The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-13
PIGTAILSHGUREMP POLITICS
More than 2OOOOOOO Chinese Forced to Cut Off their Queues
in Obedience to Commands from Pekin

as skipping rope by his two tiny and
totally nude grandsons. one Of whom was
swinging the queue and the other jump
ing over IL.
Ii seems that the prince regent, In spite
OF his proclamation providing for the
care and development Of the young En-
peror's pigtail. issued two years ago. had
already then in mind the abolition O, the
queue. when the moment appeared pro-
pitious. He was aware that his elder
brother, the late Emperor KWang-Su.
had hoped 70 Inaugurate this reform, but
had been prevented from doing so by his
aunt and tyrant the terrible old Dowager
Empress. who for nearly half a century
ruled China with rod of iron. irrespec-
tige OF the emperors occupying the
throne
Supported In His Views.
The regent, who has enjoyed the adj
! yantages Of foreign travel, has been sup
ported In his views by those of his
younger brothers and the other princes
of the imperial house who have visited
Europe and America, as well as by nearly
all government officials, mobiles and mer-
chants who have been abroad. They
are ali united IN the idea that this dis
tinctive couture, by emphasizing the diff
ference between the Chinese and the for
eign races, mas impeded that better I'M
Outstanding between the two which Is
necessary to place the people Of the
Celestial Empire in the enjoyment OF
those Western innovations requisite be-
fore China can hope 20 occupy a place
I'm the front rank OF the great powers OF
the civilized world.
Prince Chun also believes that much or
the prejudice entertained against his
countrymen in America. in Australia.
and elsewhere abroad. prejudice produc-
tive of outrage and of humiiiating legis-
lation. will disappear when they aban-
don their national couture and garb and
dress in the same manner as those white
people among whom they have cast their
lot. Finally, the prince regent, well
aware Of the danger TO the throne arising
from the hostility of the bulk of the
Chinese nation against the now reigning
dynasty, imposed by tho Manchu or Tar
tar conquest of some three centuries ago,
is anxious 10 conciliate his small sons
millions on millions of subjects by abol-
ishing that most conspicuous reminder
OF their defeat, the imposition by law OF
the Manchu style of wearing the hair.
For until the advent of the so-calied
great pure dynasty through the Man
chl conquest In 1914. the Chinese people
a knot on the top of their heads, and it
is only since then that they have been
obliged &c shave the front part of their
heads.
What the masses of the Chinese people
will say TO the abolition OF tho queue
by means of the recent imperial procla-
nation forbidding the shaving OF mascu-
line heads. and of the wearing OF the
pigtail. II is difficult 10 say, since not
even those foreigners who have lived the
longest in the so-called Middle Kingdom.
such as Sir Robert Hart. can boast OF
being able 10 fathom The Chinese mind.
declaring that the longer they live among
the Chinese the less they understand
them.
Cling 20 Old Custom.
But there is no doubt that many of tho
mandarin class have long ceased 10 re-
gard the Manehu queue as token OF ma
tional servitude and humiliation, and viii
on the contrary construe the command
for its removal as a disastrous eonces-
sion TO Liberalism and 10 Objectionable
Western reforms. Indeed. the queue bids
fair 10 become the emblem OF the re-
dictionary school, which looks for sup
port TO the now widowed Empress Lung
Flu. Telict OF the late Emperor. aunt OF
the regent. Regarded as insignificant
during the late reign. she has since the
death OF her husband and Of her aunt,
the old Dowager Empress, developed
much of the latter's craze for power, i'm
peciOusnesS. strength of character and
aversion 10 all foreign Innovations. IN
deed, she is he head OF the reactionarv
party in China. and is proving g very
serious obstacle 70 the enforcement OF
the numerous reforms inaugurated during
the last two years by Prince Regent
Chin
Until about thirty years ago the Jan
anese were in the habit Of shaving the
hair on their temples and from the
middle of the scalp, and binding the re-
naming hair into a queue. which, much
shorter than that Of the Chinese. did not
hang down behind, but was turned for
ward and laid on the bare scalp. This
method OF couture dated from the medic
val or feudal era, when il was adopted
by the warriors in order TO keep their
hair which they had until then worn
long, like the Chinese, out OF their eySs
when in battle. Restricted al first to
the Daimios and 10 the Samurais it
gradually became a national custom.
but was abandoned, with other old-tine
usages, somewhere about 1850, when the
present Emperor set the fashion ard
allowed his hair to grow. appearing on
state occasions in a gold-laced uniform
OF european military fashion. To-day
the Queue has become almost entirely
obsolete in Japan, save among the peas
antry in the more remote districts of DaI
Nippon.
Originated In France.
II is barely a hundred years ago thar
the queue was common In America a
we'll as In Europe. It seems 10 have
originated during the reign of Louis XIV
Of France az the court Of Versailles.
when his mobiles wore their hair or their
wig loose and flowing in winter. and in
doors, but tied it into a queue in sum
mer. and especially when soldering. The
custom spread TO Austria, to Germany,
and TO England, and fiourished exceed
ingiy. During the reign Of King Fred
erick William I OF Prussia some OF his
unfortunate troops were forced 70 wear
queues which came down almost to their
very heels; while Frederick the Great
is shown by contemporary painters In
portraits. on horseback, with a pigtau
reaching to the crUpper of his saddle
The French revolution brought about the
disappearance of the military pigtail.
For the soldiers of the republic had no
time or money to spare for such bar
ber's work. having sterner business on
hand which demanded all their energies.
In the Austrian, German, and British
armies, the pigtail was done away with
during the Napoleonie wars. the last Brit
ish regiment 20 discontinue the fashion
being the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who were
at sea on the way home from India when
the order was PROMULGATED n is in