The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-04

IA I,A lAItiIlSII d.: FONTESOf.
~ lMuLTANEOUSLf with tho news
Ne that gold bars to the value or
~ S3o,O0v000. representing part OF
The late Dowaser Empress OF
ped secretly TO England and are now
deposited in the bank or England.
comes The news OF tho death OF La
Lien-Iing. reputed the richest man in
the Celestial Empire. and who was for
near half II century tho chief adviser,
The most influential conndan; in one
word. not only tho Chief Eunuch OF the
Court Of Pckin. but also tho de fncto
Prime Minister OF tho Empire since
the death of TOld Buddlia,' the name
by which the late Empress Downger
WIS y,t,,,; SO widely known. he has been
snccumbcd. ~ Pao-Ting tru. In the
withdrawn at the beginning OF the
present reign. 5i
Starting life as cobbler's apprcn-
,Icc. in the small provincial town OF
Ho-Chicn-Fu. he entered the imperial
household at the age OF eighteen. and
Eunuch Of tho Court OF pekln In 1868.
after his equally notorious prcdeces-
sor. Ante Hal had been sunmnrily
d. dreeapitated by the yiceroy Of shan
TnnK. for assuming imperial dlgniMcs
and Insignia, while engaged on tri-
buta-lcvying txpcdition in that pro-
Vince. Before that date. however, LII
Lien Wing had attracted the notice and
won the favor of Empress Tzu-IIsl, by
iioyal services rendered ut time when
her own authority, was not yet firmly
Established, by his remarkable ply
steal comellness. his good manners, and
his Intelligence. lie was an adept at
organizing and conducting the routs
the Mosques, theatricals, and picnics
wherein the heart of tho pleasure low
ing Empress rc1oiced. TO the end of her
life, his services In this capacity made
him Indispensable to her, and won for
Aim a familiar cemaderis which she
vouchsafed to no one else not even to
her faithful kindsmnn Jung-Lu. He
was a good rcconteur, able and willing
OF nimble wit and cheerful disposi-
ton, and although ignoble and vicious
In many RESPECTS. he served his mis-
treSs with n lifetime of dog like deyo-
ton and affcctionate care.
Ills hand was powerful, not only in
tho finances and administrative affairs
also in the higher matters OF state. flo
above all others was Instrumental IN
Inducing tho late Empress TzM-IIsi 10
suppress with violence the reform
unfortunate Emperor ISwang fIsu to
the humiliation Of q giidcd prison, which
only ended with his ifc.
1t was lie WHO In his colossal icnor-
anco persuaded her TO believe in the
mystic powers of the Boxers. and in
their ability to drive tho foreigner into
formers and OF Foreigners, was. indeed.
largely due to self-inlercst, since they
had repeatedly denounced the IGunuch
system, which constitutes the banc and
curse of Manchu rule, and made it's
abolition II plank in their programme
OF REFORM with the very general sup
port OF public opinion. Ills faith ia
The Boxers was entirely, genuine. and
TO tho very last days Of the siege OF
tho legations, lie continued to reas-
sure the Empress OF their eventual
success.
After the capture Of the city of Pekin
by tho allies, and the Night Of the
count. his courage forsoolt him, and
FOR many montha he went In fear that
tho Empress would he forced by the
demands OF the ayenging Powers. 10
hand him over for punishment with
tho other leaders of The Boxer move
ment. lie owed his eventual safety to
the influence exercised on his behalf
by the Russian government which, with
an eye TO mast and future fnvors, from
his good Will at Pckin. interviewed to
shield him and others from their well
merited punishment.
Nevertheless, he did not escape scot
free. For one OF his boards OF treas
ilrc. hidden In tho vicinity OF the palace
at Pekn, was betrayed TO tho French
troops, and by them looted. lie sub
scnuently recoupcd himself by pro-
vinc!al cXactions Of the most nnblush-
ing rapacity, whilo tho court was In
residence n IIsi-An, and when his mis-
tress died, was known as Chinese
Squcezcr-in- Chief. archtype and foun-