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diff --git a/old/tyifc10.txt b/old/tyifc10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce0df14 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tyifc10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8610 @@ +*The Project Gutenberg Etext of Two Years in the Forbidden City* +by The Princess Der Ling + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Scanned by Charles Keller for Sarah with OmniPage Professional OCR + + + + + +TWO YEARS IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY +BY THE PRINCESS DER LING + + + + +FIRST LADY IN WAITING +TO THE EMPRESS DOWAGER + + + + +TO +MY BELOVED FATHER +LORD YU KENG + + + + +FOREWORD +THE author of the following narrative has peculiar qualifications +for her task. She is a daughter of Lord Yu Keng, a member of the +Manchu White Banner Corps, and one of the most advanced and +progressive Chinese officials of his generation. Lord Yu Keng +entered the army when very young, and served in the Taiping +rebellion and the Formosan war with France, and as Vice Minister +of War during the China-Japan war in 1895. Later he was Minister +to Japan, which post he quitted in 1898 to become President of the +Tsung-li-yamen (Chinese Foreign Office). In 1899 he was appointed +Minister to France, where he remained four years. At a period when +the Chinese Government was extremely conservative and reactionary, +Lord Yu Keng labored indefatigably for reform. He was instrumental +in reorganizing China's postal service on modern lines, but failed +in efforts to revise the revenue system and modernize the army and +navy, from being ahead of his times. He died in 1905. The +progressive spirit of Lord Yu Keng was shown in the education of +his children. When it became known that his daughters were +receiving a foreign education--then an almost unheard--of +proceeding among high Manchu officials-attempts were made to +impeach him as pro-foreign and revolutionary, but he was not +deterred. His children got their early education in missionary +schools, and the daughters later attended a convent in France, +where the author of this work finished her schooling and entered +society. On returning to China, she became First Lady-in-Waiting +to the Empress Dowager, and while serving at the Court in that +capacity she received the impressions which provide the +subject-matter of this book. Her opportunity to observe and +estimate the characteristics of the remarkable woman who ruled +China for so long was unique, and her narrative throws a new light +on one of the most extraordinary personalities of modern times. +While on leave from her duties to attend upon her father, who was +fatally ill in Shanghai, Princess Der Ling took a step which +terminated connexion with the Chinese Court. This was her +engagement to Mr. Thaddeus C. White, an American, to whom she was +married on May 21, 1907. Yielding to the urgent solicitation of +friends, she consented to put some of her experiences into +literary form, and the following chronicle, in which the most +famous of Chinese women, the customs and atmosphere of her Court +are portrayed by an intimate of the same race, is a result. +THOMAS F. MILLARD. SHANGHAI, July 24, 1911. + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + +I. INTRODUCTORY +II. AT THE PALACE +III. A PLAY AT THE COURT +IV. A LUNCHEON WITH THE EMPRESS +V. AN AUDIENCE WITH THE EMPRESS +VI. IN ATTENDANCE ON HER MAJESTY +VII. SOME INCIDENTS OF THE COURT +VIII. THE COURT LADIES +IX. THE EMPEROR KWANG HSU +X. THE YOUNG EMPRESS +XI. OUR COSTUMES +XII. THE EMPRESS AND MRS. CONGER +XIII. THE EMPRESS'S PORTRAIT +XIV. THE EMPEROR'S BIRTHDAY +XV. THE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL +XVI. THE SUMMER PALACE +XVII. THE AUDIENCE HALL +XVIII. THE NEW YEAR FESTIVALS +XIX. THE SEA PALACE +XX. CONCLUSION + + + +TWO YEARS IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY + + +MY father and mother, Lord and Lady Yu Keng, and family, together +with our suite consisting of the First Secretary, Second +Secretary, Naval and Military Attaches, Chancellors, their +families, servants, etc.,--altogether fifty-five people,--arrived +in Shanghai on January 2, 1903, on the S.S. "Annam" from Paris, +where for four years my father had been Chinese Minister. Our +arrival was anything but pleasant, as the rain came down in +torrents, and we had the greatest difficulty getting our numerous +retinue landed and safely housed, not to mention the tons of +baggage that had to be looked after. We had found from previous +experience that none of our Legation people or servants could be +depended upon to do anything when travelling, in consequence of +which the entire charge devolved upon my mother, who was without +doubt the genius of the party in arranging matters and +straightening out difficulties. + +When the launch from the steamer arrived at the jetty off the +French Bund, we were met by the Shanghai Taotai (the highest +official in the city), the Shanghai Magistrate and numerous other +officials, all dressed in their official robes. The Taotai told my +father that he had prepared the Tien Ho Gung (Temple of the Queen +of Heaven) for us to reside in during our stay in Shanghai, but my +father refused the offer, saying that he had telegraphed from Hong +Kong and made all arrangements to go to the Hotel des Colonies in +the French Concession. We had had previous experience staying in +this temple while on our way to Japan, where my father went as +Minister in 1895, and did not care to try it a second time. The +building is very old and very much out of repair. It was a +beautiful place in its prime, but had been allowed to go to rack +and ruin. The custom is that the magistrate has to find a place +and supply the food, etc., for high officials when passing +through, and it is not exactly the thing to refuse their kind +offer, but my father was always very independent and politely +declined all proffers of assistance. + +At last we did safely arrive in the Hotel des Colonies, where my +father found awaiting him two telegrams from the Imperial Palace. +These telegrams ordered my father to go to Peking at once, but, as +the river to Tientsin was frozen, it was out of the question for +us to go by that route, and as my father was very old and quite +ill at that time, in fact constantly under the doctor's care, the +only accessible way, via Chinwangtao, was equally out of the +question, as it was a long and most tedious journey and quite +beyond his strength. In view of all these difficulties, he +telegraphed that, after the ice had broken up in the Peiho River, +we would come by the first steamer leaving Shanghai for Tientsin. + +We left Shanghai on the 22d of February and arrived at Tientsin on +the 26th, and, as before, were met by the Customs Taotai of the +port and numerous other officials (the same as when we arrived at +Shanghai). + +There is a very curious custom of reverence, which must be +performed by all high officials on their return from abroad. +Immediately upon landing on the shores of China, arrangements are +made with the nearest Viceroy or Governor to receive their +obeisance to Ching Sheng An (to worship the Emperor of Peace), a +Taotai being considered of too low a rank for such an honor. As +soon as we arrived, Yuan Shih Kai, who was then Viceroy of Chihli +Province at Tientsin, sent an official to my father to prepare the +time and place for this function, which is an extremely pretty +one. When arrangements had been made, both my father and Yuan Shih +Kai dressed in their full ceremonial robes, which is the dragon +long robe, with a reddish black three-quarter length coat over it, +chao chu (amber beads), hat with peacock feather and red coral +button, and repaired at once to the Wan Shou Kung (10,000 years +palace), which is especially built for functions of this kind, +where they were met by a large number of officials of the lower +grades. At the back centre of this Temple, or Palace, stands a +very long narrow table on which are placed the tablets of the +Emperor and Empress Dowager, on which is written, "Wan sway, wan +sway, wan wan sway" (10,000 years times 10,000 years times 10,000 +10,000 years). The Viceroy, or in this case Yuan Shih Kai, and the +other officials arrived first. Yuan stood at the left side of this +table and the others arranged themselves in two diminishing lines +starting from the front corners of the table. Soon afterward my +father came and knelt directly in front of the centre of the table +and said, "Ah ha Ching Sheng An" (Your servant gives you +greeting). After this ceremony was over my father immediately +arose and inquired after Their Majesties' health, and Yuan replied +that they were quite well. This closed the function. + +We stayed in Tientsin for three days, arriving in Peking on the +twenty-ninth. My father's condition was much worse and he begged +for four months' leave of absence, in which to recuperate, which +was granted by Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager. As our beautiful +mansion, which we had built and furnished just before leaving for +Paris, was burned during the Boxer Rising of 1900, entailing a +loss of over taels 100,000, we rented and moved into a Chinese +house. Our old house was not entirely new. When we bought the +place there was a very fine but old Chinese house, the palace of a +Duke, standing on the ground, and by some clever re-arrangement +and building on, it was transformed into a beautiful foreign style +house with all the fine hardwood carving of the old house worked +into it. By using the words "foreign style," it is meant that, in +so far as the Chinese house could be made to look like a foreign +house, without tearing it down entirely, it was changed, that is +the doors and windows, passageways, furnishings, etc., were +foreign, but the arrangement of the house itself and courtyard was +Chinese. This, like all Chinese houses in Peking, was built in a +very rambling fashion, and with the gardens, covered about ten +acres of ground. We had just finished furnishing it and moved in +only four days when we left for Paris; and it has always been a +great sorrow to my family that we should lose this magnificent +place, after having spent so much time and money in building and +beautifying it. However, this is only one of the many trials that +a high official in China is called upon to bear. + +The houses in Peking are built in a very rambling fashion, +covering a large amount of ground, and our former house was no +exception to the rule. It had sixteen small houses. one story +high, containing about 175 rooms, arranged in quadrangles facing +the courtyard, which went to make up the whole; and so placed, +that without having to actually go out of doors, you could go from +one to the other by verandas built along the front and enclosed in +glass. My reader will wonder what possible use we could make of +all of these rooms; but what with our large family, numerous +secretaries, Chinese writers, messengers, servants, mafoos +(coachmen), and chair coolies, it was not a difficult task to use +them. + +The gardens surrounding the houses were arranged in the Chinese +way, with small lakes, stocked with gold fish, and in which the +beautiful lotus flower grew; crossed by bridges; large weeping +willows along the banks; and many different varieties of flowers +in prettily arranged flower beds, running along winding paths, +which wound in and out between the lakes. At the time we left for +Paris, in the month of June, 1899, the gardens were a solid mass +of flowers and foliage, and much admired by all who saw them. + +As we now had no place of our own in Peking we did not know where +to go, so, while we were at Tientsin, my father telegraphed to one +of his friends to find him a house. After some little trouble one +was secured, and it turned out to be a very famous place indeed. +It was the house where Li Hung Chang signed the treaties with the +Foreign Powers after the Boxer Rising and also where he died. We +were the first people to live there since the death of Li Hung +Chang, as the Chinese people were very superstitious and were +afraid that, if they went there to live, something dreadful would +happen to them. We soon made ourselves very comfortable, and while +we lived there, none of the dreadful things happened to us that +all of our good friends told us would be visited upon us if we +dared to take this place. However, in view of our having lost our +place by fire, I am inclined to think that their fears were well +founded. + +The loss sustained by having this house burned we never recovered, +as my father, being an official of the Government, it would have +been very bad form to have tried to recover this money, besides a +possible loss of standing, as Government officials are supposed +never to consider themselves or families in the service of their +country, and any private losses in the service must be borne +without complaint. + +On the first of March, 1903, Prince Ching and his son, Prince Tsai +Chen, came to see us and told us that Her Majesty wished to see my +mother, my sister, and myself at once; that we should be at the +Summer Palace (Wan Shou Shan) at six o'clock the following +morning. My mother told Prince Ching that we had been wearing +foreign clothes all these years, while abroad, and had no suitable +Manchu clothes to wear. He replied that he had told Her Majesty +all about us and also mentioned that he had seen us in European +attire and she had said that it would not be necessary for us to +wear Manchu costume to go to the Palace, that she would be glad to +have us wear foreign clothes, as it would give her an opportunity +to study the foreign way of dressing. Both my sister and myself +had a very difficult time deciding what we should wear for this +occasion; she wished to wear her pale blue velvet gown, as she +thought that color suited her the best. My mother had always made +us dress exactly alike, ever since we were little girls. I said +that I preferred to wear my red velvet gown, as I had the idea it +might please Her Majesty. After a long discussion I had my way. We +had lovely red hats trimmed with plumes and the same color shoes, +and stockings to match. My mother wore a lovely gown of sea green +chiffon cloth embroidered with pale mauve iris and trimmed with +mauve velvet; she wore her large black velvet hat with long white +plumes. + +As we lived in the central part of the city and the only means of +travel was by sedan chair and the distance from our house to the +Palace was about thirty-six Chinese li (a three-hour ride), we had +to start at three o'clock in the morning, in order to be there at +six. As this was our first visit to the Palace, Prince Ching's +message threw us into a great state of excitement, and we were +naturally anxious to look our best and to be there on time. It had +been the dream of my life to go to the Palace and see what it was +like, and up to this time I had never had an opportunity, as most +of my life had been spent out of Peking,--in fact, out of China. +Another reason why this chance had never come before was, that my +father had never registered our names (my sister and myself) in +the Government book for the registration of births of Manchu +children, in consequence of which the Empress Dowager did not know +until we came back from Paris that Lord Yu Keng had any daughters. +My father told me the reason why he did not put our names in this +book was, that he wished to give us the best education obtainable, +and the only way he could do it was not to let the Empress Dowager +know. Besides this, according to the Manchu custom, the daughters +of all Manchu officials of the second rank and above, after +reaching the age of fourteen years, should go to the Palace, in +order that the Emperor may select them for secondary wives if he +so desires, and my father had other plans and ambitions for us. It +was in this way that the late Empress Dowager was selected by the +Emperor Hsien Feng. + +(comment: li is 1/3 mile or 1/2 km) + + We started at three o'clock that morning in total darkness riding +in four coolie sedan chairs, one on each side of the chair. In +going such a long distance it was necessary to have two relays of +chair coolies. This meant twenty-four coolies for the three +chairs, not counting an extra coolie for each chair who acted as a +sort of head chair bearer. Besides this there were three military +officers on horses, one for each chair and two servants riding at +the back of each chair. In addition there were three big Chinese +carts following behind for the chair coolies to ride in and rest. +This made a cavalcade consisting of fortyfive men, nine horses and +three carts. + +I had a rather nervous feeling riding along in the chair +surrounded by inky blackness, with nothing to relieve the +stillness of the night but the rough voices of the chair bearers +calling back and forth to each other to be careful of stones and +holes in the road, which was very uneven, and the clump, clump of +the horses. To my readers who have never had the experience of +riding a long distance in a sedan chair I would say that it is a +most uncomfortable conveyance, as you have to sit perfectly still +and absolutely straight, otherwise the chair is liable to upset. +This ride was a very long one and I felt quite stiff and tired by +the time I reached the Palace gates. + + + +CHAPTER TWO + +AT THE PALACE + + WHEN we reached the City gates, which were about half way between +our house and the Summer Palace, they were wide open for us to +pass. This quite surprised us, as all gates are closed at seven +o'clock in the evening and are not opened except on special +occasions until daylight. We inquired of the guard why this was, +and were told that orders had been given for the gates to be +opened for us to pass. The officials who had charge were standing +in a double line dressed in full official dress and saluted us as +we passed. + +It was still quite dark when we had passed through the gate and I +thought of the many experiences of my short life; but this was by +far the strangest of them all. I wondered what Her Majesty would +be like and whether she would like me or not. We were told that +probably we would be asked to stay at the Court, and I thought +that if that came to pass, I would possibly be able to influence +Her Majesty in favor of reform and so be of valuable assistance to +China. These thoughts made me feel happy and I made up my mind +then and there that I would do all I could and use any influence I +might have in the future towards the advancement of China and for +her welfare. While I was still dreaming of these pleasant +prospects, a faint red line appeared on the horizon heralding the +coming of a most perfect day, and so it proved. As the light grew +brighter and I could distinguish objects, a very pretty view +gradually opened to me, and as we came nearer to the Palace I +could see a high red wall which zigzagged from hill to hill and +enclosed the Palace grounds. The tops of the wall and buildings +were covered with yellow and green tiles and made a most dazzling +picture in the bright sunlight. Pagodas of different sizes and +styles were passed, and when we arrived at the village of Hai +Tien, about four li from the Palace gates, we were told by the +officers we only had a short distance further to go. This was good +news, as I began to think we would never get there. This village +was quite a pretty country place of one-story houses built of +brick, which were very neat and clean as are most of the houses in +the northern part of China. The children trouped out to see the +procession pass, and I heard one remark to another: "Those ladies +are going to the Palace to become Empresses," which amused me very +much. + +Soon after leaving Hai Tien we came to a pai lou (archway), a very +beautiful piece of old Chinese architecture and carved work, and +from here got our first view of the Palace gates, which were about +100 yards ahead. These gates are cut into the solid wall +surrounding the Palace and consist of one very large gate in the +center and two smaller ones on each side. The center gate is only +opened when their Majesties pass in and out of the Palace. Our +chairs were set down in front of the left gate, which was open. +Outside of these gates, at a distance of about 500 yards, were two +buildings where the guard stayed at night. + +Just as we arrived I saw a number of officials talking excitedly, +and some of them went into the gate shouting "Li la, doula" (have +come, have arrived). When we got out of our chairs, we were met by +two eunuchs of the fourth rank (chrystal button and feather). This +feather which is worn by eunuchs of the fourth rank, comes from a +bird called the magh (horse-fowl) which is found in Szechuen +Province. They are grey and are dyed black, and are much wider +than the peacock feather. These two eunuchs were accompanied by +ten small eunuchs carrying yellow silk screens, which they placed +around our chairs when we alighted. It appeared that Her Majesty +had given orders that these screens (huang wai mor) should be +brought to us. This is considered a great honor. They were ten +feet long and twenty feet high and were held by two eunuchs. + +These two eunuchs of high rank were extremely polite and stood at +each side of the gate and invited us to enter. Passing through +this gate we came into a very large paved courtyard about three +hundred feet square, in which there were a great many small flower +beds and old pine trees from which hung all kinds of birds in +cages. On the side opposite to the gates we had entered was a red +brick wall with three gates exactly like the others; on the right +and left side were long rows of low buildings each containing +twelve rooms, used as waiting rooms. The courtyard was full of +people dressed in official robes of the different ranks, and, +after the Chinese fashion, all seemed to be very busy doing +nothing. When they saw us they stood still and stared. The two +eunuchs who were showing us the way conducted us to one of these +rooms. This room was about twenty feet square, just ordinarily +furnished in black wood furniture with red cloth cushions and silk +curtains hanging from the three windows. We were not in this room +more than five minutes when a gorgeously dressed eunuch came and +said: "Imperial Edict says to invite Yu tai tai (Lady Yu) and +young ladies to wait in the East side Palace." On his saying this, +the two eunuchs who were with us knelt down and replied "Jur" +(Yes). Whenever Her Majesty gives an order it is considered an +Imperial Edict or command and all servants are required to kneel +when any command is transmitted to them the same as they would if +in Her Majesty's presence, Then they told us to follow them and we +went through another left gate to another courtyard laid out +exactly the same as the former, except that the Ren Shou Dien +(audience hall) is situated on the north side and the other +buildings were a little larger. The eunuchs showed us into the +east side building, which was beautifully furnished with reddish +blackwood exquisitely carved, the chairs and tables covered with +blue satin and the walls hung with the same material. In different +parts of the room were fourteen clocks of all sizes and shapes. I +know this, for I counted them. + +In a little while two servant girls came and waited on us and told +us that Her Majesty was dressing and that we were to wait a little +time. This little time proved to be a matter of more than two +hours and a half, but as this is considered nothing in China, we +did not get impatient. From time to time eunuchs came and brought +milk to drink and about twenty or more dishes of various kinds of +food which Her Majesty sent. She also sent us each a gold ring +with a large pearl in the center. Later the chief eunuch, Li Lien +Ying, came dressed in his official clothes. He was of the second +rank and wore a red button and peacock feather and was the only +eunuch that was ever allowed to wear the peacock feather. He was a +very ugly man, very old and his face was full of wrinkles; but he +had beautiful manners and said that Her Majesty would receive us +in a little while, and brought us each a jade ring which she had +sent us. We were very much surprised that she should give us such +beautiful presents before she had even seen us, and felt most +kindly disposed toward her for her generosity. + +Soon after Li Lien Ying had gone, two court ladies, daughters of +Prince Ching, came in and asked the eunuchs who were attending us +if we could speak Chinese, which we thought a great joke. I was +the first one to speak, and told them of course we could speak our +own language, although we knew several others. They were very much +surprised and said: "Oh! how funny, they can talk the language as +well as we do." We in turn were very much surprised to find such +ignorant people in the Imperial Palace and concluded that their +opportunities for acquiring knowledge were very limited. Then they +told us Her Majesty was waiting to receive us, and we went +immediately. + +After walking through three courtyards very similar to those we +had previously passed through, we came to a magnificent building +just one mass of exquisite carving. Large lanterns made of buffalo +horns hung all over the veranda covered with red silk from which +red silk tassels were hanging and from each of these tassels was +suspended a beautiful piece of jade. There were two smaller +buildings flanking this large one, also one mass of carvings and +hung with lanterns. + +At the door of the large building we met a lady, dressed the same +as Prince Ching's daughters, with the exception that she had a +phoenix in the center of her headdress which distinguished her +from the others. This lady came out to meet us, smiling, and shook +hands with us in the most approved foreign fashion. We were told +later that this was the Young Empress, wife of the Emperor Kwang +Hsu. She said: "Her Majesty has sent me to meet you," and was very +sweet and polite, and had beautiful manners; but was not very +pretty. Then we heard a loud voice from the hall saying, "Tell +them to come in at once." We went into this hall immediately and +saw an old lady dressed in a beautiful yellow satin gown +embroidered all over with pink peonies, and wearing the same kind +of headdress with flowers on each side made of pearls and jade, a +pearl tassel on the left side and a beautiful phoenix in the +center made of purest jade. Over her gown she wore a cape, the +most magnificent and costly thing I ever saw. This cape was made +of about three thousand five hundred pearls the size of a canary +bird's egg, all exactly alike in color and perfectly round. It was +made on the fish net pattern and had a fringe of jade pendants and +was joined with two pure jade clasps. In addition to this Her +Majesty wore two pairs of pearl bracelets, one pair of jade +bracelets, several jade rings and on her third and little fingers +of her right hand she wore gold finger nail protectors about three +inches long and on the left hand two finger nail protectors made +of jade and about the same length. Her shoes were trimmed with +small tassels made of pearls and embroidered with tiny pieces of +different colored jade. + +Her Majesty stood up when she saw us and shook hands with us. She +had a most fascinating smile and was very much surprised that we +knew the Court etiquette so well. After she had greeted us, she +said to my mother: "Yu tai tai (Lady Yu), you are a wonder the way +you have brought your daughters up. They speak Chinese just as +well as I do, although I know they have been abroad for so many +years, and how is it that they have such beautiful manners?" +"Their father was always very strict with them," my mother +replied; "he made them study their own language first and they had +to study very hard." "I am pleased to hear their father has been +so careful with them," Her Majesty said, "and given them such a +fine education." She took my hands and looked into my face and +smiled and kissed me on both cheeks and said to my mother: "I wish +to have your daughters and hope they will stay with me." We were +very much pleased at this and thanked her for her kindness. Her +Majesty asked all sorts of questions about our Paris gowns and +said we must wear them all the time, as she had very little chance +to see them at the Court. She was particularly in love with our +Louis XV high heel shoes. While we were talking to her we saw a +gentleman standing at a little distance and after a while she +said, "Let me introduce you to the Emperor Kwang Hsu, but you must +call him Wan Sway Yeh (Master of 10,000 years) and call me Lao Tsu +Tsung (the Great Ancestor)." His Majesty shyly shook hands with +us. He was a man about five feet, seven inches in height, very +thin, but with very strong features; high nose and forehead, +large, brilliant black eyes, strong mouth, very white, even teeth; +altogether good looking. I noticed he had a very sad look, +although he was smiling all the time we were there. At this +juncture the head eunuch came, knelt down on the marble floor and +announced that Her Majesty's chair was ready and she asked us to +go with her to the Audience Hall, distant about two minutes' walk, +where she was going to receive the heads of the different Boards. +It was a beautiful day and her open chair was waiting. This chair +is carried by eight eunuchs all dressed in official robes, a most +unusual sight. The head eunuch walked on her left side and the +second eunuch on her right side, each with a steadying hand on the +chair pole. Four eunuchs of the fifth rank in front and twelve +eunuchs of the sixth rank walked behind. Each eunuch carried +something in his hand, such as Her Majesty's clothes, shoes, +handkerchiefs, combs, brushes, powder boxes, looking glasses of +different sizes, perfumes, pins, black and red ink, yellow paper, +cigarettes, water pipes, and the last one carried her yellow +satin-covered stool. Besides this there were two amahs (old women +servants) and four servant girls all carrying something. This +procession was most interesting to see and made one think it a +lady's dressing room on legs. The Emperor walked on Her Majesty's +right and the Young Empress on the left, as did also the Court +ladies. + +The Audience Hall was about two hundred feet long by about one +hundred and fifty feet wide, and at the left side was a long table +covered with yellow satin. When Her Majesty came down from the +chair she went into the Hall and mounted her throne just behind +this table, and His Majesty mounted a smaller one at her left +side, the Ministers all kneeling on the floor in front of her and +on the opposite side of the table. + +At the back of the Hall was a large dais about twenty feet long by +about eighteen feet wide, enclosed by a magnificently carved +railing about two feet high running all the way round, open only +in the front in two places just large enough for a person to pass +through. These two openings were reached by a flight of six steps. +At the back of this dais was a small screen and immediately in +front of this, in the center, was Her Majesty's throne. +Immediately behind was an immense carved wood screen, the most +beautiful thing I ever saw, twenty feet long by ten feet high. In +front of Her Majesty's throne was a long narrow table. At the left +side was a smaller throne for the Emperor. + +The theme of the carving and furnishings of this dais was the +phoenix and peony most exquisitely carved in ebony wood, in fact +the theme of the entire room was the same. On each side of Her +Majesty's throne were two upright ebony poles on the top of which +were peacock feathers made into the shape of a fan The upholstery +was entirely of yellow Chinese velvet. + +Just before Her Majesty took her seat on her throne she ordered us +to go behind this screen with the Young Empress and the Court +ladies. This we did, and could hear the conversation between Her +Majesty and the Ministers very plainly, and as my readers will see +later, I made good use of this. + + + +CHAPTER THREE + +A PLAY AT THE COURT + + THIS day to me was a medley of brilliant impressions. I was a +great novelty among these exclusive Court ladies, brought up +rigidly apart from foreign life and customs, and I was subjected +to a rapid fire of questions. I soon found that these women were +the same as others the world over in point of curiosity and love +of gossip. The fourth daughter of Prince Ching (Sze Gurgur), a +young widow and a strikingly handsome woman, spoke to me. "Were +you brought up in Europe and educated?" she asked. "I am told that +when people go to that country and drink the water there, they +quickly forget their own country. Did you really study to acquire +all those languages or was it drinking the water that gave them to +you?" I mentioned that I met her brother, Prince Tsai Chen, in +Paris on his way to London for the coronation of King Edward, and +that we should have liked to have gone also, as my father had a +special invitation, but were prevented from doing so by his urgent +duties in Paris in settling the Yunnan question, to which the +Princess replied: "Is there a king in England? I had thought that +our Empress Dowager was Queen of the world." Her sister, wife of +the brother of the Young Empress, a most intelligent, quiet and +dignified lady, stood by smiling and listening to the eager +questions. After numerous questions had been asked the Young +Empress finally said: "How ignorant you are. I know that each +country has its ruler and that some countries are republics. The +United States is a republic and very friendly toward us, but I am +sorry that such a common class of people go there, as they will +think we are all the same. What I should like to see is some of +our good Manchu people go, as then they would see what we really +are." She afterwards told me she had been reading a history of the +different countries, which had been translated into Chinese, and +she seemed to be very well informed. + +After the Audience was over, Her Majesty called us out from behind +the screen and told us to go with her to see the theatre. She +said, as it was such a beautiful day, she preferred to walk, so we +started, walking a little behind her, as is the custom. Along the +way she pointed out from time to time different