artistic taste. She painted
pictures herself and wrote Chinese
scrolls most beautifully. She supported
q school for artists and had something
like eighteen scholars in it who worked
for her.
AS to her penmanship. at an audience
which she gave to Mrs. ConSer, Mrs.
Miles and other ladies when Gen. Miles
made his trip around the world she
presented each of the guests with a scroll
of her own making, saying:
. Some people charge that | do not
write these scrolls myself. but / will
show you 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 eX-
quisite Chinese characters nave seen
portfolios containing scores of her PANT
ings of flowers. Some of these are owned
by Dr. George Morrison. the correspond
ent of the London Times in Picking.
Her majestys quarters in the palace
contained many works of Chinese art,
and among them were some which were
exceedingly valuable. At one. of her
luncheons to the ladies of the diplomatic
corps Jade bowl was shown. This
was two feet high and nearly three feet
in diameter: it was decorated with grape
vines cut in the Jade. At the same
jade. of the shape of mountain,
with trees. houses, men. animals and
bridges carved upon ii. 1t was i've feet
high, and mere than that thick. When
it is remembered that a piece of Jade as
big as ones thumbnail is worth several
dollars, the cost of such work can be
appreciated.
The great dowager was fond of chill
dren. At one of her luncheon parties
she asked the wife of Chinese sec
rotary who acted the interpreter,
to bring her little girls with her. Only
one came. and the empress dowager
carried her off to her own bedroom and
allowed her to play with carvings of
jade and other precious stones. Upon
leaving, the little girl was given jade
doll baby, which she carried home.
Her imperial ajesty was fond of fine
dressing. She had 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 ladies. Her shoes were
of Manchu style, each having a big heel
in the center of the foot, which raised
the wearer five OF six inches
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
to flee to far-oR province. The Chi
nese had no opportunity to prepare
the way for her. and she saw for the
first time the real poverty of her people.
During that period she evidently made up
her mind 10 change things If she ever got
back to Picking. rs soon as she returned
she advised the foreign Office to that eff
feet.
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 legation were in bal