The Wrangell sentinel., 1923-12-13
Wran9ell Girl in China
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lightful party l had ever been on, and, after our strenuous two weeks, much needed. The moonlight on the old temple roofs and the quiet of the night certainly gave me many thrills. There were eight of us in the party. We slept outside in one of the courts under a great tall white pine tree. The only break in the stiffness of the night would be the tinkle of the camel bells from caravans on their way to the desert. I surely appre- ciated that week end party lot.
 Meets Members Old Imperial Family
 We came back into the city Mon day afternoon, and that afternoon had another interesting time - per haps the most unusual one l could have had ln Peking. Isabel Ingra- ham, friend of Helen's, is tutoring the empress. You will recall that the boy emperor, the deposed monarch, was married last year. This family live in an inner portion of the ola Forbidden City in Peking. They are kept there and have no outside com munication with the city. They are, of course, under the supervision o1 the Republic. The emperor is only eighteen years of age and his wife seventeen. Isabel Ingraham's father was one of the oldest missionaries in North China, and was much respect ed by the Chinese. Isabel graduated from Wellesly college last year, and upon her return to China was engaged to tutor the empress. (She speaks excellent Chinese, of course.) It is an unusual opportunity for her, as she and MT. Johnson (the gentle man who tutors the emperor) are the only foreigners allowed to visit this portion of the Forbidden City. Helen wanted me to have an oppor- tohlty Io AaSSS ooh1S Oh ShS AASA~ADSA v of the old Imperial family. Of course it would not be possible to see either the emperor or the empress, but their immediate relatives who live in pal aces of their own outside the Forbid den City are not restricted in this way. So Isabel arranged for tea at which the principle guests were mem- bers of the Chinese Imperial family those of the closest blood relation to the emperor and empress. Isabel had met all these people in the emperor's S palace, and they have the utmost re- spect for her. She invited them to come to Helen's house, an experience which even for Helen and the other girls was quite milling. Helen had invited two or three other friends so they could enjoy this privilege - for a privilege it was, because these princesses live rather secluded lives and seldom meet foreigners. Of course Helen's imperial guests knew
 
 no English, but the girls speak Chinese we'll enough to get along. All foreigners in Peking learn Chi nese-they must in order to talk to their servants. must tell you who came. These people are Manchus and not Chinese proper. The Manchus were the ruling dynasty when China became Republic. First came the empress's grandmother dressed in conventional dark satins which the older women wear. The next guests to arrive were the emperor's aunt and his cousin, most attractive girl about sixteen years old. She has taken foreign name, and calls her self Princess Dorothy. She speaks a few words of English. She was dressed in satins of the lighter colors and looked adorable. Then the em- pressess's mother and aunt came They were our real thrill because they had been to birthday party of the empress in the Forbidden City earlier that afternoon and wore the conventional Manchu headdress, which is most elaborate Perhaps you have seen pictures of it-a big, wide board effect covered with black satin and with many large flowers in front. It is embellished with semi precious stones and pearls. Their costumes, too, were colorful, of beau. tiful satins of different colors. They were pictures I can tell you Chinese women of this class are the most charming one could ever expect to meet-they are so alert and intelli- gent looking, and display such re- finement and dignity. It was a most thrilling afternoon for all of us, and I shall never forget how lovely Helen looked when she was pouring tea for them. She has very delightful man. ner, and know she could pour tea for the queen of England with as much ease as she did for these Man