places and things +that were her particular favorites, and as she had to keep turning +around all the time, she finally told us to come and walk +alongside of her. This, as I afterwards found out, was a great +condescension on her part and a thing that she very seldom ever +did. She, like everybody else, had her pets and hobbies, such as +flowers, trees, plants, dogs, horses, etc., and there was one dog +in particular that was her favorite pet. This dog was with Her +Majesty always and followed her wherever she went, and a more +homely dog I never saw. It had absolutely nothing to recommend it +in any way. Her Majesty thought it beautiful, and called it Shui +Ta (Sea Otter). + +A short distance from the Audience Hall we came to a large +courtyard. On each side of this courtyard were two immense baskets +fifteen feet in height, built of natural logs and literally +covered with purple wisteria. They were simply gorgeous and great +favorites of Her Majesty. She was always very proud of them when +in bloom and took great delight in showing them to the people. + +From this courtyard we entered a sort of passageway which ran +along the sides of a big hill and led directly to the theatre, +where we soon arrived. This theatre is quite unlike anything that +you can imagine. It is built around the four sides of an open +courtyard, each side being separate and distinct. The building has +five stories. It is entirely open on the front and has two stages, +one above the other. The three top stories are used for holding +the drops and for store rooms. The stage on the first floor is of +the ordinary kind; but that on the second floor is built to +represent a temple and used when playing religious plays, of which +Her Majesty was very fond. + +On the two sides were long, low buildings with large verandas +running their entire length, where the Princes and Ministers sat +when invited by Her Majesty to witness the play. Directly opposite +this stage was a spacious building, containing three large rooms, +which was used exclusively by Her Majesty. The floor was raised +about ten feet above the ground, which brought it on a level with +the stage. Large glass windows ran along in front, so made that +they could be removed in the summer and replaced with pale blue +gauze screens. Two of these rooms were used as sitting rooms and +the third, the one on the right, she used as a bedroom, and it had +a long couch running across the front, on which she used to sit or +lie according to her mood. This day she invited us to go to this +room with her. Later I was told that she would very often come to +this room, look at the play for a while and then take her siesta. +She could certainly sleep soundly, for the din and noise did not +disturb her in the least. If any of my readers have ever been to a +Chinese theatre, they can well imagine how difficult it would be +to woo the God of Sleep in such a pandemonium. + +As soon as we were in this bedroom the play commenced. It was a +religious play called "The Empress of Heaven's Party or Feast to +all the Buddhist Priests to eat her famous peaches and drink her +best wine." This party or feast is given on the third day of the +third moon of each year. + +The first act opens with a Buddhist Priest, dressed in a yellow +coat robe with a red scarf draped over his left shoulder, +descending in a cloud from Heaven to invite all the priests to +this party. I was very much surprised to see this actor apparently +suspended in the air and actually floating on this cloud, which +was made of cotton. The clever way in which they moved the +scenery, etc., was most interesting, and before the play was +finished I concluded that any theatre manager could well take +lessons from these people; and it was all done without the +slightest bit of machinery. + +As this Buddhist Priest was descending, a large pagoda began to +slowly rise from the center of the stage in which was a buddha +singing and holding an incense burner in front of him. Then four +other smaller pagodas slowly rose from the four corners of the +stage, each containing a buddha the same as the first. When the +first Buddhist Priest had descended, the five buddhas came out of +the pagodas, which immediately disappeared, and walked about the +stage, still singing. Gradually from the wing came numbers of +buddhas singing until the stage was full, and they all formed into +a ring. Then I saw a large lotus flower, made of pink silk, and +two large green leaves appearing from the bottom of the stage, and +as it rose the petals and leaves gradually opened and I saw a +beautiful lady buddha (Goddess of Mercy) dressed all in white +silk, with a white hood on her head, standing in the center of +this flower. As the leaves opened I saw a girl and a boy in the +center of them. When the petals of the lotus flower were wide open +this lady buddha began to gradually ascend herself, and as she +ascended, the petals closed until she seemed to be standing on a +lotus bud. The girl standing in the leaf on the Goddess' right +side held a bottle made of jade and a willow branch. The legend of +this is that if the Goddess dips the willow branch into the jade +bottle and spreads it over a dead person it will bring the person +to life. The boy and the girl are the two attendants of the +buddha. + +Finally the three came down from the flower and leaves and joined +the rest of the buddhas. Then the Empress of Heaven came, a good +old lady with snow-white hair, dressed from head to foot in +Imperial yellow, followed by many attendants, and ascended the +throne, which was in the center of the stage, and said: "We will +go to the banquet hall." This ended the first scene. + +The second scene opened with tables set for the feast to be given +by the Empress of Heaven. These tables were loaded down with +peaches and wine and four attendants guarding them. Suddenly a bee +came buzzing near and scattered a powder under the nostrils of the +attendants, which made them sleepy. When they had fallen asleep, +this bee transformed itself into a big monkey and this monkey ate +all the peaches and drank all the wine. As soon as he had finished +he disappeared. + +A blast of trumpets announced the coming of the Empress of Heaven +and she soon arrived accompanied by all the Buddhist Priests and +their attendants. When the Empress of Heaven saw all the peaches +and wine had disappeared, she woke the attendants and asked them +why they were asleep and where the peaches and wine had gone. They +said that they did not know, that they were waiting for her to +come and fell asleep. Then one of the guests suggested that she +should find out what had become of the feast, and attendants were +sent out to the guard to find out from the soldiers if anyone had +gone out of the gate recently. Before the messenger had time to +return, the Guard of Heaven came and informed the Empress that a +big monkey, who was very drunk and carrying a big stick, had just +gone out of the gate. When she was told this, she ordered the +soldiers of heaven and several buddhas to go and find him at his +place. It seems that this monkey had originally been made from a +piece of stone and lived in a large hole in a mountain on the +earth. He was endowed with supernatural powers and could walk on +the clouds. He was allowed to come to heaven and the Empress of +Heaven gave him a position looking after the Imperial orchards. + +When they got to his place on the earth, they found that he had +taken some of the peaches with him and he, with other monkeys, was +having a feast. The soldiers challenged him to come out and fight. +He immediately accepted this challenge, but the soldiers could do +nothing with him. He pulled the hair out of his coat and +transformed each hair into a little monkey and each monkey had an +iron rod in its hand. He himself had a special iron rod, which had +been given to him by the King of Sea Dragons. This rod he could +make any size he wanted from a needle to a crowbar. + +Among the buddhas who had gone with the soldiers was one named Erh +Lang Yeh, who was the most powerful of them all and had three +eyes. This buddha had a dog which was very powerful and he told +the dog to bite this monkey, which he did, and the monkey fell +down and they caught him and brought him up to heaven. When they +got there the Empress of Heaven ordered that he should be handed +to Lao Chun, an old taoist god, and that he should burn him in his +incense burner. The incense burner was very large, and when they +took the monkey to him he placed him inside this burner and +watched him very carefully to see that he did not get out. After +he had watched for a long time he thought the monkey must be dead +and went out for a few minutes. The monkey, however, was not dead +and as soon as Lao Chun went out, he escaped and stole some golden +pills which Lao Chun kept in a gourd and went back to his hole in +the mountains. These pills were very powerful and if one of them +were eaten it would give eternal life, and the monkey knew this. +The monkey ate one and it tasted good and he gave the little +monkeys some. When Lao Chun came back and found both the monkey +and the pills gone he went and informed the Empress of Heaven. +This ended the second scene. + +The third scene opened with the buddhas and soldiers at the +monkey's place in the mountains and they again asked him to come +out and fight. The monkey said: "What! Coming again?" and laughed +at them. They started to fight again, but he was so strong they +could not get the best of him. Even the dog who had bit him before +was powerless this time, and they finally gave it up and returned +to heaven and told the Empress of Heaven that they could not +capture him the second time, as he was too strong. Then the +Empress of Heaven called a little god about fifteen years old by +the name of Neur Cha, who had supernatural powers, and told him to +go down to earth to the monkey's place and see if he could finish +him. This god was made of lotus flowers and leaves, that is, his +bones were made of flowers and his flesh made of leaves and he +could transform himself into anything that he wished. When Neur +Cha got to the monkey's place and the monkey saw him, he said: +"What! A little boy like you come to fight me? Well, if you think +you can beat me, come on," and the boy transformed himself into an +immense man with three heads and six arms. When the monkey saw +this, he transformed himself also into the same thing. When the +little god saw that this would not do, he transformed himself into +a very big man and started to take the monkey, but the monkey +transformed himself into a very large sword and cut this man into +two pieces. The little god again transformed himself into fire to +burn the monkey, but the monkey transformed himself into water and +put the fire out. Again the little god transformed himself, this +time into a very fierce lion, but the monkey transformed himself +into a big net to catch the lion. So this little god, seeing that +he could not get the best of the monkey, gave it up and went back +to heaven, and told the Empress of Heaven that the monkey was too +strong for him. The Empress of Heaven was in despair, so she sent +for Ju Li, an old ancestor of the buddhas, who was the +all-powerful one of them all; and Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, and +sent them down to the monkey's place to see if they could capture +him. When they arrived at the hole in the mountain the monkey came +out and looked at Ju Li, but did not say a word, as he knew who +this god was. This god pointed a finger at him and he knelt down +and submitted. Ju Li said: "Come with me," and took the monkey and +put him under another mountain and told him he would have to stay +there until he promised he would be good. Ju Li said: "You stay +here until one day I lift this mountain up for you to come out to +go with a Buddhist Priest to the West side of heaven and demand +the prayer books that are kept there. You will have to suffer a +great deal on the way and face many dangers, but if you come back +with this Buddhist Priest and the prayer books, by that time your +savage temper will be gone and you will be put in a nice place in +heaven and enjoy life forever afterwards." + +This finished the play, which was very interesting, and I enjoyed +it from beginning to end. It was acted very cleverly and quite +realistic, and I was very much surprised to know that the eunuchs +could act so well. Her Majesty told us that the scenery was all +painted by the eunuchs and that she had taught them about all they +knew. Unlike most theatres in China, it had a curtain which was +closed between the acts, also wing slides and drop scenes. Her +Majesty had never seen a foreign theatre and I could not +understand where she got all her ideas from. She was very fond of +reading religious books and fairy tales, and wrote them into plays +and staged them herself, and was extremely proud of her +achievement. + +Her Majesty sat talking, we standing, for some little time and she +asked me if I understood the play, and I told her that I did and +she seemed quite pleased. Then she said in such a charming way: +"Oh! I am so interested in talking with you that I have forgotten +to order my lunch. Are you hungry? Could you get Chinese food when +you were abroad, and were you homesick? I know I would be if I +left my own country for so long a time; but the reason why you +were abroad so long was not your fault. It was my order that sent +Yu Keng to Paris and I am not a bit sorry, for you see how much +you can help me now, and I am proud of you and will show you to +the foreigners that they may see our Manchu ladies can speak other +languages than their own." While she was talking I noticed that +the eunuchs were laying three large tables with nice white table +cloths, and I could see a number of other eunuchs standing in the +courtyard with boxes of food. These boxes or trays are made of +wood painted yellow and are large enough to hold four small and +two large bowls of food. After the tables were laid ready, the +eunuchs outside formed themselves into a double line from the +courtyard to a little gate running into another courtyard and +passed these trays from one to the other up to the entrance of the +room, where they were taken by four nicely dressed eunuchs and +placed on the tables. + +It seems that it was a habit of Her Majesty to take her meals +wherever she happened to be, so that there was no particular place +that she used as a dining room. I should also mention that these +bowls were of Imperial yellow with silver covers. Some were +ornamented with green dragons and some with the Chinese character +Shou (Long Life). + +There were about one hundred and fifty different kinds of food, +for I counted them. They were placed in long rows, one row of +large bowls and one row of small plates, and then another row of +small bowls, and so on. As the setting of the tables was going on, +two Court ladies came into the bedroom, each carrying a large +yellow box. I was very much surprised to see Court ladies doing +this kind of work and I said to myself, if I come here will I have +to do this sort of thing? Although these boxes appeared to be +quite heavy, they brought them in very gracefully. Two small +tables were placed in front of Her Majesty, then they opened the +boxes and placed a number of very cute plates containing all sorts +of sweets, lotus flower seeds, dried and cooked with sugar, +watermelon seeds, walnuts cooked in different ways, and fruits of +the season cut and sliced. As these plates were being placed on +the tables Her Majesty said that she liked these dainties better +than meat and gave us some and told us to make ourselves at home. +We thanked her for her kindness and enjoyed them very much. I +noticed that she ate quite a quantity from the different plates +and wondered how she would be able to eat her lunch. When she had +finished, two of the Court ladies came and took the plates away +and Her Majesty told us that she always gave what was left to the +Court ladies after she had finished eating. + +After this a eunuch came in carrying a cup of tea. This tea cup +was made of pure white jade and the saucer and cover was of solid +gold. Then another eunuch came in carrying a silver tray on which +were two jade cups similar to the others, one containing +honeysuckle flowers and the other rose petals. He also brought a +pair of gold chopsticks. They both knelt on the floor in front of +Her Majesty and held the trays up so that she could reach them. +She took the golden cover off of the cup containing tea and took +some of the honeysuckle flowers and placed them in the tea. While +she was doing this and sipping the tea, she was telling how fond +she was of flowers and what a delicate flavor they gave to the +tea. Then she said: "I will let you taste some of my tea and see +if you like it," and ordered one of the eunuchs to bring us some +tea, the same as she was drinking. When it came, she put some of +the honeysuckle flowers in the cup for us and watched us drink it. +It was the most delicious tea I had ever tasted and the putting of +flowers in it gave it an extremely delicate flavour. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR + +A LUNCHEON WITH THE EMPRESS + + WHEN we had finished drinking tea, she told us to go with her +into the next room, where the tables had been prepared for lunch, +and I wondered if she had any room for lunch, after all that she +had just eaten, but I soon found out. As soon as she was inside +the room, she ordered the covers to be removed and they were all +taken off at one time. Then she took her seat at the head of the +table and told us to stand at the foot. She then said: "generally +the Emperor takes lunch with me when we have the theatre, but he +is shy to-day, as you are all new to him. I hope he will get over +it and not be so bashful. You three had better eat with me +to-day." Of course, we knew that this was an especial favor, and +thanked her by kowtowing before we commenced to eat. This +kowtowing, or bowing our heads to the ground, was very tiring at +first and made us dizzy, until we got used to it. + +When we commenced to eat, Her Majesty ordered the eunuchs to place +plates for us and give us silver chopsticks, spoons, etc., and +said: + +"I am sorry you have to eat standing, but I cannot break the law +of our great ancestors. Even the Young Empress cannot sit in my +presence. I am sure the foreigners must think we are barbarians to +treat our Court ladies in this way and I don't wish them to know +anything about our customs. You will see how differently I act in +their presence, so that they cannot see my true self." + +I was watching her while she was talking to my mother and +marvelled to see how she could eat, after having eaten such a +quantity of candy, walnuts, etc., while in her bedroom. + +Beef was a thing that was tabooed within the precincts of the +Palace, as it was considered a great sin to kill and eat animals +that were used as beasts of burden. The food consisted mostly of +pork, mutton and game, fowls and vegetables. This day we had pork +cooked in ten different ways, such as meat balls, sliced cold in +two different ways, red and white, the red being cooked with a +special kind of sauce made of beans which gives it the red color +and has a delicious taste. Chopped pork with chopped bamboo +shoots, pork cut in cubes and cooked with cherries and pork cooked +with onions and sliced thin. This last dish was Her Majesty's +favorite and I must say it was good. Then there was a sort of +pancake made of eggs, pork and mushrooms chopped fine and fried, +also pork cooked with cabbage and another dish cooked with +turnips. The fowl and mutton was cooked in several different ways. +In the center of the table was a very large bowl about two feet in +diameter of the same yellow porcelain, in which there was a +chicken, a duck and some shark fins in a clear soup. Shark fins +are considered a great delicacy in China. Besides this there was +roast chicken, boneless chicken and roast duck. Ducks and chickens +are stuffed with little pine needles to give them a fine flavor +and roasted in open air ovens. + +There was another dish that Her Majesty was very fond of and that +was the skin of roast pork cut into very small slices and fried +until it curls up like a rasher of bacon. + +As a rule the Manchu people seldom eat rice, but are very fond of +bread and this day we had bread, made in a number of different +ways, such as baked, steamed, fried, some with sugar and some with +salt and pepper, cut in fancy shapes or made in fancy moulds such +as dragons, butterflies, flowers, etc., and one kind was made with +mincemeat inside. Then we had a number of different kinds of +pickles, of which Her Majesty was very fond. Then there was beans +and green peas, and peanuts made into cakes and served with +sugarcane syrup. + +I did not eat very much, as I was too busy watching Her Majesty +and listening to what she said, although she told us to eat all we +could. In addition to all I have mentioned, we had many different +kinds of porridge, some made of sweet corn and some with tiny +yellow rice (like bird seed), and Her Majesty said that we must +all eat porridge after our meat. + +After we had finally finished eating, Her Majesty rose from the +table and said: "Come into my bedroom and you will see the Young +Empress and the Court ladies eat; they always eat after I am +finished." We went with her and I stood near the door between the +two rooms and saw the Young Empress and Court ladies come in and +stand around the table eating very quietly. They were never +allowed to sit down and eat their food. + +All this time the theatre had been going on playing some fairy +tales, but they were not near as interesting as the first play +that we had seen. Her Majesty sat on her long couch in the bedroom +and the eunuch brought her some tea and she ordered some brought +for us. My reader can imagine how delighted I was to be treated in +this way. In China the people think their sovereign is the supreme +being and that her word is law. One must never raise their eyes +when talking to her. This is a sign of great respect. I thought +these extreme favors must be most unusual. I had been told that +Her Majesty had a very fierce temper, but seeing her so kind and +gracious to us and talking to us in such a motherly way, I thought +my informant must be wrong and that she was the sweetest woman in +the world. + +When Her Majesty had rested a while, she told us that it was time +we were returning to the city, as it was getting late. She gave us +eight big yellow boxes of fruit and cakes to take home with us. +She said to my mother: "Tell Yu Keng (my father) to get better +soon and tell him to take the medicine I am sending by you and to +rest well. Also give him these eight boxes of fruit and cakes." I +thought my father, who had been quite ill since we returned from +Paris, would not be much benefited if he ate all those cakes. +However, I knew he would appreciate her kind thoughtfulness even +if it were detrimental to his health. + +As perhaps most of my readers know, it is the custom to kowtow +when Her Majesty gives presents and we kowtowed to her when she +gave us the fruit and cakes and thanked her for her kindness. + +Just as we were leaving, Her Majesty said to my mother that she +liked us very much and wanted us to come and be her Court ladies +and stay at the Palace. We thought this was another great favor +and again thanked her, and she asked us when we could come and +told us to bring our clothes and things only, as she would fix +everything for us and showed us the house we would live in when we +came and told us to come back inside of two days. This house +contained three very large rooms and was situated on the right +side of her own or private Palace. This Palace Ler Shou Tong (Ever +Happy Palace) is situated on the shores of the lake and was Her +Majesty's favorite place and where she spent most of her time, +reading and resting and when the spirit moved her she would go for +a sail on the lake. In this Palace she had quite a number of +bedrooms and made use of them all. + +When she had finished showing us this house we took leave of Her +Majesty, the Young Empress and the Court ladies, and after a long +and tiresome ride, reached home exhausted but happy, after the +most eventful day of our lives. When we got into the house, we +were surprised to find several eunuchs waiting our return. They +had brought us each four rolls of Imperial brocade from Her +Majesty. Once more we had to bend to custom in thanking her for +these gifts. This time, the gift having been sent to the house, we +placed the silk on a table in the center of the room and kowtowed +to thank Her Majesty and told the eunuchs to tell Her Majesty how +grateful we were to her for all her kindness and for the beautiful +gifts. + +There is another thing that had to be done according to the +custom, and that was to give the eunuchs a present or tip, and we +had to give each of the eunuchs ten taels for their trouble. We +afterwards found out that when eunuchs went anywhere to take +presents for Her Majesty, they were required to report to her when +they returned how the recipient had thanked her and what had been +given them, which she allowed them to keep. She also asked them +numerous questions about our house, whether we were pleased with +her, etc. These people are extremely fond of talking and after we +had returned to the Palace again, they told us what Her Majesty +had said about us the first day we were there. + +My mother felt very much worried to go to the Palace and leave my +father all alone owing to his being in poor health, but we could +not disobey Her Majesty's order, so we returned to the Palace +three days later. + +Our first day there was a busy one for us. When we first arrived +we went and thanked Her Majesty for the present that she had sent +us. She told us that she was very busy to-day, as she was going to +receive a Russian lady, Madame Plancon, wife of the Russian +Minister to China, who was bringing a miniature portrait of the +Czar and Czarina and family as a present from the Czar to her, the +Empress Dowager. She asked me if I could speak Russian. I told her +that I could not, but that most Russians spoke French, which +seemed to satisfy her. She, however, said: "Why don't you tell me +you speak Russian, I won't know or be able to find out," and at +the same time was looking at one of the Court ladies. I concluded +that someone must be fooling her, for she seemed to appreciate the +fact that I had told her the truth. This afterwards proved to be +true and one of the Court ladies was dismissed for pretending she +could talk foreign languages when she could not speak a word. + +Besides this audience there was the theatre and the engagement +ceremony of Her Majesty's nephew, Ter Ju. The engagement ceremony, +according to the Manchu custom, is performed by two of the +Princesses of the Royal family going to the house of the +prospective bride, who sits on her bed cross-legged, her eyes +closed and awaits their coming. When they arrive at the house, +they go to her bedroom and place a symbol called Ru Yee, made of +pure jade about one and a half feet long, in her lap and suspend +two small bags made of silk and beautifully embroidered, each +containing a gold coin, from the buttons of her gown, and place +two gold rings on her fingers, on which is carved the characters +Ta Hsi (Great Happiness). The meaning of the symbol or sceptre Ru +Yee is "May all joy be yours." + +During this entire ceremony absolute silence is maintained and +immediately they have finished, they return to the Palace and +inform Her Majesty that the ceremony has been completed. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE + +AN AUDIENCE WITH THE EMPRESS + + No one informed us the day before that there was to be an +audience to receive the Russian Minister's wife on that very day. +We told Her Majesty that we must go and change our clothes in +order to receive this lady. The dresses we wore that day were very +simply made and short. The reason we wore this kind of costume was +that there was no carpet and the bare brick floor had ruined our +beautiful red velvet gowns, also the clumsy eunuchs had kept +stepping on our trains all the time. We had made up our minds that +short dresses for general wear every day would be more practical. +Her Majesty said: "Why must you change your clothes? I see you +look much better without that tail dragging behind you on the +floor. I laughed at the idea of having a tail on one's dresses. I +noticed that the first day when you came to the Court." Before we +had time to explain to her, she said: "I see, dresses with tails +behind must be more dignified than short ones, am I right?" We +told her it was so. Then she said: "Go and put on your most +beautiful gowns at once." We immediately went and changed. My +sister and myself wore our pink crepe de chine gowns, trimmed with +Brussels lace and transparent yokes of the same color chiffon. My +mother wore her gray crepe de chine embroidered with black roses +and a little touch of pale blue satin on her collar and belt. We +dressed in a great hurry, as Her Majesty had sent eunuchs to see +if we were ready. When she saw us she exclaimed: "Here are three +fairies with long tails." Then she asked us: "Is it very tiring to +hold half of your dress in your hand when you are walking? The +costume is pretty, but I do dislike the tail, there is no sense +having a thing like that. I wonder what these foreigners will +think of me having you dressed in their costume. I am sure they +won't like the idea. My reason is this: I want them to see you in +foreign clothes in order to let them understand I know something +about the way they dress. I must say that no foreign ladies have +yet been presented to me dressed in such lovely gowns as you three +have. I don't believe foreigners are as wealthy as the Chinese. I +also notice they wear very little jewelry. I was told that I have +more jewelry than any sovereign in the world and yet I am getting +more all the time." + +We were very busy getting ready to receive Mdme. Plancon, who +arrived about eleven o'clock and was received in the waiting room +of the first courtyard by my sister and from there conducted to +the audience hall, Ren Shou Dien, where she was received by Her +Majesty, who was sitting on her big throne on the raised dais. The +Emperor was present, sitting on Her Majesty's left hand and I +stood on her right to interpret for her. Her Majesty was dressed +in a yellow transparent satin brocade gown, embroidered with +hollyhocks and the Chinese character "Shou" (Long Life) and +trimmed with gold braid. She wore her big pearl, which is about +the size and shape of an egg, suspended from the button of her +dress, also numerous bracelets and rings and gold finger nail +protectors. Her hair was dressed in the same style as usual. + +When Mdme. Plancon entered the hall, my sister brought her to the +steps of the dais and she courtesied to Her Majesty. I then went +forward and brought her up onto the dais and Her Majesty shook +hands with her and she presented the photograph which she had +brought to Her Majesty. Her Majesty made a very pretty speech of +acceptance, expressing her appreciation of the gift of their +Majesties, the Czar and Czarina. I interpreted this speech in +French to Mdme. Plancon, as she could not speak English. After +this, Her Majesty told me to take Mdme. Plancon to the Emperor, +which I did. He stood up when she came near and shook hands with +her and asked after their Majesties' health. This over, Her +Majesty stepped down from her throne and took Mdme. Plancon to her +own Palace, the one with so many bedrooms, and when they arrived, +Her Majesty asked her to sit down, and they talked together for +about ten minutes, I interpreting for them, after which I took her +to see the Young Empress. + +The Manchu law is very strict as regards the mother-in-law and the +daughter-in-law, and the Young Empress had been sitting behind the +screen at the back of the throne during the audience, and it was +there that I found her. From there we went to the banquet hall, +where luncheon was served in Manchu style. + +Here I must explain the difference between the Chinese way of +eating and the Manchu. The Chinese place the bowls of food, one at +a time, in the center of the table and everyone eats out of these +bowls, sticking their chopsticks in and helping themselves to what +they want. The Manchus eat quite differently and are served with +individual bowls and dishes, the same as in any other country. Her +Majesty was very proud of this and said that it saved time, not to +mention being cleaner. The food in the Palace was always very good +and clean, especially when we had foreign guests, and of course we +had a variety of dishes for such occasions, such as sharkfins, +birds' nest pudding, not to mention a great quantity of other +things. + +Her Majesty had given me the order that morning to have the tables +nicely decorated and they did look very nice when we sat down. +Besides the usual tableware, we had gold dragon menu holders, +little peach-shaped silver saucers filled with almonds and dried +watermelon seeds, and knives and forks in addition to chopsticks. + +Her Majesty and the Emperor never ate with guests, so Mdme. +Plancon was entertained by the Imperial Princess and the Court +ladies. When luncheon was half over a eunuch came and told me that +Her Majesty wanted to see me at once. The thought flashed through +my head that something had gone wrong, or that some of the eunuchs +had been making false reports, a bad habit of the Court; and I was +much surprised to find her all smiles. She told me what a nice, +polite lady Mdme. Plancon was, that she had seen many ladies who +had come to the Court, but none with manners like this one, that +she was sorry to say that some of the ladies who came did not +behave very well. She said: "They seem to think we are only +Chinese and do not know anything, and look down upon us. I notice +these things very quickly and am surprised to see people who claim +to be well educated and civilized acting the way they do. I think +we whom they call barbarians are much more civilized and have +better manners." She was always very polite to the foreign