Evening star., 1915-12-26
New Emperor of China Promi-
nent Actor in His Country's
Politics for Years.
SERVED FOR BRIEF TERM
AS HEAD OF THE REPUBLIC
Lately Installed Ruler Sends Photo
graph of Himself to U. S. sena-
tor Salisbury of Delaware.

Yuan Shih-k'ai, popularly spelled in
this country Yuan Shi Kai, formerly
president of China. now emperor, has
sent to Senator Salisbury of Della
ware an autographed photograph of
himself in memory of an audience
which the emperor gave, the senator
during the latter's visit to China last
summer. This photogra which
shows the emperor in the uniform of
a general of the Chinese army, is re-
produced in The Star today.
Senator Salisbury, whose audience
with the emperor made a marked i'm
preston upon the Delaware sena-
tor, and left him convinced that yuan
Shih-k'at had a remarkable grasp upon
affairs, was compelled to converse with
the emperor through an interpreter,
who was unable to speak English.
MY Chinese was a little rusty said
the senator. with smile, when he
spoke of the audience last night.
His Career Eventful.
The career of Yuan Shih-k'ai has
been eventful He may well be said to
be a self-made mana man who has
grown great in his own country
through native ability. His start was
of some favors in early youth, he
carved his way to success by his own
hand.
He is not an old man. by any means,
only fifty-six years old. His father,
Yuan Pao-chung, never held office or
distinguished himself in any way.
Yuan Shih-k'ai. however. was adopted
by an uncle when. an infant, an uncle
who had had some military experience,
and who gave him his start in life. In
1873 his father by adoption died, ana
in the following year Yuan Shih-k'ai
went to Peking and there studied un-
der another uncle, Yuan Pao-nng he
took the government exapinations IN
1876, but failed to pass them.
Marries When II Years Old.
He was only seventeen years old
at that time, but nevertheless he was
married to Miss Yu. Two years later
his first son was born. Yuan ko-ting
In the autumn of that year Yuan
Shih-k'ai again attacked the govern
ment examinations. but again he fall
ed to get degree.
His chance came, however. when.. in
the winter Of 1880. Gen. WI Chang
ching, who was in command of the
Shantung coast guards, gave him an
appointment as one of his secretaries
at Tengchou Flu. He was then twenty
one years old.
In the summer of 1882 disorders broke
out in Chosen, then called Korea, and
the Japanese invaded Seoul. The ma
tives appealed to China for help, and
the emperor ordered WI Ch-ang-ch-
ing to lead a military force to Korea
Yuan Shih-k'ai. as the secretary of the
general, took a prominent part in the
expedition. The Korean troubles were
finally smoothed out and the name of
Yuan Shih-k'ai was sent with others
to the court for recognition. He was
given the rank of subprefect and the
peacock plume NGen. Wu relied greatly
upon the abilities of the young China
man and gave him more and more
work to do. The King of Korea asked
Gen. Wu to organize military force
for him, and the work was turned over
by Gen. WI to Yuan Shih-k'ai. The
king gradually came to rely upon him
for advice in all important matters.
Gen. Wu died in 1884, and Yuan Shih-
k'ai became the de facto head of the
Chinese garrison.
Becomes Minister to Korea.
Through the troubled times which
followed in Korea, Yuan Shih-k'af was
the leading actor. Finally he was given