New-York tribune., 1912-01-21

whose occasional soundness Is yet at
tested by their agreement with DR.. Rosss
mature, deliberately formed opinions.
Mr.. Dingle crossed China on foot from
the head of the Yangtse gorees to Brit
ish Burma, returned thence to Yun-Nan
and travelled in the wilds of the sur
rounding country. He saw China from
all, warning OF the continued hostility
Of the mass Of the people Of the inte-
r!or toward the foreign devil and his in
novations. He makes no pretence OF an
analytical study Of the Chinese mind
the surface Of their daily life, its poverty
and squalor suffice him. Yet, In decided
and decidedly questionable contrast to
DR.. Ross's we'll balanced analysis, he
ventures upon the broad, unqualified as
sertion, in which there is nothing new.
that these Orientals are 'two-faced,
crafty, past masters In duplicity, whose
whole life is one vast sham" He wit
messed the riots at Hankow a year ago.
They were his parting impression Of
China. Throughout he is of those who
predict new Boxer risings and attach a
sinister significance to China's modern
army.
Mr.. Dingle makes no allowance for
gradual developments. What is TO DR..
Ross a passing phase he bluntly puts In
the form of finality. He sees the here
and now, but looks neither beneath nor
ahead Of 1t. AS a narrative Of travel
his book is interesting. however, even
though occasionally 1t lapses into purple
patches of description. His illustrations
are worth while, especially those taken
in regions where none but an occasional
had preceded him.
The Princess Der Ling presents us
with some interesting studies of the ia
nous Empress Dowager. and of the daily
life and ceremonious doings of her court.
Historic comparisons have been drawn
ere now between this remarkable woman
and Catharine II Of Russia, but the
closest resemblance between them will
probably be found in their amiability
toward their encourage, and the Gondi-
tions they tolerated at their respective
courts.
Educated at mission schools, and "fin-
ished" in a French convent during the
wears OF her fathers ambassadorship In
France. the Princess Der Ling returned
with him to her native country in 19O3
being Immediately appointed her maj
estys first lady-in- waiting, largely Oh
account Of her knowledge Of foreign Ian
guages. In 1905, during a leave Of abb
sence from court caused by her fathers
illness, the princess became engaged TO
an American, Mr.. Thaddeus c. White,
whom she married two years later.
Her "reminiscences do not enter into
the discussiC-. Of matters Of Chinese pol
Icy and diplomacy during the two years
they cover TIE Empress Dowager
stands forth in them as a shrewd, kind
old lady of amazing physical and mental
vlgor and activity. Her one great pre-
occupation was to impress the foreigners
whom she received at her palace. You
will see," she told the princess shortly
after her appointment, how differently
/ act in their presence. so that they
cannot see my true self" An incident
that reminds one OF Catharine the
Greats court took place when Nine.
Plancon, the wife OF the Russian Minis
ter, was presented:
The Empress Dowager asked me, II
could speak Russian / told her that
httV haf RnCGlang smoke
French, which seemed TO satisfy her. She,
however. said, Why didn't you tell me
you speak Russian? | won't know or be
able TO find out" and at the same time was
looking at one of the court ladies', con-
cluded that some one must be fooling her.
for she seemed 10 appreciate the fact tnat
I had told her the truth. This atterNaTd
proved 10 be true.
Her majesty was fond OF bit OF gos-
sip. Her august favor also expressed
itself in a promise 10 make suitable
match for the princess, much 10 her dis
comfort and apprehension. OF the EN-
peror Kwang Hsu the princess says that
he was very intelligent and interesting,
and a delightful companion, but that he
would look serious and as II worried TO
death" in the Empress Dowager's pres
ence. He was a man of great gifts well
informed about the ways and resources
OF Western civilization, but opportunity
was denied him. perhaps chiefly by the
respect and obedience which he owed To
the Empress Dowager under the laws
that govern Chinese family life.
The book is more than idle and exoti-
cally picturesque court gossip for t
gives an insight into the personality of
a remarkable woman. And ever and
anon the author returns to the ways of
her majesty's servants with her, to the
unruliness of the eunuchs,' the tricks Of
the maids, who, disliking certain tasks,
pretended to be too stupid to perform
them properly. ut isn't that they can
not do their work." patiently explained
the ruler of a third of the human race.
but they do not like to wait on me In