ladies, +no matter how badly they behaved, but after they had gone, she +would tell us who was nice and who was not. After she had finished +saying this, she gave me a beautiful piece of green jade to give +to Madame Plancon. When I gave it to her, she said she wished to +thank Her Majesty, and I took her to the Palace again. + +When we had finished luncheon, she told me how pleased she was +with her reception and the kindness that Her Majesty had shown +her, and took her departure, we accompanying her to the courtyard +of the Audience Hall, where her chair was waiting. + +Her Majesty had made a rule or custom that after all guests had +departed, we must go to her and report everything. I suppose she +was like all women, a bit of a gossip as well as the rest; it +appeared so at any rate. She wanted to know what Mdme. Plancon +said, whether she liked the jade and whether she enjoyed her +luncheon, etc. + +Her Majesty was very well pleased that I had interpreted so well +for her and said: "I have never had anyone to interpret for me +this way before. Although I don't understand the language, I can +see that you speak it fluently. How did you learn? I will never +let you go away from me any more. Sometimes the foreign ladies +bring their own interpreters, but I can't understand their Chinese +and have to guess at what they are saying, especially some of the +missionaries Mrs. Conger brings with her. I am very happy to have +you and want you to stay with me as long as I live and I will +arrange a marriage for you, but won't tell you just now." + +I felt very happy at what Her Majesty had said and thought I had +made my debut under very favorable auspices, and was very glad +that Her Majesty liked me; but this marriage question worried me, +for nothing was farther from my mind than this. I afterwards told +my mother about it and she told me not to worry, as I could always +refuse when the time came. + +When we had told Her Majesty all that Mdme. Plancon had said, she +told us we could go to our rooms, that as we had risen early that +morning and had worked very hard, we must be tired and needed +rest, that she would not need us any more that day. We courtesied +to her according to the custom when saying good night, and +retired. + + + +CHAPTER SIX + +IN ATTENDANCE ON HER MAJESTY + + THE building where we had our rooms, as I have said before, +contained four large rooms and a hall, and we three, my mother, +sister and myself, each took a room and gave the fourth to our +maids. Her Majesty had ordered a eunuch to accompany us and this +eunuch told us that Her Majesty had ordered four young eunuchs to +attend on us and that if they did not behave, we should tell him. +He also said his name was Li, but as there were so many by this +name, including the head eunuch, it was very hard to tell them +apart. + +When we arrived, which took some time, he pointed to a building on +our right and said that it was Her Majesty's own Palace and the +one which we had just left. I could not understand why it had +taken us so long to come, when the Palace was so near, and asked +him about it. He told us that our little buildings were at the +left side of the Emperor's Palace and that Her Majesty had had the +entrance leading from our place to her Palace closed up for +certain reasons which he would not tell, but said: "You see this +place ought to face East instead of towards the lake." The view on +the lake was beautiful and I told him I liked it much better the +way it was. He smiled and said: "You will have to learn a lot +before you find out this wicked place." I was surprised at what +the eunuch said, but did not like to ask him any questions. He +also told us that the Emperor's Palace was just behind our place +and was a large building similar to Her Majesty's Palace. We +looked and could see the trees of his courtyard above the roof. +Then he pointed to another building behind the Emperor's, which +was larger but lower than the Emperor's Palace, and also had a +large courtyard, and said it was the Young Empress's Palace. It +had two buildings flanking it on each side and the eunuch told us +that the one on the left was the Secondary Wife's bedroom. That +there had been an entrance between the two Palaces, but that Lao +Fo Yeh (The great old Buddha), as the eunuchs called Her Majesty, +had blocked it up so that the Emperor and Empress could not +communicate with each other, except through Her Majesty's own +Palace. I suppose this was the way she kept watch over them and +knew at all times what they were doing. This was all news to me +and I did not know what to think of it. I was afraid that this +eunuch Li would tell me more of these curious things, so I told +him I was tired and would go to my room and rest, and he went +away. + +When I finally got inside my room and had a chance to look around, +I saw that it was very prettily furnished with ebonywood +furniture, which was covered with red satin cushions and the +windows were hung with red silk curtains. All the bedrooms were +just alike. The kong (bed) was made of brick covered with the same +kind of wood and ran along the wall under the front window. It had +high teaster posts with slats running across on which red curtains +were hung. These kongs are very curiously built. They are made of +brick and have a hole in the front center in which fire is placed +to heat the brick in winter time. During the day a sort of table +is placed on top of the kong and removed again at night. + +Shortly after we had gone to our rooms, some eunuchs came and +brought our dinner, which they placed on a table in the center of +the hall. They told us the food had been sent by Her Majesty and +that she had ordered them to tell us to make ourselves +comfortable. We were so tired that we could not eat very much and +were about to retire for the night when this eunuch Li came again +and told us that we must be up at five o'clock, not later, so I +told my eunuch to knock on my window at five. Immediately after +this we went to bed, but did not sleep immediately, as we wanted +to talk over the events of the day, which had been many and +strange. After we did finally get to bed, it seemed as if we had +just fallen asleep when I heard someone knocking on my window. I +woke up with a start and asked what the matter was and a eunuch +told me it was five o'clock and time to get up. + +I immediately got up and opened my window and looked out. The day +was just dawning and the sky was a beautiful deep red which was +reflected in the lake, which was perfectly calm. The scenery was +lovely and in the distance I could see Her Majesty's peony +mountain, which was literally covered with these beautiful +flowers. I dressed at once and went to Her Majesty's Palace and +there met the Young Empress sitting on the veranda. I courtesied +to her as a good morning salute. The Emperor's Secondary wife was +there also, but we had been ordered not to courtesy to her, as she +was considered not to have any standing there. There was also a +number of young Court ladies, many of whom I had never seen +before. The Young Empress introduced me to them, saying that they +were also Court ladies. They were daughters of high Manchu +officials and some were very pretty and bright. The Young Empress +told me that these ten (there were just ten there) were never +allowed to go near Her Majesty, as they were just learning the +court etiquette. They were all dressed very nicely in pretty +Manchu gowns, the same design as that worn by the Young Empress. + +After I had been introduced to these young ladies and talked with +them a while, I went inside with the Young Empress and there met +Sze Gurgur, fourth daughter of Prince Ching and a young widow +twenty-four years of age, Yuen Da Nai Nai, widow of Her Majesty's +nephew. Both were busy getting things ready for Her Majesty. The +Young Empress told us that we must go at once to Her Majesty's +bedroom and assist Her Majesty to dress, so we went at once and +courtesied to her and said: "Lao Tsu Tsung Chi Hsiang" (old +ancestor, all joy be with you). Her Majesty was still in bed and +smiled to us and asked us if we had slept well. We told her the +rooms were very comfortable, etc. I thought to myself, we had +slept very well for the little time we had, but I had not had half +enough. The day before had been very hard for us and we were quite +unused to it and it had made us very lame and sore running around +so much. + +She asked us if we had had any breakfast and we told her not yet. +She scolded Li for not having given the order for our breakfast to +be brought to our rooms and said: "You must not feel like +strangers, order anything you may want." Then she arose and +started to dress. She put on her white silk socks first, having +slept in her pantaloons as is the custom, and tied them at the +ankle with pretty ribbon. I must tell you here that although she +always slept in her clothes, she changed them for clean ones every +day. Then she put on a pale pink shirt of soft material and over +that a short silk gown, that was embroidered with bamboo leaves, +as she always wore low heeled shoes in the morning and +consequently could not wear her long gowns. After she had dressed +she walked over to a window in front of which were two long tables +covered with toilet articles of every kind and description. + +As she was washing her face and dressing her hair, she said to my +mother that she could not bear to have the servant girls, eunuchs, +or old women, touch her bed, that they were dirty, so the Court +ladies must make it. When she said this she turned to my sister +and myself, we were standing a little to one side, and said: "You +two must not think for a moment that the Court ladies do servant's +work, but you know I am an old woman and could easily be your +grandmother and it will do you no harm to work a little for me. +When it comes your turn, you can superintend the others and don't +have to do the work with your own hands." Then Her Majesty said to +me: "Der Ling you are a great help to me in every way and I make +you my first lady-in-waiting. You must not work too much for you +will have to make all the arrangements for the audiences for +foreigners and you will have to interpret for me. I also want you +to look after my jewels and don't want you to do rough work at +all. Roon Ling (my sister) can choose what she likes to do. I have +two more besides you, Sze Gurgur and Yuen Da Nai Nai, making four +altogether and you must all work together. It is not necessary to +be too polite to them and if they are not nice to you, you let me +know." Although I was very happy at receiving this appointment, I +knew that according to custom I must refuse it, so I thanked Her +Majesty very kindly for the honor she had given me and said that I +did not know enough to hold such an important position and would +prefer to be just an ordinary Court lady, and that I would learn +as quickly as possible to be useful to her. She hardly let me +finish what I was saying, when she laughed and said: "Stop! don't +say anything like that; you are too modest, which shows you are +very clever and not a bit conceited. I am surprised to see what a +perfect little Manchu lady you are, knowing even such small +etiquette as this, although you have spent many years outside of +China." She was very fond of making fun and liked very much to +tease, and said that I could try and if she saw that I could not +do the work, she would scold me and put someone else in my place. +After all this that she had said, I accepted the appointment and +went over to her bed to see how it was made, and I found that it +was very easy work to do. As this would be one of my duties, I +watched while the bed was being fixed. First of all, after Her +Majesty had risen, the bedclothes were taken out into the +courtyard by the eunuchs and aired, then the bed, which was made +of beautifully carved wood, was brushed off with a sort of +whiskbroom, and a piece of felt placed over it. Then three thick +mattresses made of yellow brocade were placed over the felt. After +this came the sheets made of different colored soft silk, and over +the whole thing was placed a covering of plain yellow satin +embroidered with gold dragons and blue clouds. She had a great +many pillows, all beautifully embroidered, which were placed on +the bed during the daytime; but had a particular one stuffed with +tea leaves on which she slept. It is said that stuffing the pillow +on which you sleep with tea leaves is good for the eyes. In +addition to all these, she had another very curiously shaped +pillow about twelve inches long in the middle of which was a hole +about three inches square. It was stuffed with dried flowers, and +the idea of the hole was that when she laid on it she could place +her ear in this hole and in this way hear any and every sound. I +suppose in that way no one could come on her unawares. + +Besides this last yellow embroidered cover, there were six covers +of different colors, pale mauve, blue, pink, green and violet, and +were placed one on top of the other. Over the top of the bed was a +frame of wood handsomely carved and from this frame white crepe +curtains, beautifully embroidered, hung, and numerous little gauze +silk bags filled with scent were suspended from the carved work of +the frame. The odor from these bags was very strong and made one +feel sick until they became used to it. Her Majesty was also very +fond of musk and used it on all occasions. + +It took us about fifteen minutes to make the bed, and when I had +finished, I turned around and saw that Her Majesty was dressing +her hair. I stood beside her Majesty while the eunuch was dressing +it and saw that as old as she was, she still had beautiful long +hair which was as soft as velvet and raven black. She parted it in +the center and brought it low at the back of her ears, and the +back braid was brushed up on the top of her head and made it into +a tight knot. When she had finished doing this, she was ready to +have the Gu'un Dzan (Manchu headdress) placed on and pinned +through the knot with two large pins. Her Majesty always dressed +her hair first and then washed her face. She was as fussy and +particular as a young girl and would give it to the eunuch if he +did not get it just to suit her. She had dozens of bottles of all +kinds of perfume, also perfumed soap. When she had finished +washing her face, she dried it on a soft towel and sprayed it with +a kind of glycerine made of honey and flower petals. After that +she put some kind of strong scented pink powder on her face. + +When she had completed her toilet, she turned to me and said: "It +must seem to you quite funny to see an old lady like me taking so +much care and pains in dressing and fixing up. Well! I like to +dress myself up and to see others dress nicely. It always gives me +pleasure to see pretty girls dressed nicely; it makes you want to +be young again yourself." I told her that she looked quite young +and was still beautiful, and that although we were young we would +never dare compare ourselves with her. This pleased her very much, +as she was very fond of compliments, and I took great pains that +morning to study her and to find out what she liked and what she +didn't. + +After this Her Majesty took me into another room and showed me +where her jewels were kept. This room was covered with shelves on +three sides of the room from top to bottom, on which were placed +piles of ebony boxes all containing jewels. Small yellow strips +were pasted on some of the boxes on which was written the +contents. Her Majesty pointed to a row of boxes on the right side +of the room and said: "Here is where I keep my favorite everyday +jewels, and some day you must go over them and see that they are +all there. The rest are all jewels which I wear on special +occasions. There are about three thousand boxes in this room and I +have a lot more locked up in my safety room, which I will show you +when I am not busy." Then she said: "I am sorry you cannot read +and write Chinese, otherwise I would give you a list of these +things and you could keep a check on them." I was very much +surprised at this and wondered who had told her I couldn't. I was +anxious to know, but did not dare to ask her, so I told her that +although I was not a scholar, I had studied Chinese for some time +and could read and write a little, that if she would give me a +list I would try and read it. She said: "That is funny, someone +told me the first day you were here, I forget now who it was, that +you could not read or write your own language at all." While she +was saying this, she was looking all around the room and I was +sure she knew who it was that had told her, but she would not tell +me. Then she said: "When we have time this afternoon, I will go +over this list with you. Bring me those five boxes on the first +row of shelves." I brought the boxes to her room and placed them +on the table. She opened the first one and it contained a most +beautiful peony made of coral and jade and each petal trembled +like a real flower. This flower was made by stringing the petals +which were made of coral on very fine brass wire, also the leaves +which were made of pure jade. She took this flower and placed it +on the right side of her headdress. Then she opened another box +and took from it a magnificent jade butterfly made in the same +way. This was an invention of her own and it was done by carving +the coral and jade into petals and leaves and boring holes in the +lower ends through which brass wire was run. The other two boxes +contained bracelets and rings of different patterns. There was a +pair of gold bracelets set with pearls, another pair set with +jade, with a piece of jade hanging from the end of a small gold +chain, etc. The last two contained chains of pearls, the like of +which I never saw before, and I fell in love with them at once. +Her Majesty took one which was made into a plum blossom string by +winding a circle of five pearls around a larger one, then one +single pearl, then another circle of five pearls around a large +one, and so on, making quite a long chain, which she suspended +from one of the buttons of her gown. + +At this juncture one of the Court ladies came in carrying several +gowns for Her Majesty to select from. She looked at them and said +that none of them suited her, to take them back and bring more. I +had a look at them and thought they were perfectly lovely, such +pretty colors and so beautifully embroidered. In a short while the +same Court lady came back carrying more, and from these Her +Majesty selected a sea-green one embroidered all over with white +storks. She put this gown on and looked at herself in the mirror +for a while, then took off her jade butterfly. She said: "You see +I am very particular about little details. The jade butterfly is +too green and it kills my gown. Put it back in the box and bring +me a pearl stork in No. 35 box." I went back to the jewel room and +fortunately found No. 35 box and brought it to her. She opened the +box and took from it a stork made entirely of pearls set in +silver, the bird's bill being made of coral. The pearls making the +body of the bird were so cleverly set that the silver could not be +seen at all unless one looked at it very closely. It was a most +magnificent piece of workmanship and the pearls were of perfect +color and shape. Her Majesty took it and placed it in her hair and +did look very graceful and pretty. Then she picked out a +mauve-colored short jacket, also embroidered with storks, which +she put on over her gown. Her handkerchief and shoes were also +embroidered with storks and when she was entirely dressed she +looked like the stork lady. + +Just as she had finished dressing, the Emperor Kwang Hsu came into +the bedroom dressed in his official clothes. These clothes were +exactly like other official clothes, except that he had no button +on his hat and did not wear the peacock feather. He knelt down +before Her Majesty and said: "Chin Baba, Chi Hsiang" (dear father, +all joy be with you). It may seem curious that the Emperor and all +of us should call Her Majesty father, and the reason why this was +done was because Her Majesty always wanted to be a man and +compelled everyone to address her as if she were actually one. +This was only one of her many peculiarities. + +I did not know whether to courtesy to the Emperor or not, not +having received any orders as to what I should do. However, I +thought it better to be too polite than not enough, so I waited +until either he or Her Majesty went out of the room, as we were +not allowed to salute or courtesy to anyone in her presence. In a +little while the Emperor went out and I followed him out into the +hall and just as I was in the act of courtesying Her Majesty came +out. She looked at me in a very peculiar way, as if she did not +approve of what I had done, but said nothing. I felt very +uncomfortable and made up my mind that being too polite did not +always pay after all. + +I then returned to the room again and saw a small eunuch placing +several yellow boxes on a table at the left side of the room. Her +Majesty seated herself in a large chair, which was called her +little throne, and this eunuch opened the boxes, took a yellow +envelope from each box and handed them to Her Majesty. She opened +these envelopes with an ivory paper knife and read their contents. +They were memorials from the heads of the different Boards, or +from the Viceroys of the different Provinces. The Emperor had come +back and was standing at the side of this table and after she had +finished reading, she handed them over to him. While all this was +being done I stood at the back of her chair. I watched the Emperor +as the different papers were handed to him and noticed that it did +not take him very long to finish reading their contents. After he +was finished reading the papers, they were placed back in the +boxes. During all this time absolute silence was maintained. Just +as they had finished the head eunuch came in, knelt down and +announced that Her Majesty's chair was ready. She immediately got +up and went out of the house, we following her, and I took her arm +while she was descending the steps to go to her chair. When she +had entered the chair to go to the Audience Hall, the Emperor and +Young Empress and we all followed in our usual places, the +eunuchs, amahs and servant girls carrying all the things exactly +the same as was done the first day I came to the Palace. When we +arrived at the Audience Hall, we took our places behind the big +screen and the audience commenced. I was very curious to find out +just how the audiences were conducted and wanted to listen to what +was going on, but the Court ladies would not leave me alone. +However, when they were all talking together with my sister, I +stole away into a corner where I could sit and rest and listen to +the conversation between the different Ministers and Her Majesty. +Trust a woman for being inquisitive. + +The first part of the audience I could not hear very well, as so +many people were whispering and talking at the same time, but by +peeping through the carved-work of the screen, I could see a +General talking to Her Majesty. I also saw the members of the +Grand Council come in headed by Prince Ching, who was the +Councillor-in-Chief. After the General had finished, Her Majesty +talked with Prince Ching about the appointment of some minor +officials, a list of whose names had been handed to her. She +looked over this list and spoke about several of the people, but +Prince Ching suggested some others, saying: "Although these people +whose names have been submitted to Your Majesty should receive +appointments, those that I have suggested are better fitted for +the positions." Her Majesty said: "All right, I leave it all to +you." Then I heard Her Majesty say to the Emperor, "Is that +correct?" and he replied, "Yes." This finished the Audience for +the morning and the Ministers and Grand Councillors took their +leave. We came out from behind the screen to Her Majesty and she +said that she wanted to go for a walk to get some fresh air. The +servant girls brought her a mirror, placed it on a table, and Her +Majesty took off her heavy headdress, leaving the simple knot on +the top of her head, which was quite becoming. She wanted to +change some of the flower jewels and I opened a box which one of +the eunuchs had brought and took out some very dainty flowers made +of pearls. I handed her one which she placed at the side of this +knot, then she selected a jade dragonfly which she placed on the +other side. She said these small flowers were favorites of hers +and she liked to wear them when she took off her heavy headdress. +I was watching her very closely and wondered what I was going to +do with the flowers she had taken off. I had not brought the boxes +to put them in, as I did not know she was going to change again +after the audience, and felt a little nervous as to what was the +right thing to do, or as to what she would say. However, I saw a +eunuch come in carrying these boxes and felt much relieved. I +quickly placed the things in the boxes where they belonged. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN + +SOME INCIDENTS OF THE COURT + + MY first day with Her Majesty was very trying as I did not know +just what she wanted or how she wanted things done, and no one +seemed willing to tell me; but by watching very closely I was soon +able to grasp the situation. After I had finished putting the +things in the boxes I did not know whether to take them back to +the jewel room or not, or whether to wait until Her Majesty +ordered me, and again I was in a quandary. I saw she was talking +to my mother, so I waited a little time and finally made up my +mind I would risk it and take them back, which I did. As I was +returning I met Her Majesty in the big courtyard. She had just +changed her gown again and looked much shorter as she had also +changed her shoes for ones with lower heels. This gown was made of +heavy sky-blue crepe with no embroidery at all, just trimmed with +pale pink ribbons, and she looked very nice in it. When Her +Majesty saw me, she asked me: "Where have you been?" I told her +that I had just been putting her jewels away. Then she said: "Has +anyone told you to put them away as soon as I am finished with +them? I forgot to tell you this morning, although I had meant to." +I said that no one had told me anything, that I was afraid to have +the eunuchs taking such valuable things here and there, that I was +sure that she did not want to use them any more, so I thought it +would be safer to put them away in the jewel room again. Her +Majesty looked at me and said: "I can see that these girls don't +tell you anything and I am very glad to see that you have done +just the right thing. That is why I thought someone must have told +you what to do. Anything you want to know you can ask me, but +don't talk to these mean people here." I could see from this that +there must be some jealousy among them and decided that I was well +able to find my own way, as I knew Her Majesty liked me and would +help me out. + +Her Majesty walked along a little way, then laughed and said to +me: "Don't I look more comfortable now? I am going for a long walk +and take lunch on the top of the hill. There is a nice place up +there and I am sure you will like it. Come, let us go." + +The Emperor had gone back to his own Palace, and the head eunuch +had also disappeared. As we were walking along, Her Majesty was +talking and smiling as if she had never a care or trouble in the +world, or any important questions of state to settle. I thought +from what I had seen so far that she had a very sweet disposition. +She looked back and said: "Just see how many people are following +us." I turned and saw the same crowd that had accompanied Her +Majesty earlier in the day to the Audience Hall. + +After passing out of the large courtyard on the West side, we came +to a large, long veranda running in a zig-zag fashion along the +front of the lake, and it was so long that I could not see the end +of it. It was very prettily made of solid carved work from one end +to the other. Electric lights were hanging from the ceiling at +intervals, and when they were lighted at night, made a beautiful +sight. + +Her Majesty was a very fast walker and we had to step lively to +keep up with her. The eunuchs and the servant girls walked on the +right side and only one of the eunuchs was allowed to walk behind +us, and he was the one who carried Her Majesty's yellow satin +stool, which, like her dog, went everywhere she did. This stool +she used to rest on when taking a walk. We walked for quite a long +while and I began to feel tired, but Her Majesty, as old as she +was, was still walking very fast and did not appear to be the +least bit tired. She asked me if I liked the Palace and whether I +would be satisfied to live with her, etc. I told her that it was a +great pleasure for me to serve her, that it had been my dream for +years, and now that my dream had come true, I could not help but +be satisfied. + +We finally arrived at the place where the marble boat was kept, +and I was about finished. I never saw such vitality in an old +woman in my life as Her Majesty had, and it was no wonder that she +had ruled this vast Empire of China so successfully for so many +years. + +This boat was magnificent, being one mass of carved work, but the +inside was all spoiled. Her Majesty showed us all over the boat, +and whilst we were looking at the ruin, she said: "Look at those +colored glasses in the windows and these beautiful paintings. They +were all spoiled by the foreign troops in 1900. I don't intend to +have it repaired as I don't want to forget the lesson I have +learned and this is a good reminder." After we had been standing +there a few minutes, a eunuch who had been carrying the famous +satin stool, came forward, and Her Majesty sat down to rest. While +we were talking I noticed two large and very fancy-looking boats +approaching us, with several smaller ones coming along behind. As +they came nearer I saw that they were also very beautifully made, +and looked like floating pagodas of beautifully carved natural +wood. The windows of the pagodas were hung with red gauze curtains +and all was trimmed with silk. Her Majesty said: "There are the +boats. We must go over to the west side of the lake and have +luncheon." Her Majesty got up and walked to the edge of the lake, +two eunuchs supporting her, one at each side. She stepped into the +boat and we all followed her example. The inside of the boat was +very nicely furnished with carved ebony furniture with blue satin +cushions, one with many pots of flowers on both sides of the +window. There were two more cabins behind this sitting room. Her +Majesty told me to go in to see those two rooms. One little room +was a dressing room full of toilet articles. The other one had two +couches and several small chairs for Her Majesty to rest whenever +she felt tired. Her Majesty sat on her throne and ordered us to +sit on the floor. The eunuchs brought in red satin cushions for us +to sit upon. To sit on the floor is all right for Chinese clothes, +but of course it was out of the question with Paris gowns, and I +felt very uncomfortable, but did not like to say so. I wanted to +change into Manchu clothes, for I knew they were comfortable and +easy to work in, but having received no order from Her Majesty, I +did not dare to suggest it. Her Majesty noticed how very +uncomfortable we looked sitting on the floor. She said: "You can +stand up if you want to and just watch those boats following us." +I put my head out of the window and noticed the Young Empress and +several other Court ladies were in the other boat. They waved to +me, and I waved back. Her Majesty laughed and said to me: "I give +you this apple to throw to them." While saying this she took one +from the big plates that stood upon the center table. I tried very +hard, but the apple did not reach the other boat, but went to the +bottom of the lake. Her Majesty laughed and told me to try again, +but I failed. Finally, she took one and threw it herself. It went +straight to the other boat and hit one of the ladies' head. We all +laughed quite heartily. Then I began to enjoy myself. There were +several open boats full of eunuchs, and another one of servant +girls, amahs and the rest with Her Majesty's luncheon. The lake +was beautiful and looked so green in the sun. I told Her Majesty +that this color reminded me of the sea. She said: "You have +travelled so much, and yet you have not had enough, but are still +thinking of the sea. You must not go abroad any more, but stay +with me. I want you to enjoy this sailing on this lake instead of +the rough sea." I promised her that I would be only too happy to +stay with her. I must say the truth, I did enjoy the lovely +scenery, the beautiful weather, superb sunshine, with Her Majesty +so kind to me and talking to me in such a motherly way made me +love her more and more every minute I was there. I was so +extremely happy there that even Paris pleasures had gone out of my +memory entirely. + +At last we arrived at another part of the lake. This was more of a +stream, very narrow, just wide enough for one boat to pass. On +both sides of the bank were planted drooping willow trees that +reminded me of the Chinese Fairy tales I have read. This time I +saw the servant girls, amahs, and also eunuchs carrying boxes, +walking on both sides of the shore. Only two boats were going +then, the Young Empress' and ours. Her Majesty said: "We will +arrive at the bottom of the hill in a few minutes." When we came +near the shore I saw her yellow chair and several red chairs +waiting. We landed and walked to the chairs. I watched Her Majesty +get into hers and noticed this was not the same chair she used +this morning. This little one was, of course, of yellow, with +yellow poles, and two eunuchs carried it, with yellow rope across +their shoulders, and four eunuchs supported the poles, one on each +corner of the chair. They were just going to raise her chair up +when she said: "Yu tai tai (Lady Yu) I give you and your daughters +special favor and give you a red chair with red cord that I have +given to only a few people." The Young Empress looked at us, which +I understood at once was meant for us