The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-04-22
Tzu HSi---Late Empress
DOWager Of China

face Combined. however,
with her love Of sumptuous display
and occasional FITS Of Imperial munin.
cence, Tzu Hsi possessed certain
housewifely instinct of thrift which
with advancing age verged on parsl-
mony. At the time OF her death her
private fortune, including large num-
Der of gold Buddhas and sacrincial
vessels stored in the Palace vaults,
was estimated by a high official Of
the Court at about et6,O00,000. Tzu
Hsi was proud of her personal ap-
pearance, and justly so, for she re-
tanned until advanced old age a clear
complexion and youthful features.
. Her good health and vitality
wero always extraordinary She her.
self attributed them chiefly to early
rising, regular habits and the fire.
quent consumption of milk. which she
usually took curdled, in the form Of
a kind of rennet She ate frugally,
but well, being an epicure. at heart
and delighting in dainty and recher-
che menus. Opium, like other luxuries'
she took in strict moderation, but
greatly enjoyed her pipe after the
business of the day was done.
"Such was Tzu Hsi a woman whoss
wonderful personality and career can
not fail to secure for her a place
amongst the rulers who have become
the standard and pivots of greatness
in the worlds history. The marvel
lous success of her career and the pas
sionate devotion of her partisans are
not to be easily explained by any
ordinary process of analysis or COM
parisOn; but there is no doubt that
they were chiefly due to that myster-
ious and indefinable quality which is
called charm, a quality apparently in
dependent alike of morals, ethics, edu-
cation, and what we call civilization;
universal in its appeal, irresistible in
its effect, upon the great majority Of
mankind 1t was this personal charm
of the woman, combined with her in
tense vitality and accessibility thar
won for her the respect and often af-
lection even from those who had good
reason to deplore her methods and de-
ny her principles. Europe
ans, studying the many complex and
unexpected phases of her extraordin-
airy personality from the point of view
of Western moralities, have usually
emphasized and denounced her cold
blooded ferocity and homicidal rage.
Without denying the facts, or extenu-
ating her guilt, it must nevertheless
be admitted that it would be unjust
to expect from her compliance with
standards of morals and conduct OF
which she was perforce ignorant, and
judged by the standards of her own
predecessors and contemporaries, and
not to be reckoned a wicked woman.
Let it be remembered, also, that with
in comparatively recent periods Of
English history, death was dealt out
with no niggard or gentle hand to
further the alleged interests of the
State; men were hanged, drawn ann
quartered IN the days of Elizabeth
and Mary Stuart, gentle ladies both,
and averse to the splitting of blood,
for the greater glory of the Thrones,
and in defense of the Christian relig-
ion. Tzu Hsi died as she
had lived, keen to the last, impatient
of the bonds of sickness that kept her
from the new days work, hopeful
ever for the future. Unto the last
her thoughts were Of the Empire, OF
that new plan of Constitutional Gov
eminent wherein she had come to see
visions of new and glorious era for
China and herself And when the end
came. she faced it as she had faced
life. with a stout heart and brave
words, going out to meet the Unknown
as if she were but starting for a sum-
mer picnic. Reluctantly she babe
farewell to the world of men, to the
life she had lived with so keen zest;
but, unlike England's Tudor Queen,
she bowed gracefully to the inevitable,
leaving the scene with steadfast and
Imperial dignity, confident in her high
destinies to come"