to kowtow to her, which we +did, and waited until the Empress got into hers. Then we went to +search for ours. To my surprise our own eunuchs were standing +waiting beside our chairs. On the poles I noticed that my name was +written and I asked our eunuch the reason. He said that Her +Majesty gave the order the night before. It was a lovely ride +going to the top of the hill. I saw Her Majesty's chair in front, +and the Young Empress'. They looked to me quite dangerous in +ascending that way, and the men at the back of the chair had to +raise the poles above their heads so as to make the chair the same +level in ascending. I was quite nervous and was very much afraid +that they might fall off and injure me. Our eunuchs were walking +beside our chairs. I said to one of them that I was afraid the +chair bearers might slip. He told me to look back of my chair, +which I did, and to my surprise they had the poles raised up also +above their heads, and I did not feel it at all. He told me that +these chair bearers practice for such purposes and that there was +no danger at all. It made my heart stop beating looking back and +seeing the other Court ladies in their chairs way below mine, the +eunuchs and servant girls walking, for fear I might fall off at +any time. At last we arrived at the top of the hill. We helped Her +Majesty to alight and followed her into the most lovely building I +ever saw, the best one in the Summer Palace to my idea (name of +this pavilion, Ching Fo Ker). This Palace had only two rooms, with +windows on every side. One could see everywhere. Her Majesty used +one large one to take her luncheon in and the other as a toilet +room. I noticed that wherever we went we found Her Majesty's +toilet room. Her Majesty took us around the compound and showed us +the lovely flowers planted everywhere. One of the young eunuchs +told me that Her Majesty's dainties were ready. That was my first +day of real work. I went out and found two large yellow boxes of +different kinds of candies and fruits, as I have before mentioned. +I carried two plates at a time, and finished in nine times, +placing them on a square table near her. She was talking to my +mother then about flowers. I noticed that although she was +talking, she was watching me at the same time. I placed the plates +upon the table very carefully, and already having noticed the day +before what were her favorite dishes, and placed these near her. +She smiled at me and said: "You have done it very nicely. And how +do you know that these are my favorites and have placed them near +me? Who told you?" I replied that no one had told me anything and +that I had noticed the day before what Lao Tsu Tsung liked +(according to the Manchu custom one must address a superior or +one's parents in the third person). Her Majesty said: "I can see +you use your heart in everything (in China people say heart +instead of head) and are not like the crowd I have here; they +haven't the brains of a bird." She was soon busy eating, and gave +me some candies, and told me to eat right there in her presence. +Of course I never forgot to thank her, for I thought I had rather +thank her too much than too little. She told me: "Whenever I give +you small things you need not kowtow. Just say: `Hsieh Lao Tsu +Tsung Shang' (Thank the old ancestor), that is enough." After a +little while she finished eating, and told me to take the dishes +away. She said: "To-day is your day, so these things are yours. +Take them out and sit down on the veranda and enjoy yourself. You +see I could not eat all. There are lots of things left. If you +like you can tell your own eunuch to send them to your room." I +placed the little dishes back in the boxes and took them to the +veranda. There I placed them upon the table and told the Young +Empress to eat some. I did not know whether it was right to offer +them to her or not and thought I could not do her any harm, even +if I tried. She said all right, that she would eat some. I took a +piece of candy and had just put it into my mouth when I heard Her +Majesty calling my name. I hurried in and found her sitting at her +table ready to take her lunch. She said: "What else did Mdme. +Plancon say yesterday? Was she really pleased? Do you think they, +the foreigners, really like me? I don't think so; on the contrary +I know they haven't forgotten the Boxer Rising in Kwang Hsu's 26th +year. I don't mind owning up that I like our old ways the best, +and I don't see any reason why we should adopt the foreign style. +Did any of the foreign ladies ever tell you that I am a +fierce-looking old woman?" I was very much surprised that she +should call me in and ask me such questions during her meal. She +looked quite serious and it seemed to me she was quite annoyed. I +assured her that no one ever said anything about Her Majesty but +nice things. The foreigners told me how nice she was, and how +graceful, etc. This seemed to please her, and she smiled and said: +"Of course they have to tell you that, just to make you feel happy +by saying that your sovereign is perfect, but I know better. I +can't worry too much, but I hate to see China in such a poor +condition. Although the people around me seem to comfort me by +telling that almost every nation feels very friendly towards +China, I don't think that is true. I hope we will be strong some +day." While she was saying this I noticed her worried expression. +I did not know what to say, but tried to comfort her by saying +that that time will come, and we are all looking forward to it. I +wanted to advise her on some points, but seeing that she was +angry, I thought I had better not make any suggestions that day, +but wait until I had another opportunity. I felt sorry for her, +and would have given anything in the world to help her by telling +what the general opinion of her was so as to let her know the +truth, which no one dared to tell her. Something told me to be +silent. I kept thinking all the time she was talking to me, and +finally made up my mind that the time was not yet ripe for me to +make any suggestion. I had grown to love her very much, so I +wanted to take care not to offend her; that would probably finish +my ambition. I wanted to study her first thoroughly and then try +to influence her to reform China. + +I stood all the time while she was eating. She got up from the +table and handed me her napkin (this napkin was made of a piece of +silk a yard square, woven in many colors). One corner was turned +in, and a golden butterfly was fastened to it. It had a hook at +the back of this butterfly so as to hook on her collar. She said: +"I am sure you must be hungry. Go and tell the Young Empress and +the rest of the people to come and eat. You can eat anything you +want from these tables, so eat all you can." I was very, very +hungry. Just imagine, I had been up since 5:00 o'clock and had +only a light breakfast, and had walked a great deal. It was almost +noon when Her Majesty sat down at her table. She ate so slowly, +too. While I stood there talking to her I thought she would never +finish. She ate a good meal. The Young Empress stood at the head +of the table, and we all stood on either side. We did not like to +be forward, so we stood at the other end of the table. The food +was very much the same as the first day we were there. Her Majesty +came out from the inner room, had just finished washing her face +and hands, and had changed into another gown. This one was simple, +but very pretty. It was woven with pink and gray raw silks, which +gave it a changeable light whenever she moved. She came out and +said: "I want to see you people eat; why is it that you are +standing at the end of the table, the best dishes are not there? +All of you come over here and eat near the Young Empress." So we +moved from our end of the table to the other. Her Majesty stood +near me, and pointed to a smoked fish and wanted me to try it, as +it was her favorite, and said: "Make yourselves at home. You know +you have to fight your own battles here with this crowd. Of course +you can come and tell me if anyone does not treat you fair." Her +Majesty then went out, saying that she would walk a bit. I noticed +that some of the court ladies did not look pleased, seeing that +Her Majesty paid so much attention to us. I could see they were a +little jealous of me, but that did not worry me in the least. + +After we got through our luncheon, I followed the Young Empress, +for it was all so new to me, and I did not know what I must +do--whether to join Her Majesty or not. After seeing that they +were jealous of me, I paid strict attention to everything, so as +not to make any mistake in doing my work and let them have the +satisfaction of laughing at me. I would not give them the chance. +I heard Her Majesty talking to the eunuchs who looked after the +garden, about some branches which ought to be cut down, saying +they were lazy. So we went to her. She said to us: "You see I have +to look after everything myself, if not, my flowers would be +ruined. I can't depend on them at all. I wonder what they are good +for. They ought to look around every day and cut down the dead +branches and leaves. They have not been punished for several days +and they are looking forward to it." She laughed and said: "I will +not disappoint them, but give them all they wish to have." I +thought these people must be idiots, looking forward to a +whipping, and wondered who would whip them. Her Majesty turned to +me and said: "Have you ever witnessed such an operation?" I told +her that I had, having seen the convicts being whipped at a +Magistrate's Yamen when I was a little girl living at Shansi (on +the Yangtsze). She said: "That is nothing. The convicts are not +half so wicked as these eunuchs. Of course they deserve a heavier +punishment when they are bad." Her Majesty said that I should +learn to play dice with her, as she never had enough people to +play with, so we went back to the same room where she had taken +her lunch. A square table was in the middle of this large room and +a little throne of Her Majesty's, facing south (her favorite +direction). Her Majesty sat on her throne and said to me: "I will +show you how to play this game. Do you think you know enough +Chinese to read this map?" I noticed a large map, the same size as +the table, and laid upon it, drawn in different colors. In the +center of the map was written the direction of the game. It said: +"This game is called the `Eight Fairies Travel across the Sea.' +The names are Lu Hsien, Chang Hsien, Li Hsien, Lan Hsien, Hang +Hsien, Tsao Hsien and Hain Hsien. These seven were masculine +fairies. Hor Hsien was the only lady fairy." This map was the map +of the Chinese Empire, and the names of the different provinces +were written on the drawing. There were eight pieces of round +ivory, about one inch and a half in diameter and a quarter of an +inch thick. The names of these fairies were engraved upon them. +This game could be played either by eight people or four people, +when each person had to take two fairies' places, instead of one. +A porcelain bowl was placed in the center of the map, to compare +the point by throwing six dice into the bowl. For instance, four +people play. One throws these six dice into the bowl and counts +the points on them. The highest that one could get was 36, and +should 36 be thrown the fairy should go to Hangehow to enjoy the +beautiful scenery. This person threw dice for Lu Hsien and had 36 +points and placed this ivory piece of Lu Hsien on Hangehow upon +the map. The same person has to throw another time for another +fairy, so each person throws twice if four people play the game, +and once if played by eight. These different points count +different provinces. They are counted thus:--Six dice alike. One +pair in six dice, to three pairs. The lowest was the double 1, 2, +3. If any unfortunate fairy got this he should go on exile and be +left out altogether. Any one of the fairies that travelled round +the map to reach the Imperial Palace, the first, was the winner. + +I read this to Her Majesty. She seemed to be quite pleased, and +said: "I had no idea that you could read so well. This game was my +own invention and I taught three Court ladies to play. I had a +very hard time teaching them. I also taught them how to read +Chinese in order to play the game, but it took them so long to +learn anything that I got quite discouraged before I got through +with them. I am sure you know how to play it now." I was very much +surprised to hear that these Court ladies were as ignorant as +this. I thought they must be excellent scholars, so did not dare +to show my knowledge of Chinese literature. We began to play the +game. Her Majesty was lucky. The two fairies held by her were way +ahead of ours. One of the Court ladies said to me: "You will be +surprised to see that Lao Tsu Tsung is always the winner." Her +Majesty smiled and said to me: "You will never be able to catch my +fairies." She said: "You are the first day here to play this game +and if any of your fairies beat any of mine I will give you a nice +present, so hurry up." I thought I could never get ahead of her +fairies, for they were so far ahead of mine, but I tried hard, as +Her Majesty told me to call out for the points I wanted. I did, +but it came out something so different that it amused her a great +deal. I had no idea how long we were playing this game. We counted +who came next, and that was one of my fairies, so Her Majesty said +to me: "I was sure you could not beat me, as no one could. Seeing +that yours are next to mine, I will give you the present just the +same." While she was saying this she told a servant girl to bring +her some embroidered handkerchiefs. This girl brought several +colored ones to her, and she asked me what color I preferred. She +handed me a pink one and a pale blue one, all embroidered with +purple wisteria, and said: "These two are the best, and I want you +to take them." I was just going to thank her by bowing to the +ground, but I found that my legs could not move. I tried hard and +succeeded finally, with difficulty. Her Majesty laughed very +heartily at me and said: "You see you are not accustomed to +standing so long and you cannot bend your knees any more." +Although my legs were sore I thought I had better not show it, but +smiled and told her that it was nothing, only my legs were a +little stiff, that was all. She said: "You must go and sit on the +veranda and rest a minute." I was only too glad to sit down, so I +went to the veranda and found the Young Empress sitting there with +several Court ladies. The Young Empress said: "You must be tired +standing so long. Come and sit near me." My legs were very stiff +and my back was tired. Of course Her Majesty did not know how +uncomfortable we were while she was sitting on her cozy throne. +Foreign attire is out of the question for the Imperial Palace of +Peking. I had hoped that Her Majesty would tell us to change into +our Manchu gowns. I noticed that she asked many questions every +day about foreign costumes, and she said: "The foreign costume is +not any prettier than ours and I should say they must be quite +uncomfortable round one's waist. I wouldn't be squeezed that way +for anything." Although she was saying such things she did not +suggest that we should give them up, so we had to wait patiently +for her orders. The Young Empress took her watch out of her +pocket, and said to me: "This game has lasted just two hours." I +said to her that it seemed to me longer than that. While we were +talking I saw our own eunuchs bringing four round boxes, made of +thin board, carried at each end of bamboo poles. They put them +down near where we sat, and one of them brought me a cup of tea. +When my mother and sister came the same eunuch brought another two +cups, and there were several Court ladies talking with us. This +eunuch did not give them any. I noticed at the other end of this +long veranda there were another two boxes, exactly the same as +these, and a big tall eunuch made tea and brought it to the Young +Empress in a yellow porcelain cup, with a silver saucer and a +silver top cover. He did not give any to the others. + +I was puzzled when one of the Court ladies sitting next to me +said: "Would you mind telling Wang (our head eunuch) to give me a +cup of your tea, just to save me the trouble to go and get it from +the small room at the end of this long veranda?" I gave her such a +surprised look, for I did not know that this was our tea, but I +thought I'd just tell Wang to bring her a cup, and find out +afterwards the reason, for I would give anything in the world +rather than appear ignorant before those people. While we were +talking Her Majesty came out. Before she reached the veranda I got +up and told the Young Empress that Her Majesty was coming. I saw +her first because I sat facing her back hall. Her Majesty said to +us all: "It is almost three o'clock now, and I am going to rest a +while. Let us leave here." We all stood in a line for her to enter +her chair, and then we went to ours. It was quite a fast ride and +we got out of our chairs before arriving at the courtyard of her +own Palace. We walked ahead of her chair and formed into another +line for her to alight. She walked to her bedroom and we all +followed. A eunuch brought her a cup of hot water and another +brought a bowl of sugar. She took her golden spoon and took two +teaspoonfuls of sugar and put it into her cup of hot water, and +drank it very slowly. She said: "You know before one goes to sleep +or ever lies down, sugar water will quiet one's nerves. I always +take it, and find it very good indeed." She took the flowers off +from her headdress and I fixed them back in their boxes at once, +and placed them in the jewel-room. When I came out of this +jewel-room she was in bed already, and said to us: "You all go and +rest a while. I don't need you now." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT + +THE COURT LADIES + + WE retired from her room, but I noticed that two of the Court +ladies did not come out with us. One of them said to me: "I am +glad that I can rest a bit to-day, for I have been sitting three +afternoons in succession." At first I did not know what she meant. +Then she said: "Oh, your turn has not come yet. We don't know +whether you received the order or not. You know two of us must +stay with Her Majesty during her afternoon siesta, to watch the +eunuchs and the servant girls." I thought that was the funniest +thing I had ever heard of, and wondered how many people would be +in her room. The Young Empress said: "We had better go at once and +rest ourselves, otherwise Her Majesty will be up again before we +get the chance." Of course I had not the least idea how long she +slept. So we went back to our rooms. I did not realize how tired I +was until I sat down in my room. I felt finished and awfully +sleepy at the same time, for I was not used to getting up at 5 +o'clock. Everything was so new to me. As I sat there my thoughts +wandered to Paris, and I thought how strange it was that I used to +go to bed at 5 o'clock after the dances, and here I had to get up +at such a time. All the surroundings seemed new to me, seeing the +eunuchs running here and there waiting on us, as if they were +chambermaids. I told them that I didn't need them any more. I +wanted them to go out of the room so that I could lie down a bit. +They brought us tea and different kinds of candies, and asked what +else was wanted. I was just going to change into a comfortable +dress, when the eunuch came in and informed me that "Yo ker lila" +(visitors have come), and two Court ladies came, and another girl +of about seventeen came in. I had seen her that very morning when +I came to the Palace, busy working, but I was not introduced to +her. These two girls said: "We have come to see you and also to +find out if you are comfortable." I thought they were kind to come +and see me that way, but I did not like their faces. They +introduced this mean-looking girl to me and told me her name was +Chun Shou (Graceful Long Life). She did not look as if her life +would last long, being so thin and delicate. She looked sick and +worn out to me. I did not know who she was. She courtesied to me +and I returned to her, in a sort of half way. (I will explain +about the courtesy.) + +(To Her Majesty, the Emperor and the Young Empress, we went down +and bent our knees, while we stood upright to the people of lower +rank than ourselves. In this case one must always wait while the +inferior courtesies first, and bend the knees a little bit in +return. This was the way I returned Chun Shou's courtesy to me.) +The two girls then said "Chun Shou's father is only a small +official, so she has not much standing at the Court. She is not +exactly a Court lady, but she is not a servant girl either." I +almost laughed right out, to hear such a funny statement, and +wondered what she must be. I saw her sitting down with the Court +ladies that very morning, so of course I asked her to sit down, +too. These two Court ladies asked me if I felt tired, and how I +liked the Empress Dowager. I told them that Her Majesty was the +most lovely lady I had ever seen, and that I already loved her +very much, although I had only been there a few days. They looked +at Chun Shou and exchanged smiles. They did that in such a +peculiar way that it annoyed me. They asked: "Do you think you +would like to live in this place, and how long do you intend to +stay?" I said I would love to stay long, and would do my best to +wait on Her Majesty, and be useful to her, for she had been so +kind towards us in the short time we had been there, and besides, +it was my duty to serve my sovereign and country. They laughed and +said: "We pity you, and are sorry for you. You must not expect any +appreciation here, no matter how hard you work. If you are really +going to do as you have said just now, you will be disliked by +everybody." + +I did not know what they were talking about, or what their +conversation referred to. I thought this was so strange that I had +better put a stop to it, so I immediately changed the subject. I +asked them who dressed their hair, and who made their shoes for +them, as they had asked me. They answered my questions by saying +that their maids did everything for them. Chun Shou said to these +two girls: "Tell her everything about this Palace, and I am sure +she will change her mind when she actually sees things for +herself." I didn't like this Chun Shou, and her face didn't +impress me. She was a little bit of a thing, tiny head with thin +lips. When she laughed one could only hear the noise she made; no +expression was on her face at all. I was just going to say +something to them, so as not to give them the opportunity of +gossiping, but found they were too cunning. They noticed that I +tried every way to stop them, so they said: "Now let us tell you +everything. No one else will know. We like you very much and we +want to give you some warning, so as to be able to protect +yourself whenever you are in trouble." I told them that I would +take great care to do my work and didn't think that I would ever +get into trouble. They laughed and said: "That makes no +difference. Her Majesty will find fault." I could not believe +these things that they said, and intended to tell them that I +refused to hear such statements, but I thought I had better listen +to what they had to say first and not to offend them, for I never +believed in making enemies. I then told them that it would be +impossible for so sweet and kind-hearted a person like Lao Tsu +Tsung (the old ancestor) to find fault with such helpless girls as +we were, for we were her people, and she could do anything she +liked with us. They said: "You don't know, and have no idea how +wicked this place is; such torture and suffering one could not +imagine. We are sure that you think you must be happy to be with +the great Empress Dowager, and proud to be her Court Lady. Your +day hasn't come yet, for you all are new to her. Yes, she is +extremely kind to you just now, but wait until she gets tired of +you and then see what she will do. We have had enough, and know +what the Court life is. Of course you must have heard that Li Lien +Ying (the head eunuch) rules this Palace behind Lao Tsu Tsung's +back. We are all afraid of him. He pretends that he cannot +influence Lao Tsu Tsung, but we always know the result after a +long conversation consulting how to punish anyone. If any of us do +anything wrong, we always go to him and beg him to help us out. +Then he says he has no power to influence Her Majesty, and also +that he dare not tell her much, for she would scold him. We hate +all the eunuchs, they are such bad people. We can see very plainly +they are awfully polite to you because they can see that you are +in favor. To receive such rudeness from them, constantly, as we +do, is unbearable. + +"Lao Tsu Tsung is very changeable. She may like one person to-day, +to-morrow she hates this same person worse than poison. She has +moods, and has no appreciation whatsoever. Even Chu Tzu, the Young +Empress (Chu Tzu means Mistress, that is to say she was mistress +of us all, for the Manchus were considered by the sovereign as +slaves) is afraid of Li Lien Ying, and has to be very nice to him. +In fact, we all have to be polite to him." They talked so long +that I thought they would never finish. About this time Wang came +in and brought tea for us. Suddenly I heard people howling in the +distance, so I asked Wang what was the matter. The girls were +listening also and a eunuch came flying in and told us Lao Fo Yeh +chin la (The Great Buddha wakes up). The girls got up and said we +must all go to see her, so they went. I was not at all pleased +with their visit, and wished they hadn't come, especially as they +told me such horrible things. It made me quite sad to listen to +the awful way they talked about Her Majesty. I loved her the first +day I was there, and made up my mind to forget everything they had +told me. + +I was cross also because I didn't have time to change my clothes, +and had to go up to Her Majesty at once. I went into her bedroom, +and found her sitting upon the bed cross-legged, with a small +table placed on the bed in front of her. She smiled and asked: +"Have you had a good rest? Did you sleep at all?" I said that I +was not sleepy, and could not sleep in the daytime. She said: +"When you are old like me, you will be able to sleep at any time. +Just now you are young, and fond of play. I think you must have +been on the hills to gather flowers, or walked too much, for you +look tired." I could only say "Yes." The two Court ladies who had +just been talking nonsense about Her Majesty came in, to assist in +handing her the toilet articles. I looked at them, and felt +ashamed for them to face her, after having said so many +disagreeable things. Her Majesty washed her face and combed her +hair, and a servant girl brought her fresh flowers, of white +jasmine and roses. Her Majesty stuck them in her hair and said to +me: "I am always fond of fresh flowers--better than jade and +pearls. I love to see the little plants grow, and I water them +myself. I have been so busy ever since you came that I haven't +been able to visit my plants. Tell them to get the dinner ready +and I will take a walk afterwards." I came out of her room and +gave the eunuch the order. As usual we brought little dainties to +her. By this time Her Majesty was dressed and was sitting in the +large hall, playing solitaire with her dominoes. The eunuch laid +the tables as usual, and Her Majesty stopped play, and commenced +to eat. She asked me: "How do you like this kind of life?" I told +her that I very much enjoyed being with her. She said: "What kind +of a place is this wonderful Paris I have heard so much about? Did +you enjoy yourself while you were there, and do you wish to go +back again? It must be hard for you people to leave China for +three or four years, and I suppose you were all pleased when you +received the order to come back, after your father's term was +finished." + +The only thing I could say was "Yes," because it wouldn't be nice +to tell her that I was awfully sorry to leave Paris. She said: "I +think we have everything in China, only the life is different. +What is dancing? Someone told me that two people hold hands and +jump all over the room. If that is the case I don't see any +pleasure in it at all. Do you have to jump up and down with men? +They told me that old women, with white hair, dance, too." I +explained to her about the balls given by the President, and all +the private dances, and also all about the masquerade balls, etc. +Her Majesty said: "I don't like this masquerade ball because you +don't know whom you are dancing with if they are wearing a mask." +I explained to her how carefully the people issued their +invitations, and that anyone who behaved badly could never enter +into high society. Her Majesty said: "I would like to see how you +jump, can you show me a little?" I went in search of my sister, +and found her busy talking to the Young Empress. I told her that +Her Majesty wished to see how people dance, and that we must show +her. The Young Empress and all the Court ladies heard this, and +all said that they also wished to see. My sister said that she had +noticed a large gramophone in Her Majesty's bedroom, and that +perhaps we could find some music. I thought that was a good idea, +and went to ask her for the gramophone. She said: "Oh, must you +jump with music?" I almost laughed when she said that, and told +her it was much nicer with music, as otherwise one could not keep +in time. She ordered the eunuchs to have the gramophone brought to +the hall, and said: "You jump while I take my dinner." We looked +over a lot of records, but they were all Chinese songs, but at +last we found a waltz, so we started to dance. We could see that a +lot of people were looking at us, who perhaps thought that we were +crazy. When we had finished we found Her Majesty laughing at us. +She said: "I could never do that. Are you not dizzy turning round +and round? I suppose your legs must be very tired also. It is very +pretty, and just like the girls used to do centuries ago in China. +I know that it is difficult and one ought to have any amount of +grace to do it, but I don't think it would look nice to see a man +dancing with a girl like that. I object to the hand around the +girl's waist; I like to see the girls dance together. It would +never do for China for a girl to get too close to a man. I know +the foreigners don't seem to think about that at all. It shows +that they are broader minded than us. Is it true that the +foreigners don't respect their parents at all-that they could beat +their parents and drive them out of the house?" I told her that it +was not so, and that someone had given her wrong ideas about +foreigners. Then she said: "I know that perhaps sometimes one +among the commonest class do that, and that people are apt to take +it wrong, and conclude that all foreigners treat their parents +that way. Now I see just the same thing done by the common people +in China." I wondered who had told her such nonsense and made her +believe it. + +After we had taken our dinner it was just half-past five, and Her +Majesty said she would take a walk along the long veranda, so we +followed her. She showed me her flowers, and said that she had +planted them herself. Whenever Her Majesty went anywhere there was +always a lot of attendants following her, exactly the same as when +she went to the morning audiences. When we reached the end of this +long veranda, which took us a quarter of an hour to walk, Her +Majesty ordered her stool to be brought into one of the summer +houses. These summer houses were built of nothing but bamboo, all +the furniture being made of different shaped bamboo. Her Majesty +sat down, and one of the eunuchs brought tea and honeysuckle +flowers. She ordered the eunuchs to give us tea also. Her Majesty +said: "This is my simple way of enjoying life. I love to see the +country scenery. There are a great many pretty places which I will +show you and I am sure that after you have seen them you will not +like foreign countries any more. There is no scenery in the world +which can beat the Chinese. Some returned Ministers from abroad +said to me that the trees and mountains in foreign countries +looked ugly and savage. Is that true?" I concluded right away that +someone had wished to please her by saying things about +foreigners, so I told her that I had been in almost every country, +and had found lovely scenery, but of course it was different from +China. While we were talking Her Majesty said that she felt chilly +and asked: "Are you cold? You see you have your own eunuchs, they +are all standing around, and have nothing to do. Next time tell +them to carry your wraps along with you. I think that foreign +clothes must be quite uncomfortable either too warm or too cold. I +don't see how you can eat, having your waist squeezed that way." +Her Majesty got up and we all went on walking slowly towards her +own Palace. She sat down on her favorite little throne in the hall +and started to play solitaire. We came out on the veranda, and the +Young Empress said to us: "You must be tired, for I know you are +not used to doing such hard work all day long without stopping. +You had better wear Manchu clothes, because they are comfortable +and easy to work in. Look at your long train; you have to take it +up in your hands while walking." + +I told her that I would be only too pleased to change the clothes, +but that not having received an order from Her Majesty I could not +make any suggestions. The Young Empress said: "No, don't ask +anything, and I am sure Her Majesty will tell you to change by and +by. Just now she wishes to see your Paris gowns, because she wants +to know how foreign ladies dress on different occasions. She +thought that some of the ladies came to the Garden Party dressed +in woolen clothes. We thought that foreign ladies were not so +extravagant as we are until we met Mdme. Plancon the other day. Do +you remember what Her Majesty said to you? `That Mdme. Plancon was +so different from many ladies she had met, and also dressed +differently.' " It was a chiffon dress, with hand paintings, which +Mdme. Plancon wore, which pleased Her Majesty very much. While I +was talking with the Young Empress all the electric lights turned +up, so I went to Her Majesty to see if she needed anything. She +said: "Let us play a game of dice before I go to bed." We began to +play the same thing as we had done in the afternoon. Her Majesty +won another game, this time it took only an hour to finish the +game. Her Majesty said to me: "Why can't you win once?" I knew she +wanted to tease, so I said that my luck was bad. She laughed and +said: "To-morrow you try to put your stocking on wrong side out; +that is a sure sign of winning." I told her that I would, and I +knew that pleased her. During the short time I was there I kept +studying her most of the while. I could see nothing would make her +happier than for me to obey her orders. Her Majesty said that she +felt tired, and that we must bring her milk. She said to me: "I +want you to burn incense sticks and bow to the ground every night +to the Buddha in the next room before I go to bed. I hope you are +not a Christian, for if you are I can never feel as if you are +mine at all. Do tell me that you are not." I did not expect that +question at all, and I must say that it was a very difficult +question to answer. For my own protection I had to say that I had +nothing to do with the Christians. I felt guilty at having +deceived her that way, but it was absolutely necessary, and there +was no other way out of it. I knew that I had to answer her +question at once, because it would never do for her to see any +hesitation, which would arouse her suspicions. Although my face +showed nothing, my heart stopped beating for a while. I felt +ashamed to have fooled her. The earliest training I had was never +to be ashamed to tell the truth. When Her Majesty heard me say +that I was not a Christian, she smiled and said: "I admire you; +although you have had so much to do with foreigners, yet you did +not adopt their religion. On the contrary, you still keep to your +own. Be strong and keep it as long as you live. You have no idea +how glad I am now, for I suspected you must believe in the foreign +God. Even if you don't want to, they can make you believe it. Now +I am ready for bed." + +We helped her to undress, and I, as usual, put away her jewels, +and noticed she wore only one pair of jade bracelets to sleep. She +changed into her bed clothes and lay down between the silk covers +and said to us: "You can go now." We courtesied to her and +withdrew from her bedroom. Out in the hall there was on the cold +stone floor six eunuchs. They were the watchmen and must not sleep +at all during the night. In her bedroom were two eunuchs, two +servant girls, two old women servants and sometimes two Court +ladies. These people also must not sleep. The two girls massaged +her legs every night, and the two women were there to watch the +girls, the two eunuchs to watch the two old women, and the two +Court ladies to watch them all, in case they did any mischief. +They all took turns, and that was the reason why sometimes two +Court ladies must sit overnight when it happened that the eunuchs +were not reliable. Her Majesty trusted the Court ladies the most. +I was never more surprised in my life than when one of these six +eunuchs told me in the hall, for I had asked what they were all +doing there. + +Later on one of the Court ladies said to me that it was customary +for them to take turns to attend at Her Majesty's bedchamber in +the morning to wake her up, and that I should take my turn the +next morning and my sister the following morning. While saying +this she smiled in a most peculiar way. I did not understand at +the time, but found out later. I asked her what I should do to +wake Her Majesty, and she said: "There is no particular way, you +will have to use your own judgment; but be careful not to make her +angry. It was my turn this morning. I knew that she was very +tired, having had a very trying time the day before, so I had to +make a little more noise than usual when waking her. She was very +angry and scolded me dreadfully when she arose, as it was rather +late. This very often happens when Her Majesty gets up late, as +she always says that we do not make enough noise to wake her. +However, I don't think she will do this to you, just now, as you +are new here; but wait until you have been here a few months." +What this Court lady said to me worried me quite considerably; but +from what I had seen of Her Majesty so far, I could not believe +that she would be angry with anyone who was doing her duty +properly. + + + +CHAPTER NINE + +THE EMPEROR KWANG HSU + + THE next day I arose earlier than usual and dressed in a great +hurry, as I feared I might be late. When I got to Her Majesty's +Palace there were a few Court ladies there sitting on the veranda. +They smiled and asked me to sit down with them as it was still too +early, being only five o'clock. I had been told to wake Her +Majesty at five thirty. The Young Empress came up a few minutes +later and we all courtesied and wished her "good morning." After +talking with us a few minutes, she asked if Her Majesty was awake +and which one of us was on duty that day. When I informed her that +it was my turn, she immediately ordered me to go to Her Majesty's +room at once. I went very quietly and found some servant girls +standing about and one Court lady, who was sitting on the floor. +She had been on duty all night. When she saw me she got up and +whispered to me, that now that I had come, she would go and change +her clothes and brush up a bit, and for me not to leave the room +until Her Majesty was awake. After this Court lady had gone, I +went near to the bed and said: "Lao Tsu Tsung, it is half-past +five." She was sleeping with her face toward the wall, and without +looking to see who had called her, she said: "Go away and leave me +alone. I did not tell you to call me at half-past five. Call me at +six," and immediately went off to sleep again. I waited until six +and called her again. She woke and said: "This is dreadful. What a +nuisance you are." After she had said this, she looked around and +saw me standing by the bed. "Oh! it is you, is it? Who told you to +come and wake me?" I replied: "One of the Court ladies told me +that it was my turn to be on duty in Lao Tsu Tsung's bedchamber." +"That is funny. How dare they give orders without receiving +instructions from me first? They know that this part of their duty +is not very pleasant and have put it off on you because they know +you are new here." I made no reply to this. I got along as best I +could that day and found it no easy matter, as Her Majesty was +very exacting in everything. However, the next time I managed to +divert her attention to things new or interesting in order to take +her mind off of what she was doing, and in this way had much less +trouble getting her out of bed. + +My reader can't imagine how very glad we were to get back to our +rooms, and it was just 10:30 P. M. I was very tired and sleepy, so +I undressed and went to bed at once. I think that as soon as my +head touched the pillow I was asleep. + +The following day there was the same thing, the usual audience in +the morning, of course busy all the time, which went on for +fifteen days before I realized it. I began to take great interest +in the Court life, and liked it better every day. Her Majesty was +very sweet and kind to us always, and took us to see the different +places in the Summer Palace. We went to see Her Majesty's farm, +situated on the west side of the lake, and had to cross over a +high bridge to get there. This bridge is called Tu Tai Chiao (Jade +Girdle Bridge). Her Majesty often took us under this bridge in a +boat, or we walked round on the border. She seemed very fond of +sitting on the top of this bridge on her stool and taking her tea, +in fact this was one of her favorite places. She used to go and +see her farm once every four or five days, and it always pleased +her if she could take some vegetables and rice or corn from her +own farm. She cooked these things herself in one of the +courtyards. I thought that was good fun, and also turned up my +sleeves to help her cook. We brought fresh eggs also from the farm +and Her Majesty taught us how to cook them with black tea leaves. + + Her Majesty's cooking stoves were very peculiar. They were made +of brass, lined with bricks. They could be moved anywhere, for +they had no chimneys. Her Majesty told me to boil the eggs first +until they were hard, and to crack them but to keep the shells on, +and add half a cup of black tea, salt and spices. Her Majesty +said: "I like the country life. It seems more natural than the +Court life. I am always glad to see young people having fun, and +not such grand dames when we are by ourselves. Although I am not +young any more, I am still very fond of play." Her Majesty would +taste first what we had been cooking, and would give us all to +taste. She asked: "Do you not think this food has more flavor than +that prepared by the cooks?" We all said it was fine. So we spent +the long days at the Court having good fun. + +I saw Emperor Kwang Hsu every morning, and whenever I had the time +he would always ask some words in English. I was surprised to +learn that he knew quite a bit of spelling, too. I found him +extremely interesting. He had very expressive eyes. He was +entirely a different person when he was alone with us. He would +laugh and tease, but as soon as he was in the presence of Her +Majesty he would look serious, and as if he were worried to death. +At times he looked stupid. I was told by a great many people who +were presented to him at the different audiences that he did not +look intelligent, and that he would never talk. I knew better, for +I used to see him every day. I was at the Court long enough to +study him, and found him to be one of the most intelligent men in +China. He was a capital diplomat and had wonderful brains, only he +had no opportunities. Now a great many people have asked me the +same question, if our Emperor Kwang Hsu had any courage or brains. +Of course outsiders have no idea how strict the law is, and the +way we have to respect our parents. He was compelled to give up a +great many things on account of the law. I have had many long +talks with him and found him a wise man, with any amount of +patience. His life was not a happy one; ever since his childhood +his health was poor. He told me that he never had studied +literature very much, but it came natural to him. He was a born +musician and could play any instrument without studying. He loved +the piano, and was always after me to teach him. There were +several beautiful grand pianos at the Audience Hall. He had very +good taste for foreign music, too. I taught him some easy waltzes +and he kept the time beautifully. I found him a good companion and +a good friend, and he confided in me and told me his troubles and +sorrows. We talked a great deal about western civilization, and I +was surprised to learn he was so well informed in everything. He +used to tell me, time after time, his ambitions for the welfare of +his country. He loved his people and would have done anything to +help them whenever there was famine or flood. I noticed that he +felt for them. I know that some eunuchs gave false reports about +his character,--that he was cruel, etc. I had heard the same thing +before I went to the Palace. He was kind to the eunuchs, but there +was always that distinction between the master and the servants. +He would never allow the eunuchs to speak to him unless they were +spoken to, and never listened to any kind of gossip. I lived there +long enough, and I know just what kind of cruel people those +eunuchs were. They had no respect for their master. They came from +the lowest class of people from the country, had no education, no +morals, no feeling for anything, not even between themselves. The +outside world has heard so many things against His Majesty, the +Emperor Kwang Hsu's character, but I assure my readers that these +things were told by the eunuchs to their families, and of course +they always stretched it out as far as possible in order to make +the conversation interesting. The majority of the people living in +Peking get all kinds of information through them. I have witnessed +the same thing many a time during my stay at the Palace. + +One day during the time of Her Majesty's afternoon rest we heard a +dreadful noise. It sounded just like the firing off of +fire-crackers. Such a noise was quite unusual in the Palace for +such things are not allowed to be brought into the Palace grounds. +Of course Her Majesty woke up. In a few seconds time everyone +became excited and were running to and fro as if the building was +on fire. Her Majesty was giving orders and telling the eunuchs to +be quiet, but no one listened to her and kept yelling and running +around like crazy people, all talking at the same time. Her +Majesty was furious and ordered us to bring the yellow bag to her. +(I must explain about this bag. It was made of ordinary yellow +cloth and contained bamboo sticks of all sorts and sizes and are +made to beat the eunuchs, servant girls and old women servants +with.) This bag was carried everywhere Her Majesty went, to be +handy in case of emergency. Everyone of us knew where this bag was +kept. We took all the sticks from the bag and Her Majesty ordered +us to go to the courtyard and beat the eunuchs. It was such a +funny sight to see all the Court ladies and servant girls each +with a stick trying to separate the excited crowd. On my part I +thought I was having good fun so I laughed and found the rest were +laughing too. Her Majesty was standing on the veranda watching us +but she was too far away to see well and with all that noise, we +knew she could not hear us laughing. We tried our best to separate +the crowd, but were laughing so much we did not have enough +strength to hurt any of them. All of a sudden all the eunuchs +became quiet and stopped talking, for one of them saw the head +eunuch, Li Lien Ying, followed by all his attendants coming +towards them. Everyone of them became frightened and stood there +like statues. We stopped laughing, too, and turned back each with +a stick in our hand, walking toward Her Majesty. Li Lien Ying was +having a nap, too, and had heard the noise and had come to enquire +what the trouble was and to report it to Her Majesty. It seemed +one of the young eunuchs caught a crow. (The eunuchs hated crows, +as they are considered an unlucky bird. The people in China called +eunuchs crows because they were very disagreeable. That was the +reason why the eunuchs hated them so.) They always set traps to +catch them and then tied a huge fire-cracker to their legs, set +fire to the cracker and then set the unfortunate birds free. +Naturally the poor birds would be glad to fly away and by the time +the powder exploded would be high up in the air and the poor bird +would be blown to pieces. It seemed this was not the first time +the eunuchs had played this cruel trick. I was told it always +delighted them so much to see blood and torture. They always +invited others to drink some wine with them to celebrate an +occasion such as this. This cruel deed was always done outside of +the wall of the Audience Hall but that day the crow flew towards +Her Majesty's own Palace while she was sleeping and the powder +exploded while the bird was passing the courtyard. After the head +eunuch had told Her Majesty what had happened, she was very angry +and ordered that this young eunuch be brought in and receive +punishment in her presence. I noticed one of the head eunuch's +attendants push the culprit out from the crowd. The head eunuch +immediately gave orders to lay this man on the ground and two +eunuchs stood on each side of him and beat him on his legs with +two heavy bamboo sticks one at a time. The victim never uttered a +word while this was going on. The head eunuch counted until this +man had received one hundred blows, then he gave orders to stop. +Then he knelt in front of Her Majesty waiting for her orders and +at the same time kowtowed on the ground until his head made a +noise on the stone steps, asking to be punished for his +carelessness and neglect of duty. Her Majesty said that it was not +his fault and ordered him to take the offender away. During all +this time the offender was still on the ground, and did not dare +to move. Two eunuchs each took hold of a foot and dragged him out +of the courtyard. We were all afraid even to breathe aloud for +fear Her Majesty would say that we were pretending to be +frightened at witnessing this punishment, at the same time when it +was over we would go and gossip about how cruel she was. No one +was surprised at what had happened, as we were accustomed to +seeing it almost every day and were quite used to it. I used to +pity them, but I changed my mind very soon after I had arrived. + +The first person I saw punished was a servant girl, she had made a +mistake about Her Majesty's socks and had brought two which were +not mates, Her Majesty finding that out, ordered another servant +girl to slap her face ten times on each cheek. This girl did not +slap hard enough, so Her Majesty said they were all good friends +and would not obey her orders, so she told the one who had been +slapped to slap the other. I thought that was too funny for +anything and wanted to laugh the worst way, but of course did not +dare. That night I asked those two girls how they felt slapping +each other that way. The reason why I asked them was because they +were laughing and joking as usual immediately they were out of Her +Majesty's bedchamber. They told me that was nothing; that they +were quite used to it and never bothered themselves about such +small things. I in turn soon became used to it, and was as callous +as they were. + +Now regarding the servant girls, they are a much better class of +people than the eunuchs. They are the daughters of Manchu +soldiers, and must stay ten years at the Palace to wait upon Her +Majesty, and then they are free to marry. One got married after my +first month at the Court. Her Majesty gave her a small sum of +money, five hundred taels. This girl was so attached to Her +Majesty that it was very hard for her to leave the Court. She was +an extremely clever girl. Her name was Chiu Yuen (Autumn's Cloud). +Her Majesty named her that because she was so very delicate +looking and slight. I liked her very much during the short time +that we were together. She told me not to listen to anyone's +gossip at the Court, also that Her Majesty had told her she was +very fond of me. On the twenty-second day of the third moon she +left the Palace, and we were all sorry to lose her. Her Majesty +did not realize how much she missed her until after she had gone. +For a few days we had nothing but troubles. It seemed as if +everything went wrong. Her Majesty was not at all satisfied +without Chiu Yuen. The rest of the servant girls were scared, and +tried their best to please Her Majesty, but they had not the +ability, so we had to help and do a part of their work so as not +to make Her Majesty nervous. Unfortunately, she stopped us, and +said: "You have enough to do of your own work, and I do not want +you to help the servants. You don't please me a bit that way." She +could see that I was not accustomed to her ways, for she had +spoken severely, so she smiled and said to me: "I know you are +good to help them so as not to make me angry, but these servants +are very cunning. It isn't that they cannot do their work. They +know very well that I always select the clever ones to wait on me +in my bedroom and they don't like that, so they pretend to be +stupid and make me angry so that I will send them to do the common +work. The eunuchs are worse. They are all afraid to take Chiu +Yuen's place. Now I have found them out, and I will only keep the +stupid ones to wait on me from now." I almost laughed when I +noticed that they all looked serious for a moment. I thought these +people must be really stupid, and not lazy, but I had dealings +with them every day and found them out all right. The eunuchs +don't seem to have any brains at all. They are such queer people +and have no feelings. They have the same mood all day long--I +should say they are in a cruel mood. Whenever Her Majesty gave an +order they always said "Jer" (Yes) and as soon as they got to our +waiting room they would say to each other: "What was the order? I +have forgotten all about it." Then they used to come to one of us +who had happened to be present when the order was given: "Please +tell us what the order was. I did not listen while Her Majesty was +talking." We used to laugh and make fun of them. We knew they were +afraid to ask Her Majesty, and of course we had to tell them. One +of the eunuch writers had to keep writing down the orders that had +been given during the day, for Her Majesty wanted to keep records +of everything. There were twenty eunuchs who were educated and +they were excellent scholars. These had to answer any questions +which Her Majesty happened to ask them about Chinese literature, +while she had a good knowledge of it herself. I noticed that it +pleased her a great deal if anyone could not answer a question, or +knew less than she did. She took delight in laughing at them. Her +Majesty was also very fond of teasing. She knew that the Court +ladies did not know very much about literature, so she used to try +it on us. We had to say something whether it was appropriate to +her questions or not, and that would make her laugh. I was told +that Her Majesty did not like anyone to be too clever, and yet she +could not bear stupid people, so I was rather nervous, and did not +know how to act for the first three weeks I was there, but it did +not take me very long to study her. She certainly admired clever +girls, but she did not like those who would show their cleverness +too much. How I won her heart was this way. Whenever I was with +her I used to fix my whole attention on her and watched her very +closely (not staring, for she hated that) and always carried out +her orders properly. I noticed another thing, and that was that +whenever she wanted anything to be brought to her, such as +cigarettes, handkerchief, etc., she would only look at the article +and then look at anyone who happened to be there at the time. +(There was always a table in the room, on which everything she +needed for the day was placed.) I got so used to her habits that +after a short time I knew just what she wanted by looking at her +eyes, and I was very seldom mistaken. This pleased her a great +deal. She was strong-minded, and would always act the way she +thought was right, and had perfect confidence in herself. At times +I have seen her looking very sad. She had strong emotions, but her +will was stronger. She could control herself beautifully, and yet +she liked people to sympathize with her--only by actions, not by +words, for she did not like anyone to know her thoughts. I am sure +my readers will think how hard it was to be the Court lady of Her +Majesty, the Empress Dowager of China, but on the contrary I +enjoyed myself very much, as she was so interesting, and I found +that she was not at all difficult to please. + +The first day of the fourth moon Her Majesty was worried over the +lack of rain. She prayed every day after the audience for ten +days, without any result. Every one of us kept very quiet. Her +Majesty did not even give any orders that day, and spoke to no +one. I noticed that the eunuchs were scared, so we went without +our luncheon. I worked so hard that morning, and was so hungry--in +fact all the Court ladies were. I felt sorry for Her Majesty. +Finally she told me I could go, as she wanted to rest a while, so +we came back to our own quarters. I questioned our own eunuch Wang +as to why Her Majesty was worrying about rain, for we were having +lovely weather then, day after day. He told me that Lao Fo Yeh +(Old Buddha) was worried for the poor farmers, as all their crops +were dead without rain for so long. Wang also reminded me that it +had not rained once since I came to live at the Palace. I did not +realize that it was so long as two months and seven days, and on +the other hand it seemed to me longer than that, for the life was +very nice and pleasant, and Her Majesty was very kind to me, as if +she had known me for years already. Her Majesty took very little +food at dinner that night. There was not a sound anywhere, and +everyone kept quiet. The Young Empress told us to eat as fast as +we could, which puzzled me. When we came back to our waiting room, +the Young Empress said to me that Her Majesty was very much +worried for the poor farmers and that she would pray for rain, and +stop eating meat for two or three days. That same night, before +Her Majesty retired, she gave orders that no pigs were to be +slaughtered within the gates of Peking. The reason of this was +that by sacrificing ourselves by not eating meat the Gods would +have pity on us and send rain. She also gave orders that everyone +should bathe the body and wash out the mouth in order that we +might be cleansed from all impurities and be ready to fast and +pray to the Gods. Also that the Emperor should go to the temple +inside the Forbidden City, to perform a ceremony of sacrifice +(called Chin Tan). He was not to eat meat or hold converse with +anyone, and to pray to the Gods to be merciful and send rain to +the poor farmers. His Majesty, the Emperor Kwang Hsu, wore a piece +of jade tablet about three inches square, engraved "Chai Chieh" +(the meaning being just like Chin Tan-not to eat meat but to pray +three times a day), both in Manchu and Chinese, and all the +eunuchs who went with the Emperor wore the same kind of tablets. +The idea was that this jade tablet was to remind one to be serious +in performing the ceremonies. + +The next morning Her Majesty got up very early and ordered me not +to bring any jewels for her. She dressed herself in great haste. +Her breakfast was very simple that day, just milk and steamed +bread. Our own breakfast was cabbage and rice cooked together, +with a little salt. It was tasteless. Her Majesty did not talk to +us at all, except when giving orders, and so, of course, we kept +silent. Her Majesty wore a pale gray gown, made very plain, with +no embroidery or trimmings of any kind. She wore gray shoes to +match, not to mention her gray handkerchief. We followed her into +the hall where a eunuch knelt with a large branch of willow tree. +Her Majesty picked a little bunch of leaves and stuck it on her +head. The Young Empress did the same, and told us to follow her +example. Emperor Kwang Hsu took a branch and stuck it on his hat. +After that Her Majesty ordered the eunuchs and the servant girls +to do the same thing. It was a funny sight, and everyone did look +queer with a bunch of leaves on the head. The head eunuch came and +knelt in front of Her Majesty and said that everything was +prepared for the ceremony in the little pavilion in front of her +own palace. She told us that she preferred to walk, as she was +going to pray. It took us only a few minutes to cross the +courtyard. When we arrived at this pavilion I noticed a large +square table was placed in the center of the room. A few large +sheets of yellow paper and a jade slab, containing some vermilion +powder instead of ink, with two little brushes to write with. At +each side of the table stood a pair of large porcelain vases, with +two large branches of willow. Of course no one was allowed to +speak, but I was curious and wanted to find out why everyone had +to wear the willow leaves on the head. Her Majesty's yellow satin +cushion was placed in front of this table. She stood there and +took a piece of sandalwood and placed it in the incense burner +filled with live charcoal. The Young Empress whispered to me to go +over and help Her Majesty to burn them. I placed several pieces in +until she told me that was enough. Then Her Majesty knelt on her +cushion, the Young Empress knelt behind her, and we all knelt in a +row behind the Young Empress, and commenced to pray. The Young +Empress taught us that very morning how to say the prayer: "We +worship the Heavens, and beg all the Buddhas to take pity on us +and save the poor farmers from starving. We are willing to +sacrifice for them. Pray Heaven send us rain." We repeated the +same prayer three times, and bowed three times--nine times in all. +After that Her Majesty went to her usual morning audience. It was +much earlier than usual that morning for the Court was returning +to the Forbidden City at noon. His Majesty, the Emperor Kwang Hsu, +was to pray at the Forbidden City and Her Majesty always wanted to +accompany him wherever he went. It was nine o'clock in the morning +when the audience was over. She ordered me not to bring any jewels +for her to the Forbidden City this time, for she would not need +them at all. I went to the jewel-room and locked everything up, +and placed the keys in a yellow envelope, sealed it, and placed +the envelope among the others, and gave them to a eunuch who takes +care of these things. We packed all her favorite things. Her gowns +were the most important things to pack, she had so many and it was +impossible to take all. I noticed that the Court lady who was +looking after her gowns was the busiest amongst us. She had to +select gowns enough to last four or five days. She told me that +she had selected about fifty different ones. I told her that Lao +Tsu Tsung might stay at the Forbidden City four or five days, and +that she would not need so many gowns. She said it was safer to +bring many, for one was not sure what would be Her Majesty's idea +for the day. Packing at the Court was very simple. Eunuchs brought +many yellow trays, which are made of wood, painted yellow, about +five feet by four feet and one foot deep. We placed a large yellow +silk scarf in the tray, then the gowns, and covered them with a +thick yellow cloth. Everything was packed the same way. It took us +about two hours to pack fifty-six trays. These things always +started off first, carried by the eunuchs. His Majesty, the +Emperor Kwang Hsu, the Young Empress and all the Court ladies, had +to kneel on the ground for Her Majesty's sedan chair to pass the +Palace Gate, then we went in search of our own chairs. The +procession as usual was pretty, soldiers marching in front of her +chair, four young Princes riding on horseback on each side of her, +and from forty to fifty eunuchs also on horseback behind her, all +dressed in their official robes. The Emperor's chair and the Young +Empress' chair were of the same color as Her Majesty's. The +Secondary wife of the Emperor had a deep yellow chair. The chairs +of the Court ladies were red, and were carried by four chair +bearers, instead of eight like their Majesties. Our own eunuchs +also rode on horseback, behind us. We rode a long time, it seemed +to me, before I noticed the Emperor's chair begin to descend from +the stone-paved road, and we all followed him. I could see that +Her Majesty's chair was still going straight on, and we took a +nearer route to reach Wan Shou Si (The long life temple), to await +Her Majesty's arrival. We alighted from our chairs and started at +once to prepare Her Majesty's tea and her little dishes. I went to +help her to alight, and supported her right arm to mount the +steps. Her Majesty sat on Her Throne, and we placed a table in +front of her and my sister brought her tea. (The custom was, that +if she went anywhere, or during the festivals, we must bring to +her everything, instead of the eunuchs.) We placed all the +dainties in front of her, and then we went to rest. Her Majesty +always stopped at this temple on the way from the Summer Palace to +the Forbidden City. + + + +CHAPTER TEN + +THE YOUNG EMPRESS + + I THOUGHT of so many things while I was riding in my chair. It +was a glorious day. I felt sorry for Her Majesty, for she was very +quiet that day. Generally she was happy, and made everyone laugh +with her. I thought about the branches of willow, too, but could +not understand the meaning. I came out of the hall while Her +Majesty was dining with the Emperor, and found the Young Empress +sitting in a small room on the left side of the courtyard, with +several Court ladies. When they saw me they made signs for me to +go there. I found them all drinking tea, and the Young Empress +said to me, "I am sure you must be tired and hungry. Come and sit +near me and have a cup of tea." I thanked her and sat down beside +her and we talked of what we saw on the roads and how we had +enjoyed our long ride. She said: "We have still an hour's ride +before we reach the Forbidden City." She also talked about the +ceremony we had performed that morning and said that we must all +pray earnestly for rain. I could not wait any longer, so I asked +her what those branches of willow meant. She smiled and told me +that willow could bring water, as the Buddhist religion believes, +and that it was an old custom of the Court wearing willow leaves, +when praying for rain. She also told me that we must perform the +same ceremony every morning until the rain came. + +We heard Her Majesty talking in the courtyard, and knew that she +had finished her luncheon, so we went in with the Young Empress, +and ate what was left, as usual. I found the food very nice +indeed, although it seemed rather funny without having meat. We +came out into the courtyard and saw that Her Majesty was walking +up and down. She said to us: "My legs are so stiff, riding in the +chair. I must walk a little before we leave here. Are you all +tired?" We told her that we were not tired, so she ordered us to +walk with her. It looked very funny to see us walking round and +round, Her Majesty in front, and we following her. Her Majesty +turned and smiled at us, and said: "We are just like horses taking +their rounds at a stable." It reminded me of a circus. Li Lien +Ying came and knelt down, and said that it was time for Her +Majesty to depart, in order to reach the Forbidden City at the +lucky hour she had selected, so we left Wan Shou Si. All the +chairs went very fast, and after an hour's ride we came near the +Palace Gate. We followed the Emperor's chair, taking a shorter +route, and noticed the gate was wide open. His Majesty, the +Emperor, and the Young Empress' chairs went in, but we had to +alight and walk in. There were small chairs waiting for us. (As I +explained before these little chairs were carried by eunuchs, with +a rope across their shoulders.) We came to the courtyard of the +Audience Hall where the Emperor and the Empress were waiting for +us. As usual His Majesty knelt in front. Behind him was the Young +Empress, and we knelt in a row behind her, waiting to welcome Her +Majesty to her Palace. She went to her room where the eunuchs had +placed everything in order long before her arrival. We held the +ceremony that afternoon and evening. After Her Majesty had retired +we came back to our rooms and found that everything was in order, +our eunuchs had made up our beds already. It was very nice to have +them, for we could not do our own work at all. I was so tired and +my limbs were stiff. I immediately went to sleep and did not +realize how long I had slept until I heard someone knocking at my +window. I got up and pulled the blind away. I noticed that the sky +looked dull and thought it was clouded. I felt happy, and thought +it might rain, and so relieve Her Majesty. I got dressed in great +haste, but much to my disappointment I saw the sunshine on the +opposite windows. + +The Palace in the Forbidden City was so old, and built in such a +queer way. The courtyards were small, and the verandas very broad. +All the rooms were dark. No electric light. We had to use candle +light. One could not see the sky except by going into the +courtyard and looking up. I found that I had risen before the sun +was up, and I was not quite awake yet, and thought the sky was +clouded. I went to Her Majesty's own Palace and found the Young +Empress already there. She was always the first and always looked +so tidy I often wondered how early she had to get up. She told me +that I was not late, although Her Majesty was awake but not up +yet. I went into her bedroom and made my usual morning courtesy to +her. The first thing she asked me was about the weather. I had to +tell her the truth--that there was no sign of rain. Her Majesty +got up, dressed, and had her breakfast as usual, and told us there +would be no audience that morning. The Emperor went to the Temple, +sacrificing, and there was nothing important to attend to. We +prayed for three days in succession, but no rain came. I found +that Her Majesty was truly discouraged, and ordered each of us to +pray twenty times a day. We marked a spot with vermilion powder +and a little water on big yellow sheets of paper each time we +prayed. + +On the sixth day of the fourth moon the sky was clouded. I ran to +Her Majesty's bedroom that morning to tell her the news, but found +that someone had told her already. She smiled, and said to me: +"You are not the first one to give me the good news. I know +everyone of you wanted to be the first to tell me. I feel very +tired today, and wish to lie down a little longer. You can go, and +I will send for you when I am ready to get up." When I went to +search for the Young Empress I found all the Court ladies there +also. They all asked me if I had noticed the rain. We came out of +the waiting room and found that the courtyard was wet, and after a +while it rained very fast. Her Majesty got up, and we prayed as +usual. Fortunately the rain did not stop, but came pouring down +all that day. + +Her Majesty played solitaire with the dominoes, and I stood at the +back of her chair watching her. I saw that the Young Empress and +all the girls were standing on the veranda. Her Majesty saw them, +too, and said to me: "Go and tell them to wait in the waiting +room. Can't they see that the veranda is wet?" I went to them, but +before I had the opportunity of telling them anything the Young +Empress told me that the waiting room was wet, and that the water +had gone in. As I said before, this building was very old, and +there were no drains at all. Her Majesty's own Palace was high; it +had twelve steps, while our waiting room, which was on the left +side of her Palace, was built right on the ground, with no raised +foundation at all. While I was talking on the veranda just for a +few minutes, I got quite wet. Her Majesty knocked at her glass +window and told us to go in. Now I must explain that none of us, +not even the Young Empress could enter Her Majesty's Palace +without her orders except we had work to do there, or were on +duty. Her Majesty was very happy that day. She laughed and said +that we looked as if we had just been pulled out of the lake. The +Young Empress had on a pale blue gown, and the red tassel on her +headdress was dripping red water all over her gown. She smiled and +said to us: "Look at those girls; their gowns are all spoiled." +While we were talking, Her Majesty gave us orders for us to change +our clothes. + +After they had gone, I went back to Her Majesty. She looked at me +and said: "You are wet also, only your clothes do not show." I had +on a cashmere dress which was made very plain. She touched my arm +and said: "How wet you are. You had better change, and put on a +thick dress. I think foreign clothes must be very uncomfortable; +the waist is too small and it seems to me out of proportion to the +rest of the body. I am sure that you will look much prettier in +our Manchu gown. I want you to change and put your Parisian +clothes away as souvenirs. I only wanted to know how foreign +ladies dressed and now I have seen enough. The Dragon Boat +Festival will be here next month and I will make some pretty gowns +for you." I thanked her by kowtowing to the ground and told her +that I would be only too pleased to change into Manchu clothes, +but having lived so many years abroad, and having always worn +foreign clothes, I had not had any made. We were planning to +change into Manchu gowns before coming to the Court, but we had +received orders that Lao Tsu Tsung wished to see us in foreign +clothes. I was very glad when I received that order as there were +several reasons why I wanted to wear Manchu gowns. First, the +Court ladies at the beginning treated us as outsiders. Secondly, I +knew that Her Majesty did not like them, and besides, we were very +uncomfortable living at the Palace in Peking, and made up our +minds that we must wear Manchu clothes, which were made for it. We +had so much work to do, and having to stand most of the time one +absolutely needed loose garments. Her Majesty ordered one of the +eunuchs to bring one of her dresses for me to try on, so I went +back to my own room, and took off my wet clothes and changed. I +tried on her gown, but it was too loose for me. The length was +quite all right and so were the sleeves. Her Majesty told one of +the eunuch writers to write down my measurements in order to have +a gown made for me, and said she was sure it would fit me. She did +the same thing for my mother and sister, and ordered our gowns to +be made at once. I knew she was pleased, as she told me what color +would suit me the best. She said that I should always wear pink +and pale blue, for they suited, and were her favorite colors, too. +She also talked about our headdress, and ordered some made the +same as worn by the other Court ladies. She said to me: "I know +you can wear my shoes, for I tried yours on the first day you +came, don't you remember? I must select a lucky day for you to +become a Manchu once more," she said this with a smile, "and no +more foreign clothes after that." She took her special book for +lucky days and hours, and studied it a little while, then she said +the eighteenth of that month was the best. Li Lien Ying, the head +eunuch knew how to please Her Majesty, and said he would give +orders to have everything ready for us at that time. Her Majesty +told us the way we must have our hair dressed, and what kind of +flowers we should wear, in fact she was very happy arranging to +make us into Manchus. A short while after she dismissed us for the +day. It rained for three days without stopping. The last day the +Emperor came back, and all ceremonies ceased. Her Majesty never +liked to stay in the Forbidden City, and I was not a bit +surprised, as I hated the place. We had to use candles to dress +by, in the morning, as the rooms were in absolute darkness even in +the middle of the afternoon. It rained so much that finally Her +Majesty said she would return to the Summer Palace the next day, +whether it was raining or not, and we were all very glad to go. + +We returned to the Summer Palace on the seventh. It was a dull +day, but no rain. We packed everything in just the same way we had +done when we came, and stopped at Wan Shou Si and had our +luncheon. That day we commenced to eat meat again. I noticed that +Her Majesty enjoyed her meal very much. She asked me if I liked +the food without meat, and I told her that everything was nicely +done and that I enjoyed the food very much, although without meat. +She told me that she could not eat that kind of food and enjoy it, +and that if it were not necessary to make sacrifice she would not +have abstained. + +The first garden party of the year was given by the Empress +Dowager to the ladies of the Diplomatic Corps, in the fourth moon. +This year Her Majesty desired to deviate a little from previous +custom, and issued orders that stalls should be arranged in the +garden, on a similar principal to a bazaar, on which were to be +displayed curios, embroidered work, flowers, etc., etc. These were +to be given as presents to the guests. The guests were: Mrs. +Conger, wife of the American Minister, Mrs. Williams, wife of +Chinese Secretary of the American Legation, Madame and +Mademoiselle de Carcer, wife and daughter of the Spanish Minister, +Madame Uchida, wife of the Japanese Minister, and a few ladies of +the Japanese Legation, Madame Almeida, wife of the Portuguese +Charge d' Affaires, Madame Cannes, wife of the Secretary of the +French Legation, the wives of several French Officers, Lady Susan +Townley, wife of the First Secretary of the British Legation, two +ladies from the German Legation, wives of German Officers, and +wives of a few Customs Officials. On this occasion Her Majesty +selected a most beautiful gown of peacock blue, embroidered all +over with phoenix. The embroidery was raised and each phoenix had +a string of pearls two inches long sewed into its mouth. Whenever +Her Majesty stirred, these strings of tiny pearls moved forwards +and backwards and it made a very pretty effect. Of course, she +wore her jade phoenix on her hair as usual and shoes and +handkerchief embroidered with the same pattern. My mother wore a +lavender silk gown, trimmed with silver braid, her hat was of the +same shade with plumes to match. My sister and myself wore pale +blue Chinese silk gowns with insertion and medallions of Irish +crochet and trimmed with tiny velvet bands. We wore blue hats with +large pink roses. All the Court ladies dressed in their most +picturesque gowns and it was a very pretty sight to see the +procession walking to the Audience Hall. + +Her Majesty was in her happiest mood that morning and said to us: +"I wonder how I would look in foreign clothes; my waist is very +small, but wearing this kind of loose gown it would not show. I +don't think I would need to squeeze myself so tight, either, but I +don't think there is anything in the world prettier than our +Manchu gowns." + +First the guests were received in audience by Their Majesties. +They were accompanied by the Doyen, Baron Czikann, Minister for +Austria, and an interpreter from each Legation. On entering the +Audience Hall all the guests stood in line and the Doyen presented +a short address to Their Majesties. This was translated to Prince +Ching, who, in turn, communicated it to the Emperor. The Emperor +made a suitable reply in Chinese which was translated by the +Doyen's interpreter. Then the Doyen mounted the steps of the dais +and shook hands with Their Majesties, the rest of the guests being +presented in turn. I was standing at the right hand of the Empress +Dowager and as each guest came forward, called out their names, +and the Legation which they represented. Her Majesty had a few +words for everyone, and when she saw a new face she would ask how +long they had been in China; whether they liked it, etc., etc. All +these conversations I interpreted for Her Majesty. As the guests +finished paying their respects they passed along and remained +standing in the Hall until everybody had been presented. + +The interpreters, who did not take part in this ceremony but had +remained standing in the Hall until it was over, were then +conducted by Prince Ching to another part of the Palace, where +refreshments were provided for them. After they had gone out Their +Majesties descended from the dais and mixed with the guests. + +The formal ceremony now being concluded, chairs were brought in +and everybody made themselves comfortable. Tea was brought in by +the eunuchs and after a few minutes' conversation, we all +adjourned to the refreshment room, with the exception of the +Empress Dowager, the Emperor, the Young Empress and the Secondary +wife. In the absence of Her Majesty, the Imperial Princess (The +Empress Dowager's adopted daughter) officiated as hostess, Mrs. +Conger sitting at her right and Madame de Carcer, wife of the +Spanish Minister, on her left. The food was all Chinese, but +knives and forks were provided for the use of the guests. During +the luncheon the Imperial Princess stood up and spoke a few words +of welcome, which I translated into English and French. After the +luncheon was over we adjourned to the garden where Their Majesties +were awaiting us. A brass band was playing European airs. + +Her Majesty led the way around the gardens, passing the various +stalls on the way, where the ladies would stop and admire the +different articles, which were later presented to them as +souvenirs of the occasion. On arriving at a teahouse which had +been erected in the gardens, everybody rested and partook of tea. +Their Majesties then wished everybody good-bye and the guests were +then conducted to their chairs and took their departure. + +As usual, we reported to Her Majesty everything that had taken +place and how the guests had enjoyed themselves. She said: "How is +it that these foreign ladies have such large feet? Their shoes are +like boats and the funny way they walk I cannot say I admire. I +haven't yet seen one foreigner with pretty hands. Although they +have white skins, their faces are covered with white hair. Do you +think they are beautiful?" I replied that I had seen some American +beauties when I was abroad. Her Majesty said: "No matter how +beautiful they are they have ugly eyes. I can't bear that blue +color, they remind me of a cat." After a few more remarks, she +ordered us to retire, saying that we must be tired. We were rather +used up and glad of an opportunity to rest, so made our courtesies +and retired. + +We had been at the Palace more than two months, and I had had no +opportunity to see my father at all, who was quite ill at that +time. We did not know whether we could ask leave of absence from +the Court. I received letters from my father every day, telling me +to have courage, and to do my duty. My mother asked the Young +Empress if it would be correct to ask Her Majesty for permission +to go home for a day or two. The Young Empress told us that it +would be quite all right to do that, but she thought it would be +better if we could wait until after the eighth, for there would be +a feast on that day. The eighth day of the fourth moon every year +is the ceremony of eating green peas. According to the Buddhist +religion there is a hereafter which divides or grades, according +to the life that is lived on earth, that is to say, those who live +good lives go to Heaven when they die and those who are bad go to +a bad place to suffer. On this occasion Her Majesty sent to the +people she liked, each a plate containing eight peas, and we had +to eat them. The Young Empress told me that if I presented a plate +of peas to Her Majesty it would please her, which I did. This +meant: "May we meet in the hereafter" (Chi Yuen Dou). Her Majesty +was very happy that day. We went to the west side of the lake and +had our luncheon there. Her Majesty talked to us about the first +day we came to the Court, and then said to mother: "I wonder if Yu +Keng is any better. When will he be able to come to the Court? I +haven't seen him since he returned from France." (My father had +asked three months leave of absence from the Court on account of +his poor health.) My mother answered and said that he was feeling +better, but that his legs were still very weak, and he could not +walk much. Her Majesty then said to us: "Oh, I have forgotten to +tell you that if you wish to go home, you can ask permission. I +have been so busy lately, and forgot to remind you." We thanked +her and told her that we would like to go home and see how my +father was, so she gave orders that we should leave the Court the +next day. Then she asked me how long I would like to stay at home, +and of course I knew the custom, and told her that I was waiting +for her orders: "Would two or three days be enough?" We told her +that it suited us beautifully. I was so surprised when she +mentioned it to us, and wondered if anyone had told her of our +intentions, or if Her Majesty was a mind reader. + +When she retired that afternoon I went to see the Young Empress, +who was always very nice and kind, and asked me to sit near her. +Her eunuch brought me a cup of tea. Her rooms were furnished +exactly the same as Her Majesty's, but everything looked extremely +dainty, and showed very good taste. We talked about the life at +the Palace for a long time, and she told me that she was very fond +of us, and so was Her Majesty. I told her that Her Majesty had +mentioned to us about going home for two or three days and that I +was surprised to see how thoughtful she was. She said that someone +had reminded Her Majesty to let us go home, for we had been at the +Court for more than two months. I found out afterwards that it was +the head eunuch Li who had heard that we were anxious to go. The +Young Empress said to me: "I want to teach you to be wise, that +is, you are ordered to leave the Court to-morrow, but Her Majesty +did not mention any particular hour. You must not talk about it to +anyone, and don't show that you are excited to go home. Don't +dress as if you are going out to-morrow, but be natural and do +your work as if you don't care about going at all. Don't you +remind her, in case she forgets to tell you to go, and come back +on the second day, which is the custom. It will show that you are +anxious to see Her Majesty, so you come back one day earlier than +the appointed time." I was so happy to get this information and +asked her if it would be all right to bring Her Majesty some +presents when we returned to the Court. She said that was just the +proper thing to do. The next day we did the same work, and went to +the Audience Hall with Her Majesty, as usual. After the audience +was over Her Majesty ordered her luncheon to be served at the +country teahouse. This teahouse was built in country style, and +right on top of her peony mountain, with bamboo and straw, and all +the furniture was made of bamboo also. They were beautifully made, +and the frames of the windows were carved into a line of +characters --Shou (long life), and butterflies, with pink silk +curtain hangings. At the rear of this exquisite little building +was a bamboo shade, with railings all around, hung with red silk +lanterns. The seats were built against the railings, so that one +could sit on them comfortably. This was supposed to be used by the +Court ladies as their waiting room. We played dice with Her +Majesty when luncheon was over. We played a very long time, and I +won the game that day. Her Majesty laughed and said to me: "You +have luck to-day. I think you are so happy to go home that your +fairies have helped you to win the game." As I mentioned before, +this game was called "Eight Fairies Going across the Sea." "I +think it is time for you to go now." While saying this she turned +and asked one of the eunuchs what the time was, and he answered +that it was half-past two. We kowtowed to Her Majesty, and stood +waiting for more orders. Then she said: "I am sorry to see you go +although I know you are coming back within two or three days. I +know I shall miss you." To my mother she said: "Tell Yu Keng to +take care of his health and get well soon. I have ordered four +eunuchs to accompany you, and am sending some of my own rice for +him." We had to kowtow again in thanking Her Majesty for her +kindness and finally she said: "Nemen tzowba" (you can go now). + +We withdrew, and found the Young Empress on the veranda. We +courtesied to her, and said good-bye to the Court ladies and came +to our rooms to get ready to start. Our eunuchs were very good, +and had everything packed up ready for us. We gave ten taels to +each of our eunuchs, for that was the custom, and gave four taels +to each chair bearer of the Palace. When we arrived at the Palace +Gate our own chairs were waiting for us. We said good-bye to our +eunuchs. Strange to say they seemed attached to us and told us to +come back soon. The four eunuchs ordered by Her Majesty to see us +home were there, and as soon as we got into our chairs I saw them +riding on horseback beside us. It seemed to me just like a dream +the two months I had spent at the Court, and I must say I felt +very sorry to leave Her Majesty, but at the same time I wanted +very much to see my father. We got home after a two hours' ride, +and found him looking much better, and one can imagine how happy +he was to see us. The four eunuchs came into our parlor, and +placed the yellow bag of rice on the table. My father thanked Her +Majesty by kowtowing to the ground. We gave these eunuchs each a +little present, and they departed. + +I told my father about my life at the Palace, and how very kind +Her Majesty was to me. He asked me if I could influence Her +Majesty to reform some day, and hoped he would live to see it. +Somehow or other I had the idea that I could and promised him that +I would try my best. + +Her Majesty sent two eunuchs to see us the next morning, and also +sent us food and fruits. They told us that Her Majesty missed us, +and had told them to ask if we missed her. We told these eunuchs +that we were returning to the Court the next day. We stayed at +home only two days and a great many people came to see us, and +kept us busy all the time. My father suggested that we should +start from the house at about 3:00 A. M., so as to get to the +Summer Palace before Her Majesty was up. We left our house at 3:00 +A. M. in total darkness, just like we had two months before. What +a change. I thought I was the happiest girl in the world. I was +told by many people, especially by the Young Empress, that Her +Majesty was extremely fond of me. I had also heard that she did +not care for young people at all. Although I was happy, I noticed +that some of the Court ladies did not like me, and they made me +uncomfortable on many occasions by not telling me just the way Her +Majesty wanted the work to be done. They smiled to each other +whenever Her Majesty was saying to my mother that she liked me, +and that I was always careful in doing anything that pleased her. +I knew I was going to see those people again. However, I made up +my mind to fight my battles alone. I only wished to be useful to +Her Majesty, and would not take any notice of them. + +It was a little after five o'clock when we reached the Summer +Palace. Our own eunuchs were very happy to see us again and told +us that Her Majesty was not up yet and that we had time to go to +our rooms, where they had some breakfast prepared for us. We went +to see the Young Empress first, and found she was ready to go to +Her Majesty's Palace. She was also very glad to see us, and told +us that our Manchu costumes were all ready, and that she had seen +them and they were perfectly lovely. We were very hungry, and +enjoyed our breakfast immensely. After that we went to see Her +Majesty. She was awake, so we went into her bedroom. We greeted +her the same way that we did every morning, and kowtowed to her +and thanked her for all the things she had sent us while we were +at home. She sat up on the bed, smiled, and said: "Are you glad to +come back? I know everyone who comes to me and stays for a while +does not like to go away from here any more. I am glad to see you +(to my mother). How is Yu Keng?" My mother told her that my father +was much better. She asked us what we did for those two days, +staying at home. She also wanted to know whether we still +remembered which day she had chosen for us to change into our +Manchu costume. We told her we knew the date, and were looking +forward to it. The eunuchs brought in three large yellow trays, +full of beautiful gowns, shoes, white silk socks, handkerchiefs, +bags for nuts, in fact the whole set, including the gu'un dzan +(Manchu headdress). We kowtowed to her, and told her we were very +much pleased with everything she had given us. Her Majesty told +the eunuchs to bring everything out for us to see. She said to us: +"You see I give you one full official dress, one set of Chao Chu +(amber heads), two embroidered gowns, four ordinary gowns for +everyday wear, and two gowns for Chi Chen wear (the anniversary of +the death of an Emperor or Empress), one sky blue, the other +mauve, with very little trimming. I also have a lot of underwear +for you." I was excited and told Her Majesty that I would like to +commence to dress up at once. She smiled, and said: "You must wait +until the day comes, the lucky day I have selected for you. You +must try to fix your hair first, which is the most difficult thing +to do. Ask the Young Empress to teach you." Although she told me +to wait, I knew she was pleased to see that I showed so much +enthusiasm. She asked me the first day when we came to the Court +why my hair was so curly. I showed her that I curled it with +paper, and she teased me ever afterwards. She also said that I +could not pull my hair straight in time to wear Manchu clothes, +that everyone would laugh at me, and how ugly I would look. That +night one Court lady came over to me while I was sitting on the +veranda and said: "I wonder if you will look nice in Manchu +dress?" I told her I only wanted to look natural. "You have lived +so many years abroad we consider you are a foreigner to us." I +told her that as long as Her Majesty considered I was one of her +own, I would be satisfied and that she need not worry herself +about me. I knew they were jealous of us, so I went in search of +the Young Empress and left this girl alone. We were talking with +the Young Empress in the waiting room, and this girl came in and +sat near me, smiling to herself most of the time. One of the +servant girls was fixing some fresh flowers for Her Majesty. She +looked at her and asked her why she was smiling. The Young Empress +saw, and asked her the same question. She would not answer, but +kept on smiling all the time. At this moment a eunuch came and +said that Her Majesty wanted me. I afterwards tried to find out +what she had told the Young Empress but could not. Several days +passed very quietly. Her Majesty was happy, and so was I. One day +the Young Empress reminded us that we should make all preparations +in order to be able to dress ourselves properly on the eighteenth, +as the time was getting short--only two days left. That night, +after Her Majesty had retired, I went to my own room and fixed my +headdress on and went to see the Young Empress. She said that I +looked very nice, and that she was sure Her Majesty would like me +better in Manchu costume. I told her that I used to wear Manchu +dress when I was a little girl, before we went to Europe, and of +course I knew how to put it on. I also told her that I could not +understand why these girls looked upon me as a foreigner. She said +that they only showed their ignorance, and that they were jealous +of me and I should not pay any attention to them at all. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN + +OUR COSTUMES + + THE next day we got up earlier than usual and dressed ourselves +in our new gowns. I could not believe my own eyes, and asked +several times whether that was myself or not. I found that I +looked all right, although I hadn't been wearing this sort of +costume for so long. They seemed to think that we would look +awkward. Our own eunuchs were delighted to see us dressed that +way. The Young Empress came in while passing our rooms on her way +to the Empress Dowager's Palace, and waited for us to go with her. +When we arrived at the waiting room a lot of people came in and +looked at us, and talked so much about us, that it made me feel +rather shy. Everyone told us that we looked much better that way +than in foreign clothes, except the Emperor Kwang Hsu. He said to +me: "I think your Parisian gowns are far prettier than this." I +smiled and said nothing. He shook his head at me, and went into +Her Majesty's bedroom. Li Lien Ying came and saw us, and was very +much excited and told me to go and see Her Majesty at once. I told +him that everyone was looking at us, as if we were curios. He +said: "You don't know how nice you look now, and I wish that you +would not wear foreign clothes at all." Her Majesty laughed so +loud when she saw us that it made me uncomfortable, for I was +afraid we looked unnatural to her. She said: "I cannot believe you +are the same girls. Just look at yourselves in this looking- +glass." She pointed to a large mirror in her room. "See how you +have changed. I feel that you belong to me now. I must have some +more gowns made for you." Then Li Lien Ying said that the +twenty-fourth would be the first day of the Summer. On that day +everyone would begin to wear jade hairpins instead of gold, and we +had none. Her Majesty said to Li: "I am very glad you told me +that. I must give them each a jade hairpin after having asked them +to change into Manchu dress." Li went away and came back with a +box of hairpins of pure green jade. Her Majesty took a beautiful +one and handed it to my mother and told her that that pin had been +worn by three Empresses. She took two very nice ones, and gave one +to me and one to my sister. She told us that these two were a +pair, and that the other Empress Dowager (the East Empress +Dowager) used to wear one, and that the other was worn by herself +when she was young. I felt ashamed that Her Majesty had given us +so many presents and I had done nothing for her in any way. +However, we thanked her most sincerely, and showed our +appreciation. She said: "I look upon you as my own people, and the +gowns I have made for you are the very best. I have also decided +to let you wear the full Court dress, the same as one of the +Princesses. You are my Court lady, so you are equally ranked +here." Li stood there behind her and made a sign to us to kowtow +to her. I cannot remember how many times I kowtowed that day. The +headdress was very heavy, and I was not quite used to it; I was +afraid it might fall off. Her Majesty also said that she would +make our rank known to the Court on her seventieth birthday. I +will explain this. On every decade from the time of her birth Her +Majesty used to give special favors to anyone she liked, or to +anyone who had done something for her, and had been useful to her. +She could promote anyone at any time, but on these occasions it +was something special. The Young Empress congratulated us, and +said that Her Majesty was looking for a young Prince to marry me. +She was also very fond of teasing. I wrote to my father about all +the favors that had been given to me. He wrote me he hoped that I +deserved them all, and that I must do all I could to be useful and +loyal to Her Majesty as long as she lived. + +I was very happy. Life was perfectly lovely at the Palace. Her +Majesty was always nice and kind. I noticed the difference in the +way she had treated us since (as she said) we had become Manchus +once more. One day Her Majesty asked me while we were sailing on +the lake in the moonlight, if I wanted to go to Europe any more. +It was a superb night, and several boats were sailing behind us. +In one boat several eunuchs were playing a kind of sweet music on +the flute and an instrument very much like the mandolin, called +Yeuh Chin (small harp, like the shape of the moon), with Her +Majesty singing very softly to herself. I told her I was satisfied +to be with her, and did not wish to go anywhere at all. She said +that I must learn to sing poetry and that she would teach me every +day. I told her that my father had made me study all kinds of +poetry and I had composed some myself. She looked surprised and +said: "Why didn't you tell me that before? I love poems. You must +read to me sometimes. I have many books here containing poems of +different dynasties." I told her that my knowledge of Chinese +literature was very limited, and I dared not let her see how +little I knew. I had only studied eight years. Her Majesty told me +that the Young Empress and herself were the only ones who were +familiar with Chinese literature at the Court. She told me that +she tried to teach the Court ladies to read and write some time +ago, but having found them so lazy she gave them up. My father +told me to be very careful not to show them what I could do until +I was asked, so I kept it to myself. After they found this out, +some of the Court ladies were very disagreeable to me, and this +went on day after day. + +Except for this unpleasantness the fourth moon passed very +agreeably. The first day of the fifth moon was a busy day for us +all, as from the first to the fifth of the fifth moon was the +festival of five poisonous insects, which I will explain +later--also called the Dragon Boat Festival. All the Viceroys, +Governors and high officials, besides the Imperial Family, Court +ladies and eunuchs, all offer Her Majesty beautiful presents. I +never saw such a lot of things as came into the Palace during this +festival. Each person who sent in presents must accompany them +with a sheet of yellow paper, and at the right lower corner the +sender's name must be written and also the word Kuai Jin, meaning +to present their gifts kneeling, also to write what the presents +were. The eunuchs took big yellow trays to bring them in. During +these five days everyone was busy, especially the eunuchs. I could +not count just how many people sent presents to Her Majesty. The +presents were of every kind, such as things for the household; +silks and jewelry of all kinds and description. A large part of +the presents were foreign goods of the ordinary kind. I also saw +lovely carved thrones and embroideries. Her Majesty ordered them +to be put away, and the foreign things to be kept in her Palace, +for those were new to her. + +The third day of the fifth moon was the day for just the people of +the Palace to make presents. It was a most beautiful sight to see. +We were busy all night making preparations, and had to go and help +the Young Empress. The next morning we placed our presents in the +big courtyard in these big yellow trays. The Young Empress had her +trays in the first row. The presents from the Young Empress to the +Empress Dowager were made by her own hands. There were ten pairs +of shoes, silk embroidered handkerchiefs, little bags for betel +nuts, and bags for tobacco, all exquisitely done. The Secondary +wife of the Emperor Kwang Hsu presented about the same to Her +Majesty. The Court ladies' presents were all different, as we +could ask permission to go out shopping before the Feast. We could +not go out together, for one or two of us must be there at all +times, and it was very exciting to tell each other what we had +bought. We ourselves did not ask permission to go out of the +Palace, for we had our presents ready long before. Everyone seemed +to be talking about presents, whether Her Majesty would like them +or not. My mother, my sister and myself had written to Paris to +get some lovely French brocades, one set of furniture, French +Empire style. We had learned Her Majesty's taste already during +our short stay there, so including those presents we also gave her +fans, perfumes, soaps and some other French novelties. Her Majesty +always looked over everything, and noticed some of the presents +were of very poor quality, and wanted to know the sender's name. +The eunuchs and servant girls also made her good and useful +presents. Her Majesty would select the articles she liked the +best, and order the rest to be put away, and she might never see +them again. I must say that Her Majesty liked and admired some +foreign things very much, she especially loved the French fancy +brocades, for she was making new gowns almost every day. She was +also pleased with soaps and powder that would beautify the skin. +She always thanked us in a very nice way and said how very +thoughtful we were in selecting beautiful articles for her. Her +Majesty would also say something nice to the eunuchs and girls, +and that made everyone feel pleased. + +The fourth day of the fifth moon was the day that Her Majesty gave +presents to us all, the different Princes, high officials, servant +girls and eunuchs. Her memory was something extraordinary, for she +could remember every one of the presents that had been given to +her the day before, and the names of the givers also. That was a +busy day for us. Her Majesty gave people presents according to the +way they gave her. We had yellow sheets of paper and wrote out the +names of those to whom she wished to give. That day Her Majesty +was very angry with one of the wives of a certain Prince because +her presents were the poorest. Her Majesty told me to keep that +tray in her room and said she would go over them and see what they +were. I knew she was not pleased, for she had a telltale face. She +told us to measure the silks and ribbons in that tray, and leave +it in the hall. The ribbons were all of different lengths, all too +short to trim a gown, and the dress materials were not of good +quality. Her Majesty said to me: "Now you look for yourself. Are +these good presents? I know very well all these things were given +to them by other people and they of course would select the best +for themselves, and give me what was left. They know they are +obliged to send me something. I am surprised to see how careless +they are. Probably they thought as I receive so many presents I +would not notice. They are mistaken, for I notice the poorest the +first, in fact I can remember everything. I can see those who gave +me things in order to please me, and those who gave because they +were obliged to. I will return them the same way." She gave the +Court ladies each a beautiful embroidered gown and a few hundred +taels, the same to the Young Empress and the Secondary wife. The +presents which she gave us were a little different, consisting of +two embroidered gowns, several simple ones, jackets and sleeveless +jackets, shoes, and flowers for the Manchu headdress. She said +that we had not so many gowns, and instead of giving us the money, +she had things made for us. Besides that, she gave me a pair of +very pretty earrings, but none to my sister, for she noticed that +I had a pair of ordinary gold earrings, while my sister had a pair +set with pearls and jade. Her Majesty said to my mother: "Yu Tai +Tai. I can see you love one daughter better than the other. +Roonling has such pretty earrings and poor Derling has none." +Before my mother could answer her she had turned to me while I was +standing at the back of her chair: "I will have a nice pair made +for you. You are mine now." My mother told her that I did not like +to wear heavy earrings. Her Majesty laughed and said: "Never mind, +she is mine now, and I will give her everything she needs. You +have nothing to do with her." The earrings she gave me were very +heavy. Her Majesty said that if I would wear them every day I +would get used to them, and so it proved that after some time I +thought nothing of it. + +Now about this Feast. It is also called the Dragon Boat Feast. The +fifth of the fifth moon at noon was the most poisonous hour for +the poisonous insects, and reptiles such as frogs, lizards, +snakes, hide themselves in the mud, for that hour they are +paralyzed. Some medical men search for them at that hour and place +them in jars, and when they are dried, sometime use them as +medicine. Her Majesty told me this, so that day I went all over +everywhere and dug into the ground, but found nothing. The usual +custom was that at noon Her Majesty took a small cup filled with +spirits of wine, and added a kind of yellow powder (something like +sulphur). She took a small brush and dipped it into the cup and +made a few spots of this yellow paint under our nostrils and ears. +This was to prevent any insects from crawling on us during the +coming summer. The reason why it was also called the Dragon Boat +Festival was because at the time of the Chou Dynasty the country +was divided into several parts. Each place had a ruler. The +Emperor Chou had a Prime Minister named Chi Yuan, who advised him +to make alliance with the other six countries, but the Emperor +refused, and Chi Yuan thought that the country would be taken by +others in the near future. He could not influence the Emperor, so +he made up his mind to commit suicide and jumped into the river, +taking a large piece of stone with him. This happened on the fifth +day of the fifth moon, so the year afterwards, the Emperor got +into a Dragon boat to worship his soul, and throw rice cakes, +called Tzu Tsi, into the river. On that day the people have +celebrated this feast ever since. At the Palace the theatre played +first this history, which was very interesting, and also played +the insects trying to hide themselves before the most poisonous +hour arrived. On that day we all wore tiger shoes, the front part +of which was made of a tiger's head, with little tigers made of +yellow silk to wear on the headdress. These tigers were only for +the children to wear, and signified that they would be as strong +as a tiger, but Her Majesty wanted us to wear them also. The wives +of the Manchu officials came to the Court, and when they saw us +they laughed at us. We told them it was by Her Majesty's orders. + +A register recording the birthdays of all the Court ladies was +kept by the head eunuch, and a few days before my own birthday +came around, the tenth day of the fifth moon, he informed me that +the custom of the Court was to make a present to Her Majesty and +said that the present should take the form of fruit, cakes, etc., +so I ordered eight boxes of different kinds. + +Early in the morning I put on full Court dress, and made myself +look as nice as possible and went to wish Her Majesty good +morning. When she had finished dressing, the eunuchs brought in +the presents and, kneeling, I presented them to Her Majesty, +bowing to the ground nine times. She thanked me and wished me a +happy birthday. She then made me a present of a pair of sandalwood +bracelets, beautifully carved, also a few rolls of brocade silk. +She also informed me that she had ordered some macaroni in honor +of my birthday. This macaroni is called (Chang Shou Me'en) long +life macaroni. This was the custom. I again bowed and thanked her +for her kindness and thoughtfulness. After bowing to the Young +Empress and receiving in return two pairs of shoes and several +embroidered neckties, I returned to my room, where I found +presents from all the Court ladies. + +Altogether I had a very happy birthday. + +I can never forget the fifteenth day of the fifth moon as long as +I live, for that was a bad day for everyone. As usual we went to +Her Majesty's bedroom quite early that morning. She could not get +up and complained that her back ached so much. We rubbed her back, +in turns, and finally she got up, though a little late. She was +not satisfied. The Emperor came in and knelt down to wish her good +morning, but she scarcely took any notice of him. I noticed that +when the Emperor saw that Her Majesty was not well, he said very +little to her. The eunuch who dressed her hair every morning was +ill, and had ordered another one to help her. Her Majesty told us +to watch him very closely to see that he did not pull her hair +off. She could not bear to see even one or two hairs fall out. +This eunuch was not used to trickery, for instance, in case the +hair was falling off, he could not hide it like the other one did. +This poor man did not know what to do with any that came out. He +was frightened, and Her Majesty, seeing him through the mirror, +asked him whether he had pulled her hair out. He said that he had. +This made her furious, and she told him to replace it. I almost +laughed, but the eunuch was very much frightened and started to +cry. Her Majesty ordered him to leave the room, and said she would +punish him later. We helped her to fix up her hair. I must say it +was not an easy job, for she had very long hair and it was +difficult to comb. + +She went to the morning audience, as usual, and after that she +told the head eunuch what had happened. This Li was indeed a bad +and cruel man, and said: "Why not beat him to death?" Immediately +she ordered Li to take this man to his own quarters to receive +punishment. Then Her Majesty said the food was bad, and ordered +the cooks to be punished also. They told me that whenever Her +Majesty was angry everything went wrong, so I was not surprised +that so many things happened that day. Her Majesty said that we +all looked too vain with our hair too low down at the back of the +head. (This Manchu headdress is placed right in the center of +one's head and the back part is called the swallow's tail, and +must reach the bottom part of one's collar.) We had our hair done +up the same way every day, and she had previously never said a +word about it. She looked at us, and said: "Now I am going to the +audience, and don't need you all here. Go back to your rooms and +fix your hair all over again. If I ever see you all like that +again I am going to cut your hair off." I was never more surprised +in my life when I heard her speak so sharply to us. I don't know +whether I was spoken to or not, but I thought it well to be wise, +and I answered I would. We were all ready to go and Her Majesty +stood there watching us. When we were about five or six feet away +we heard her scolding Chun Shou (the girl who was neither a Court +lady nor a servant). Her Majesty said she was pretending she was +all right, and Her Majesty ordered her to go also. When we were +walking towards our own place, some of them laughed at Chun Shou, +which made her angry. When Her Majesty was angry with anyone, she +would say that we were all doing something on purpose to make her +angry. I must say that everyone of us was scared, and wondered who +would have dared to do that. On the contrary, we tried our best to +please her in every way. + +But that day she was furious all day and I tried to stay away from +her. I noticed some of the eunuchs went to her to ask questions +concerning important matters, but she would not look at them, but +kept on reading her book. To tell the truth, I felt miserable that +day. At the beginning I thought all the eunuchs were faithful +servants, but seeing them every day, I got to know them. It did +not do them any harm to be punished once in a while. + +The Young Empress told me to go in and wait on Her Majesty as +usual. She said that probably if I would suggest playing dice with +her, she might forget her troubles. At first I did not want to go, +for I was afraid that she might say something to me, but seeing +that the poor Young Empress spoke to me so nicely, I told her I +would try. When I entered Her Majesty's sitting room I found her +reading a book. She looked at me and said: "Come over here, I +would like to tell you something. You know these people at the +Palace are no good and I don't like them at all. I don't want them +to poison your ears by telling you how wicked I am. Don't talk to +them. You must not fix your hair too low down at the back of your +head. I was not angry with you this morning. I know you are +different. Don't let them influence you. I want you to be on my +side, and do as I tell you." Her Majesty spoke very kindly to me, +and her face changed also--not at all the same face she had that +morning. Of course I promised her that I would be only too happy +to do all I could to please her. She spoke to me just like a good +mother would speak to a dear child. I changed my opinion and +thought that perhaps after all she was right, but I had often +heard from the officials that one cannot be good to a eunuch, as +he would do all he could to injure you without any reason +whatsoever. + +I noticed that day they all seemed to be more careful in doing +their work. I was told that when once Her Majesty got angry, she +would never finish. On the contrary, she talked to me very nicely, +just as if there had been no troubles at all. She was not +difficult to wait upon, only one had to watch her moods. I thought +how fascinating she was, and I had already forgotten that she had +been angry. She seemed to have guessed what I was thinking, and +said: "I can make people hate me worse than poison, and can also +make them love me. I have that power." I thought she was right +there. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE + +THE EMPRESS AND MRS. CONGER + + ON the twenty-sixth day of the fifth moon, during the morning +audience, Prince Ching told Her Majesty that Mrs. Conger, the wife +of the American Minister to Peking, had asked for a private +audience, and would Her Majesty please mention a day. She told him +not to give any answer until the next day, just to give her time +to think it over. I was sitting behind the large screen, +listening, but the other Court ladies made too much noise, so Her +Majesty ordered them not to say a word during audience. I was very +glad myself, because I could listen to some of the interesting +conversations between the Empress Dowager and her Ministers. After +the audience, Her Majesty ordered her lunch to be served on the +top of the hill at Pai Yuen Dien (Spreading Cloud Pavilion). She +said that she preferred to walk, so we followed her very slowly. +To get to this place we had to mount two hundred and seventy-two +steps, besides ten minutes' climbing over rough stones. She did +not seem to mind the climbing part at all. It was the funniest +thing to see two little eunuchs on either side, to support her +arms, trying to keep pace with her. I noticed that she was very +much preoccupied, and did not speak to any of us. When we arrived +at our destination we were very tired and quite exhausted. Her +Majesty, who was a good walker herself, laughed at us. She was +always very much pleased when she excelled in games of skill or +endurance. She said: "You see I am old, and can walk much faster +than you young people. You are all no use. What is the matter with +you?" Her Majesty was very fond of receiving compliments. I had +been there long enough to know and had learned to say things which +would please her. She also hated anyone to pay her compliments at +the wrong moment, so one had to be very careful even in paying her +compliments. + +This "spreading cloud" pavilion was a beautiful Palace. It had an +open space in front of the building, just like one of the +courtyards, with pink and white oleanders all over the place. +There was a porcelain table and several porcelain stools. Her +Majesty sat on her own yellow satin stool and was drinking her tea +in silence. It was very windy that day, although the sky was blue +with warm sunshine. Her Majesty sat there just for a few minutes, +and then said it was too windy and went into the building. I was +more than glad to go in, too, and whispered to the Young Empress +that I thought the wind might blow off my headdress. The eunuchs +brought the luncheon and placed everything upon the table. The +Young Empress made a sign for us to follow her, which we did. When +we came to the back veranda we sat down on the window seats. I +will explain about these seats. All the windows were built low at +the Palace, and on the veranda there was something like a bench +built along the window, about a foot wide. There were no chairs to +be seen excepting Her Majesty's thrones. The Young Empress asked +me whether I had noticed that Her Majesty had something on her +mind. I told her that perhaps she was thinking about the private +audience which Prince Ching had mentioned that morning. She said +that I had guessed right, and asked: "Do you know anything about +this audience? When will it take place?" I said that Her Majesty +had not yet given her answer. + +By this time Her Majesty had finished eating and was walking up +and down the room, watching us eating. She came over to my mother +and said: "I am just wondering why Mrs. Conger asks for a private +audience. Perhaps she has something to say to me. I would like to +know just what it is so I can prepare an answer." My mother said +that probably Mrs. Conger had someone visiting her who wished to +be presented to Her Majesty. "No, it can't be that, because they +must give the list of names of those who wish to come to the +Palace. I don't mind the formal audiences, but I don't think that +I should have private ones at all. I don't like to be questioned, +as you all know. The foreigners are, of course, very nice and +polite, according to their own way, but they cannot compare with +us, so far as etiquette is concerned. I may be conservative in +saying that I admire our custom and will not change it as long as +I live. You see our people are taught to be polite from their +earliest childhood, and just look back at the oldest teachings and +compare them with the new. People seem to like the latter the +best. I mean that the new idea is to be Christians, to chop up +their Ancestral Tablets and burn them. I know many families here +who have broken up because of the missionaries, who are always +influencing the young people to believe their religion. Now I tell +you why I feel uneasy about this audience is because we are too +polite to refuse anyone who asks any favors in person. The +foreigners don't seem to understand that. I'll tell you what I +will do. Whenever they ask me anything, I'll simply tell them that +I am not my own boss, but have to consult with my Ministers; that +although I am the Empress Dowager of China, I must also obey the +law. To tell the truth, I like Madame Uchida (wife of the Japanese +Minister to Peking) very much. She is always very nice and doesn't +ask any silly questions. Of course the Japanese are very much like +ourselves, not at all forward. Last year, before you came to the +Court, a missionary lady came with Mrs. Conger, and suggested that +I should establish a school for girls at the Palace. I did not +like to offend her, and said that I would take it into +consideration. Now, just imagine it for a moment. Wouldn't it be +foolish to have a school at the Palace; besides, where am I going +to get so many girls to study? I have enough to do as it is. I +don't want all the children of the Imperial family studying at my +Palace." + +Her Majesty laughed while she was telling us this, and everyone +else laughed, too. She said: "I am sure you will laugh. Mrs. +Conger is a very nice lady. America is always very friendly +towards China, and I appreciate their nice behavior at the Palace +during the twenty-sixth year of Kwang Hsu (1900), but I cannot say +that I love the missionaries, too. Li Lien Ying told me that these +missionaries here give the Chinese a certain medicine, and that +after that they wish to become Christians, and then they would +pretend to tell the Chinese to think it over very carefully, for +they would never force anyone to believe their religion against +their own will. Missionaries also take the poor Chinese children +and gouge their eyes out, and use them as a kind of medicine." I +told her that that was not true; that I had met a great many +missionaries, and that they were very kind-hearted and willing to +do anything to help the poor Chinese. I also told her what they +had done for the poor orphans--given them a home, food and +clothing; that sometimes they went into the interior and found the +blind children who might be useless to their parents, and when +they get them they have to support them. I know several cases like +that. These country people offer their deformed children to the +missionaries, as they are too poor to feed and take care of them. +I told her about their schools, and how they helped the poor +people. Her Majesty then laughed, and said: "Of course I believe +what you say, but why don't these missionaries stay in their own +country and be useful to their own people?" I thought it would be +of no use for me to talk too much, but at the same time I would +like her to know of the dreadful times some of the missionaries +had in China. Some time ago, two of them were murdered at Wu +Shuih, in June, 1892 (a little below Hankow), the church being +burnt down by the mob. My father was appointed by Viceroy Chang +Chih Tung to investigate the matter. After much trouble he caught +three of the murderers and, according to the Chinese law, they +were put to death by hanging in wooden cages, and the Government +paid an indemnity to the families of the murdered missionaries. +The year after, 1893, a Catholic church was burnt down at Mar +Cheng, on the Yangtse, near Ichang. The mob said they saw many +blind children at the church, who were made to work after having +their eyes gouged out. The Prefect of Ichang Province said it was +true that missionaries did get the Chinese childrens' eyes for +making medicine, so my father suggested having those blind +children brought into the Yamen and ask them. The Prefect was a +most wicked man, and was very anti-foreign also. He gave the poor +children plenty of food, and taught them to say that the +missionaries did gouge their eyes out, but when they were brought +in the next day they said that the missionaries treated them very +kindly and gave them a nice home, good food and clothing. They +said they were blind long before they became Catholics, and also +said that the Prefect had taught them to say that the missionaries +were cruel to them, which was not true. The blind children begged +to go back to the school and said that they were very happy there. + +Her Majesty said: "That may be all right for them to help the poor +and relieve their suffering. For instance, like our great Buddha +Ju Lai, who fed the hungry birds with his own flesh. I would love +them if they would leave my people alone. Let us believe our own +religion. Do you know how the Boxer rising began? Why, the Chinese +Christians were to blame. The Boxers were treated badly by them, +and wanted revenge. Of course that is always the trouble with the +low class of people. They went too far, and at the same time +thought to make themselves rich by setting fire to every house in +Peking. It made no difference whose house. They wanted to burn so +long as they could get money. These Chinese Christians are the +worst people in China. They rob the poor country people of their +land and property, and the missionaries, of course, always protect +them, in order to get a share themselves. Whenever a Chinese +Christian is taken to the Magistrate's Yamen, he is not supposed +to kneel down on the ground and obey the Chinese law, as others +do, and is always very rude to his own Government Officials. Then +these missionaries do the best they can to protect him, whether he +is wrong or not, and believe everything he says and make the +magistrate set the prisoner free. Do you remember that your father +established rules in the twenty-fourth year of Kwang Hsu, how the +Chinese officials should treat the Bishops whenever they had +dealings with each other? I know the common class of people become +Christians--also those who are in trouble--but I don't believe +that any of the high officials are Christians." Her Majesty looked +around and whispered: "Kang Yue Wai (the reformer in 1898) tried +to make the Emperor believe that religion. No one shall believe as +long as I live. I must say that I admire the foreigners in some +ways. For instance, their navies and armies, and engineers, but as +regards civilization I should say that China is the first country +by all means. I know that many people believe that the Government +had connections with the Boxers, but that is not true. As soon as +we found out the trouble we issued several Edicts, and ordered the +soldiers to drive them out, but they had gone too far already. I +made up my mind not to go out of the Palace at all. I am an old +woman, and did not care whether I died or not, but Prince Tuang +and Duke Lan suggested that we should go at once. They also +suggested that we should go in disguise, which made me very angry, +and I refused. After the return of the Court to Peking, I was told +that many people believed that I did go in disguise, and said that +I was dressed in one of my servant's clothes, and rode in a broken +cart drawn by a mule, and that this old woman servant of mine was +dressed as the Empress Dowager, and rode in my sedan chair. I +wonder who made that story up? Of course everyone believed it, and +such a story would get to the foreigners in Peking without any +trouble. + +"Now to come back to the question of the Boxer Rising. How badly I +was treated by my own servants. No one seemed anxious to go with +me, and a great many ran away before the Court had any idea of +leaving the Capital at all, and those who stayed would not work, +but stood around and waited to see what was going to happen. I +made up my mind to ask and see how many would be willing to go, so +I said to everyone: `If you servants are willing to go with me, +you can do so, and those who are not willing, can leave me.' I was +very much surprised to find that there were very few standing +around listening. Only seventeen eunuchs, two old women servants +and one servant girl, that was Sho Chu. Those people said they +would go with me, no matter what happened. I had 3,000 eunuchs, +but they were nearly all gone before I had the chance of counting +them. Some of the wicked ones were even rude to me, and threw my +valuable vases on the stone floor, and smashed them. They knew +that I could not punish them at that important moment, for we were +leaving. I cried very much and prayed for our Great Ancestors' +Souls to protect us. Everyone knelt with me and prayed. The Young +Empress was the only one of my family who went with me. A certain +relative of mine, whom I was very fond of, and gave her everything +she asked, refused to go with me. I knew that the reason she would +not go was because she thought the foreign soldiers would catch up +the runaway Court, and kill everyone. + +"After we had been gone about seven days, I sent one eunuch back, +to find out who was still in Peking. She asked this eunuch whether +there were any foreign soldiers chasing us, and whether I was +killed. Soon after the Japanese soldiers took her Palace, and +drove her out. She thought she was going to die anyway, and as I +was not yet assassinated, she might catch up with the Court, and +go with us. I could not understand how she traveled so fast. One +evening we were staying at a little country house, when she came +in with her husband, a nice man. She was telling me how much she +had missed me, and how very anxious she had been all that time to +know whether I was safe or not, and cried. I refused to listen to +what she was saying and told her plainly that I did not believe a +word. From that time she was finished for me. I had a very hard +time, traveling in a sedan chair, from early morning, before the +sun rose, until dark and in the evening had to stop at some +country place. I am sure you would pity me, old as I am, that I +should have had to suffer in that way. + +"The Emperor went all the way in a cart, drawn by a mule, also the +Empress. I went along, and was praying to our Great Ancestors for +protection, but the Emperor was very quiet, and never opened his +mouth. One day something happened. It rained so much and some of +the chair carriers ran away. Some of the mules died suddenly. It +was very hot, and the rain was pouring down on our heads. Five +small eunuchs ran away also, because we were obliged to punish +them the night before on account of their bad behavior to the +Magistrate, who did all he could to make me comfortable, but of +course food was scarce. I heard these eunuchs quarreling with the +Magistrate, who bowed to the ground, begging them to keep quiet, +and promised them everything. I was of course very angry. +Traveling under such circumstances one ought to be satisfied that +one was provided for. + +"It took us more than a month before we reached Shi An. I cannot +tell you how fatigued I was, and was of course worrying very much, +which made me quite ill for almost three months. So long as I live +I cannot forget it. + +"We returned to Peking early in the twenty-eighth year of Kwang +Hsu and I had another dreadful feeling when I saw my own Palace +again. Oh! it was quite changed; a great many valuable ornaments +broken or stolen. All the valuable things at the Sea Palace had +been taken away, and someone had broken the fingers of my white +jade Buddha, to whom I used to worship every day. Several +foreigners sat on my throne and had their photos taken. When I was +at the Shi An I was just like being sent into exile, although the +Viceroy's Yamen was prepared for us, but the building was very +old, damp and unhealthy. The Emperor became ill. It would take a +long time to tell you everything; I thought I had enough trouble, +but this last was the worst. When I have time, I will tell you +more about it. I want you to know the absolute truth. + +"Now let us come back to the question of Mrs. Conger's private +audience. There must be something special, but I hope that she +will not ask for anything, for I hate to refuse her. Can you guess +what it is?" I told Her Majesty that there could not be anything +special; besides, Mrs. Conger considered herself to be a person +who knew Chinese etiquette very well, and I didn't believe she +would ask for anything at all. Her Majesty said: "The only +objection I have is that Mrs. Conger always brings one of the +missionaries as her interpreter, when I have your mother, your +sister and yourself, which I think should be sufficient. I don't +think it is right for her to do that; besides, I cannot understand +their Chinese very well. I like to see the ladies of the +Diplomatic body sometimes, but not the missionaries. I will stop +that when the opportunity comes." + +The next morning Prince Ching told Her Majesty that the American +Admiral, and Mrs. Evans, and suite wished to be presented to her. +The American Minister asked two private audiences. He said he had +made a mistake by telling her that Mrs. Conger had asked an +audience for herself, the day before. + +After the regular morning audience was over Her Majesty laughed +and said: "Didn't I tell you yesterday that there must be a reason +for asking an audience? I rather would like to meet the American +Admiral and his wife." Turning to us she said: "Be sure and fix +everything up pretty, change everything in my bedroom, so as not +to show them our daily life." We all said "Jur" (yes), but we knew +it was going to be a hard task to turn the Palace upside down. + +It was just the night before the appointed audience. We started to +work taking off the pink silk curtains from every window, and +changing them for sky blue (the color she hated); then we changed +the cushions on the chairs to the same color. While we were +watching the eunuchs doing the work, several of them came into the +room, carrying a large tray full of clocks. By this time her +Majesty had come into the room, and ordered us to remove all her +white and green jade Buddhas and take some of the jade ornaments +away, for those things were sacred, and no foreigners should see +them, so we replaced them with these clocks, instead. We also took +away the three embroidered door curtains, and changed them for +ordinary blue satin ones. I must explain that these three curtains +were sacred, too. They were embroidered to represent five hundred +Buddhist deities, on old gold satin, and had been used by Emperor +Tou Kwang. Her Majesty believed that by hanging these curtains at +her door they would guard against evil spirits entering her room. +The order was that one of us should remember to place them back +again when the audience was over. We fixed every piece of +furniture in her bedroom. Her toilet table was the most important +thing. She would not let anyone see it-not even the wives of the +Officials who came in, so of course we had to put it in a safe +place, and lock it up. We changed her bed from pink color into +blue. All her furniture was made of sandalwood, also carvings on +her bed. This sandalwood, before it was made into furniture, was +placed in different temples, to be sanctified, so of course no +foreigner could see it. As we could not take this carving from her +bed, we covered it up with embroidered hangings. While we were +working Her Majesty came in and told us not to hurry in her +bedroom, because the audience the next day would only be for +Admiral Robley Evans and his staff, and they would not visit the +private rooms. The audience for Mrs. Evans and the other ladies +would be the day after. She said it was important to see that the +Audience Hall was fixed up properly. She said: "Place the only +carpet we have here in the hall. I don't like carpets anyway, but +it cannot be helped." + +After we had finished, Her Majesty started to tell us what to wear +for the ladies' audience. She said to me: "You need not come to +the throne to-morrow, there will only be gentlemen. I will get one +of the Ministers from Wai-Wu-Pu (Bureau of Foreign Affairs). I +don't want you to talk to so many strange men. It is not the +Manchu custom. These people are all strangers. They might go back +to America and tell everybody what you look like." At the same +time Her Majesty gave orders for the Imperial Yellow Gown to be +brought in next day, for the gentleman's audience. She said that +she must dress in her official robe for this occasion. This robe +was made of yellow satin, embroidered with gold dragons. She wore +a necklace composed of one hundred and eight pearls, which formed +part of this official dress. She said: "I don't like to wear this +official robe. It is not pretty, but I am afraid I will have to." +She said to all of us: "You need not dress especially." + +The next morning Her Majesty got up early, and was busier than +ever. It seemed to me that whenever we had an audience we always +had so much trouble. Something was sure to go wrong and make Her +Majesty angry. She said: "I want to look nice, and be amiable, but +these people always make me angry. I know the American Admiral +will go home and tell his people about me, and I don't want him to +have a wrong impression." It took her almost two hours to dress +her hair, and by that time it was too late for her usual morning +audience, so she proposed holding that after the foreigners had +gone away. She looked at herself in the looking-glass, with her +Imperial robe on, and told me that she did not like it, and asked +me whether I thought the foreigners would know that it was an +official robe. "I look too ugly in yellow. It makes my face look +the same color as my robe," she said. I suggested that as it was +only a private audience, if she wished to dress differently, it +would not matter at all. She seemed delighted, and I was afraid +lest I had not made a proper suggestion, but anyway I was too busy +to worry. Her Majesty ordered that her different gowns should be +brought in, and after looking them over she selected one +embroidered all over with the character "Shou" (long life), +covered with precious stones and pearls, on pale green satin. She +tried it on, and said that it was becoming to her, so she ordered +me to go to the jewel-room and get flowers to match for her hair. +On one side of the headdress was the character (shou) and on the +other side was a bat (the bat in China is considered to be lucky). +Of course her shoes, handkerchiefs and everything else were +embroidered in the same way. After she was dressed, she smiled and +said: "I look all right now. We had better go to the audience hall +and wait for them, and at the same time we can play a game of +dice." Then to us all she said: "All of you will stay at the back +of the screen during the audience. You can see all right, but I +don't wish that you should be seen." The eunuchs had laid the map +down on the table and were just going to commence playing dice, +when one of the high rank eunuchs came into the Hall and, kneeling +down, said that the American Admiral had arrived at the Palace +Gate, together with the American Minister--ten or twelve people +altogether. Her Majesty smiled and said to me: "I thought it was +just going to be the American Minister and the Admiral, and one or +two of his staff. Who can the rest of the people be? However, +never mind, I will receive them anyway." We helped her to mount +her throne upon the dais, fixed her clothes, and handed her the +paper containing the speech she was to give. Then we went back of +the screen, with the Young Empress. It was so very quiet, not a +sound anywhere, that we could hear the boots of the visitors as +they walked over the stones in the courtyard. We were peeping from +behind the screen, and could see several of the Princes mounting +the steps, conducting these people to the Hall. The Admiral and +the American Minister came in, and stood in a line. They bowed +three times to the Empress Dowager. The Emperor was also on his +throne, sitting at her left hand. His throne was very small, just +like an ordinary chair. Her Majesty's speech was simply to welcome +the Admiral to China. They then came up to the dais and shook +hands with their Majesties, ascending on one side, and retiring +down the other. Prince Ching took them into another Palace +building, where they had lunch, and the audience was over. It was +very simple and formal. + +After the audience was over Her Majesty said that she could hear +us laughing behind the screen, and that maybe the people would +talk about it, and did not like it at all. I told her that it was +not myself who laughed. She said: "The next time when I have men +in audience you need not come into the Audience Hall at all. Of +course it is different when I have my own people at the morning +audiences." + +Her Majesty did not go to her bedroom that afternoon. She said she +wanted to wait until these people had gone and hear what they had +to say. After a couple of hours Prince Ching came in and reported +that they had lunched, and that they were very pleased to have +seen Her Majesty, and had gone away. I must here explain that the +Admiral had entered by the left gate of the Palace. The middle +gate was only used for Their Majesties, with one exception, viz.: +in the case of anyone presenting credentials. Then they entered by +the center gate. The Admiral left by the same gate he had entered. +Her Majesty asked Prince Ching whether he had showed them around +the Palace buildings or not (this was in the Summer Palace), and +what they had thought about it. Did they say anything, and were +they pleased or not. She said to Prince Ching: "You can go now, +and make the necessary preparations for the ladies' audience next +day." That same evening Her Majesty said to us: "You must all +dress alike to-morrow, and wear your prettiest clothes. These +foreign ladies who are coming to the Palace may never see us +again, and if we don't show them what we have now, we will not +have another opportunity." She ordered us all, including the Young +Empress, to wear pale blue, also the Secondary wife of the +Emperor. She said to me: "If the ladies ask who the Secondary wife +is, you can tell them; but if they don't ask, I don't want you to +introduce her to them at all. I have to be very careful. These +people at the Palace here are not used to seeing so many people +and they might not have nice manners, and the foreigners will +laugh at them." Then she said to us again: "I always give presents +when ladies come to the Court, but don't know whether I will give +this time or not, for at the last audience I did not give anything +at all." Addressing me, she said: "You can prepare some pieces of +jade, in case I need them. Put them in a nice box and have them +all ready. Don't bring them to me until I ask for them." She said: +"We have talked enough now, and you can all go to rest." We +courtesied good night. I was only too glad to go to my own room. + +The next morning everything went on very nicely and there was no +trouble at all. Her Majesty was well satisfied, for we had all +taken great care in fixing ourselves up. She said to me: "You +never put enough paint on your face. People might take you for a +widow. You will have to paint your lips, as that is the custom. I +don't need you yet, so go back and put some more paint on." So I +went back to my room and painted myself just like the rest of +them, but I could not help laughing at seeing myself so changed. +By the time I got to her room again, she said: "Now you look all +right. If you think that powder is expensive, I will buy some for +you." She said that with a laugh, for she always liked to tease +me. + +By the time Her Majesty had finished her toilet, one of the ladies +brought a number of gowns for her to select one from. She said she +would wear pale blue that day. She looked over twenty or thirty +gowns, but found nothing which suited her, so she gave orders for +some more to be brought in. Finally she chose a blue gown +embroidered with one hundred butterflies, and wore a purple +sleeveless jacket, which was also embroidered with butterflies. At +the bottom of this gown were pearl tassels. She wore her largest +pearls, one of which was almost as large as an egg, and was her +favorite jewel. She only wore this on special occasions. She wore +two jade butterflies on each side of her headdress. Her bracelets +and rings were also all designed in butterflies, in fact +everything matched. Among her beautiful jewels, she always wore +some kind of fresh flowers. White jessamine was her favorite +flower. The Young Empress and the Court ladies were not allowed to +wear fresh flowers at all unless given to them by Her Majesty as a +special favor. We could wear pearls and jade, etc., but she said +that the fresh flowers were for her, her idea being that we were +too young, and might spoil fresh flowers if we wore them. After +she was dressed we went into the Audience Hall. She ordered her +cards to be brought in as she wanted to play solitaire. She talked +all the time she was playing, and said that we must all be very +nice and polite to the American ladies, and show them everywhere. +She said: "It doesn't matter now, for we have everything changed." +She said: "I want to laugh myself. What is the use of changing +everything? They will imagine we are always like this. By and bye, +if they question you about anything, just tell them that it is not +so, and that we change everything at each audience, just to give +them a bit of surprise. You must tell it some day, otherwise no +one will know it at all, and the trouble would not be worth the +while." It was a private audience for ladies, and Her Majesty did +not use the big throne, but was sitting on her little throne at +the left side of the Audience Hall, where she received her own +Ministers every morning; the Emperor was standing. A eunuch came +in, the same as the day before, and announced that the ladies had +arrived at the Palace Gate, nine in all. Her Majesty sent some of +the Court ladies to meet them in the courtyard, and bring them to +the Audience Hall, which they did. I was standing at the right +side of Her Majesty's chair, and could see them mounting the +steps. Her Majesty whispered to me, and asked: "Which one is Mrs. +Evans?" As I had never seen the lady, I answered that I could not +tell, but when they got nearer I saw a lady walking with the +American Minister's wife, and concluded that she must be Mrs. +Evans, and told Her Majesty. As they got nearer, Her Majesty said: +"Again that missionary lady with Mrs. Conger. I think she must +like to see me. She comes every time. I will tell her I am very +glad to see her always, and see if she understands what I mean." + +Mrs. Conger shook hands with Her Majesty and presented Mrs. Evans +and also the wives of the American officers. I was watching Her +Majesty and saw that she was very nice and amiable, with such a +pleasant smile--so different from her everyday manner. She told +them she was delighted to see them. Her Majesty ordered the +eunuchs to have chairs brought in for the ladies, and at the same +time other eunuchs brought in tea. Her Majesty asked Mrs. Evans +whether she liked China; what she thought of Peking; how long she +had been there; how long she was going to stay, and where she was +staying. I was so accustomed to Her Majesty's questions that I +knew exactly what she would ask. Mrs. Conger told her interpreter +to tell Her Majesty that she had not seen her for such a long +time, and enquired about Her Majesty's health. Her Majesty said to +me: "You tell Mrs. Conger that I am in good health and that I am +delighted to see her. It is a pity that I cannot hold an audience +more frequently, otherwise I could see more of her." She +continued: "The Imperial Princess (her adopted daughter-daughter +of Prince Kung) will accompany them to lunch." This ended the +audience. + +Lunch was served at the back of her own Palace building (Yang Yuen +Hsuen--the place where the clouds gather to rest). This room was +specially furnished as a banqueting room where refreshments could +be served. All the Court ladies went to the lunch, except Her +Majesty, the Young Empress and the Secondary wife. It had taken me +two hours to fix the table for the luncheon. Her Majesty ordered +that a white foreign tablecloth should be used, as it looked +cleaner. The eunuch gardeners had decorated the table with fresh +flowers, and Her Majesty gave instructions as to how the seats +were to be placed. She said: "Mrs. Evans is the guest of honor. +Although Mrs. Conger is the wife of the American Minister, she is +more of a resident, so Mrs. Evans must have the principal seat." +She also told me to arrange to seat everybody according to their +respective ranks. The Imperial Princess and Princess Shun (Her +Majesty's niece, sister of the Young Empress) were hostesses, and +were to sit opposite each other. We placed golden menu holders and +little gold plates for almonds and watermelon seeds; the rest all +silver ware, including chopsticks. Her Majesty ordered that +foreign knives and forks should be provided also. The food was +served in Manchu style, and was composed of twenty-four courses, +besides sweetmeats--candies and fruits. Her Majesty instructed us +that only the best champagne was to be served. She said: "I know +that foreign ladies love to drink." + +I think I was the only one who was really happy to meet these +ladies, more so than the rest of the Court ladies, the reason +being that Her Majesty lectured them too severely, telling them +how to behave, so that they had grown to hate the very mention of +a foreign audience. While we were eating, a eunuch came in and +told me that Her Majesty was waiting at her private Palace, and +that I should bring these ladies there after the lunch was over. +So when we had finished we entered her own Palace and found her +waiting there for us. She got up and told me to ask Mrs. Evans +whether she had had anything to eat--that the food was not very +good. (This is a custom with the Chinese when entertaining, always +to underrate the food.) She said that she would like to show Mrs. +Evans her private apartments, so that she could form some idea of +the way we lived, so she took Mrs. Evans to one of her bedrooms. +She invited Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Conger to sit down, and the +eunuchs brought in tea, as usual. Her Majesty asked Mrs. Evans to +stay a little while in Peking, and to visit the different temples. +She said: "Our country, although very old, has not such fine +buildings as there are in America. I suppose you will find +everything very strange. I am rather too old now, otherwise I +would like to travel around the world. I have read much about +different countries, but of course there is nothing like visiting +the different places and seeing them yourself. However, one cannot +tell. I may be able to go after all, by and bye, but I am afraid +to leave my own country. By the time I returned I should not know +the place any more, I'm afraid. Here everything seems to depend on +me. Our Emperor is quite young." + +She then turned and ordered us to take these ladies to visit the +different buildings of the Palace, also the famous temple of the +King of Dragons. This is on a little island in the center of the +lake of the Summer Palace. Mrs. Conger said that she had something +to ask Her Majesty, and told the Missionary lady to proceed. While +Mrs. Conger was speaking to this lady Her Majesty became rather +impatient as she wanted to know what they were talking about, so +she asked me. It was very hard for me to listen to both of the +ladies and to Her Majesty at the same time. The only words I heard +were: "The portrait," so I guessed the rest. Before I had a chance +to tell Her Majesty this Missionary lady said: "Mrs. Conger has +come with the special object of asking permission to have Her +Majesty's portrait painted by an American lady artist, Miss Carl, +as she is desirous of sending it to the St. Louis Exhibition, in +order that the American people may form some idea of what a +beautiful lady the Empress Dowager of China is." Miss Carl is the +sister of Mr. F. Carl who was for so many years Commissioner of +Customs in Chefoo. + +Her Majesty looked surprised, for she had been listening very +carefully whilst this lady was talking. She did not like to say +that she did not quite understand, so she turned to me, as had +been previously arranged,--a sign for me to interpret. I did not, +however, do so immediately, so Mrs. Conger told her missionary +friend to repeat the request in case Her Majesty had not quite +understood it. Her Majesty then said to me: "I cannot quite +understand what this lady says. I think perhaps you can tell me +better." So I explained everything, but I knew that Her Majesty +did not know what a portrait was like, as, up to that time she had +never even had a photograph taken of herself. + +I must here explain that in China a portrait is only painted after +death, in memorium of the deceased, in order that the following +generations may worship the deceased. I noticed that Her Majesty +was somewhat shocked when the request was made known to her. I did +not want Her Majesty to appear ignorant before these foreign +ladies, so I pulled her sleeve and told her that I would explain +everything to her later. She replied: "Explain a little to me +now." This was spoken in the Court language, which the visitors +were unable to understand, it being somewhat different from the +ordinary Chinese language. This enabled Her Majesty to form some +idea of the conversation, so she thanked Mrs. Conger for her kind +thought, and promised to give her answer later. She said to me: +"Tell Mrs. Conger that I cannot decide anything alone, as she is +probably aware that I have to consult with my Ministers before +deciding anything of an important character. Tell her that I have +to be very careful not to do anything which would give my people +an opportunity to criticize my actions. I have to adhere to the +rules and customs of my ancestors." I noticed that Her Majesty did +not seem inclined to discuss the subject further at the moment. + +Just then the head eunuch came in and, kneeling down, informed Her +Majesty that the boats for the ladies were ready to take them +across the lake, to see the temple. This action on the part of the +eunuch was owing to his having received a signal from one of the +Court ladies, which implied that Her Majesty was getting tired of +the conversation, and wished to change the subject. I must explain +that on every occasion when a foreign audience was taking place, +one of the Court ladies was always told off to watch Her Majesty, +and whenever she appeared to be displeased or tired of any +particular subject under discussion, she, the Court lady, would +give the signal to the head eunuch, who would break in upon the +conversation in the above manner, and thus save the situation from +becoming embarrassing. So Her Majesty said good-bye to the ladies, +as she thought it would be too late for them to have to return to +say good-bye, besides which it would give them more time to see +the various sights. + +The ladies then proceeded to the island in the Empress Dowager's +pleasure boat known as the Imperial barge, previously described, +and visited the temple. This temple is built on top of a small +rock, in the center of which is a natural cave, and it was +generally supposed that no human being had ever been inside of +this cave. The Empress Dowager believed the popular superstition +that this hole was the home of the King of Dragons--from which the +temple derives its name. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN + +THE EMPRESS'S PORTRAIT + + AFTER staying a little while at the temple, we returned to the +Palace, and the ladies said goodbye and took chairs to the Palace +gate, where their own chairs were waiting for them. I then went to +report to Her Majesty in the usual way what had been said by the +visitors; whether they had expressed themselves as being pleased +with the reception they had received. Her Majesty said: "I like +Mrs. Evans. I think she is a very good woman. It seems to me that +her manners are quite different from those of the other American +ladies whom I have met. I like to meet people who are polite." +Then, referring to the subject of the portrait Her Majesty said: +"I wonder why Mrs. Conger has this idea. Now please explain to me +what painting a portrait really is." When I explained that it +would be necessary for her to sit for several hours each day she +was excited, and afraid she would never have the patience to see +it through. She asked me what she must do during the sitting, so I +explained that she would simply have to pose for the portrait, +sitting in one position all the time She said: "I shall be an old +woman by the time the portrait is finished." I told her that I had +had my own portrait painted during my stay in Paris, by the same +artist Mrs. Conger had proposed should paint her own portrait +(Miss Carl). She immediately told me to fetch the portrait of +myself so that she could examine it and see what it was like, so I +gave the order right away to a eunuch who was standing by to go to +my house and bring it. Her Majesty said: "I do not understand why +I must sit for the portrait Couldn't someone else do it for me." I +explained to her that as it was her own portrait, and not that of +somebody else, they wished to paint, it would be necessary for her +to sit herself. She then enquired whether it would be necessary +for her to wear the same dress at each sitting, also the same +jewels and ornaments. I replied that it would be necessary to do +so on each occasion. Her Majesty then explained that in China it +was only necessary for an artist to see his subject once, after +which he could start right away and finish the portrait in a very +short time, and thought that a really first-class foreign artist +should be able to do the same. Of course I explained the +difference between foreign portrait painting and Chinese, and told +her that when she had seen it she would see the difference and +understand the reason for so many sittings. She said: "I wonder +what kind of a person this lady artist is. Does she speak +Chinese?" I said that I knew Miss Carl very well, and that she was +a very nice lady, but that she didn't speak Chinese. She said: "If +her brother has been in the Customs service for so long, how is it +that she doesn't speak Chinese also?" I told her that Miss Carl +had been away from China for a long time; that in fact she had +only been in China for a very short time altogether, most of her +work being in Europe and America. Her Majesty said: "I am glad she +doesn't understand Chinese. The only objection about this portrait +painting is that I have to have a foreigner at the Palace all the +time. With my own people gossiping they might tell her things +which I don't want anyone to know." I told her that would be +impossible as Miss Carl did not understand Chinese at all, neither +did any of the people at Court understand English, with the +exception of ourselves (my mother, sister and myself). Her Majesty +answered: "You must not rely too much on that, as after spending a +short time at the Court they will soon learn to understand each +other." Continuing, she said: "By the way, how long will it take +before this portrait is finished?" I told her that it depended +entirely upon how often she sat, and how long each time. I didn't +like to tell her exactly how long it would take, as I was afraid +she might consider it too much bother, so I said that when the +artist arrived I would tell her to get along and finish the +portrait as quickly as possible. + +Her Majesty said: "I don't see how I can very well refuse Mrs. +Conger's request. Of course I told her, as you know, that I would +have to consult with my Ministers, just to give me time to think +the matter over. If you know all about this artist lady, and think +she is quite all right to come here to the Palace, of course she +may come, and I will tell Prince Ching to reply to Mrs. Conger to +that effect. First of all we must talk over what we are going to +do, for to have a foreign lady staying in the Palace is out of the +question altogether. As a rule I always spend the summer at my +Summer Palace, and it is so far from the city that I don't think +she will be able to go to and from the Palace every day, on +account of the distance. Now, where can we put her? Someone will +have to watch her all the time. This is such a difficult matter +that I hardly know what to decide upon. How would you like to look +after her? Do you think you could manage it in such a way that no +one at the Palace will have a chance to talk with her during the +daytime, but who is going to stay and watch her during the night?" +Her Majesty walked up and down the room thinking it over for quite +a while. Finally she smiled and said: "I have it. We can treat her +as a prisoner without her knowing it, but it will all depend on +your mother, your sister and yourself to act for me in this +matter. Each of you will have to play your part very carefully, +and I mine also. I will give orders to have the Palace Garden of +Prince Chung (the Emperor Kwang Hsu's father) fixed up for Miss +Carl during her stay here." + +This Palace garden is quite close to Her Majesty's own Palace, +about ten minutes' drive. It is not in the Palace ground, but is +quite a separate Palace outside the Summer Palace. + +Continuing, Her Majesty said: "Now, you will have to come with her +every morning and return to stay with her every night. I think +this is the safest way out of the difficulty, but be careful with +regard to all correspondence which she may either receive or send +away. The only thing about it is that it will give you a lot of +extra work, but you know how particular I am over things of this +kind, and it will save a lot of trouble in the end. There is +another thing you will have to be very careful about, and that is +to watch that Miss Carl has no chance to talk with the Emperor. +The reason why I say this is because, as you know, the Emperor is +of a shy disposition, and might say something which would offend +her. I will appoint four extra eunuchs to be in attendance during +the sittings for the portrait, so that they will be on hand in +case anything is wanted." Her Majesty then said: "I noticed that +Mrs. Conger was watching you when you pulled my sleeve. I wonder +what she thought of it. You needn't care, anyway. Let her think +anything she likes. I understood what you meant if Mrs. Conger +didn't, and that is all that is necessary." I told her that +perhaps Mrs. Conger thought I wanted to advise her to refuse this +request, but Her Majesty said: "What does that matter? If it +hadn't been that you know the artist yourself I would not have +consented in any case. It is not the painting of the portrait that +I mind, but it might give rise to serious results." + +The next morning I received a letter from Mrs. Conger begging me +not to prejudice Her Majesty against Miss Carl in any way. I +translated this to Her Majesty, and it made her furious. She said: +"No one has any right to write to you in such a way. How dare she +suggest that you would say anything against Miss Carl? Didn't I +tell you she was watching you when you pulled my sleeve? When you +reply to that letter tell her whatever you like, but answer in the +same way she writes herself, or, better still, you write and +inform her that it is not customary for any Court lady to try and +influence Her Majesty in this country, and that in addition, you +are not so mean as to say anything against anybody. If you don't +like to say that, just say that as Miss Carl is a personal friend +of yours you certainly would never think of saying anything +against her." + +I therefore replied to Mrs. Conger's letter in the ordinary way, +making it as formal as possible. + +Her Majesty then talked of nothing but the portrait during the +whole of that afternoon. By and bye she said: "I hope that Mrs. +Conger will not send a missionary lady with Miss Carl to keep her +company during her stay at the Palace. If she does I will +certainly refuse to sit. The next morning the eunuch arrived with +my portrait, and everyone at the Court had a good look at it +before I took it to show to Her Majesty. Some of them were of the +opinion that it was very much like me, while the others thought +the painting a very poor one. When I informed Her Majesty of the +arrival of the portrait she ordered that it should be brought into +her bedroom immediately. She scrutinized it very carefully for a +while, even touching the painting in her curiosity. Finally she +burst out laughing and said: "What a funny painting this is, it +looks as though it had been painted with oil." (Of course it was +an oil painting.) "Such rough work I never saw in all my life. The +picture itself is marvellously like you, and I do not hesitate to +say that none of our Chinese painters could get the expression +which appears on this picture. What a funny dress you are wearing +in this picture. Why are your arms and neck all bare? I have heard +that foreign ladies wear their dresses without sleeves and without +collars, but I had no idea that it was so bad and ugly as the +dress you are wearing here. I cannot imagine how you could do it. +I should have thought you would have been ashamed to expose +yourself in that manner. Don't wear any more such dresses, please. +It has quite shocked me. What a funny kind of civilization this is +to be sure. Is this dress only worn on certain occasions, or is it +worn any time, even when gentlemen are present?" I explained to +her that it was the usual evening dress for ladies and was worn at +dinners, balls, receptions, etc. Her Majesty laughed and +exclaimed: "This is getting worse and worse. Everything seems to +go backwards in foreign countries. Here we don't even expose our +wrists when in the company of gentlemen, but foreigners seem to +have quite different ideas on the subject. The Emperor is always +talking about reform, but if this is a sample we had much better +remain as we are. Tell me, have you yet changed your opinion with +regard to foreign customs? Don't you think that our own customs +are much nicer?" Of course I was obliged to say "yes" seeing that +she herself was so prejudiced. She again examined the portrait and +said: "Why is it that one side of your face is painted white and +the other black? This is not natural--your face is not black. Half +of your neck is painted black, too. How is it?" I explained that +it was simply the shading and was painted exactly as the artist +saw me from the position in which she was sitting. Her Majesty +then enquired: "Do you think that this Artist lady will paint my +picture to look black also? It is going to America, and I don't +want the people over there to imagine that half of my face is +white and half black." I didn't like to tell her the truth, that +her portrait would in all probability be painted the same as mine, +so I promised Her Majesty that I would tell the artist exactly how +she wished to be painted. She then asked me if I knew when the +artist proposed commencing the portrait. I told her that the +artist was still in Shanghai, but that Mrs. Conger had already +written to her to come up to Peking, to make the necessary +preparations. One week later I received a letter from Miss Carl +informing me that she proposed coming up to Peking at once, and +that she would be delighted if Her Majesty would allow her to +paint this portrait. I translated the letter to Her Majesty, who +said: "I am very glad that you know this lady personally. It will +make it much easier for me. You know there may be some things +which I may want to tell Miss Carl, but which I don't want Mrs. +Conger to know. I mean that there might be certain things which I +shall have to say to Miss Carl, which, if Mrs. Conger heard of +them, would give her the impression that I was very difficult to +please. You understand what I mean. As this lady is a friend of +yours, you will of course be able to tell her things in such a +manner as not to offend her, and I may tell you again that if it +were not that she is a personal friend of your own I would not +have her here at all, as it is quite contrary to our custom." + +On the third day of the second-fifth moon Prince Ching informed +Her Majesty that the artist had arrived at Peking and was staying +with Mrs. Conger and wished to know Her Majesty's pleasure in +regard to commencing the portrait. Now I must explain that the +Chinese year varies as to the number of moons it contains. For +example, one year contains the ordinary twelve months or moons. +The following year may contain thirteen moons. Then the two years +following that may contain twelve moons only, and thirteen moons +the next year, and so on. At the time of the proposed visit of the +artist the Chinese year contained thirteen moons, there being two +fifth moons in that year. When Prince Ching asked Her Majesty to +name the day on which Miss Carl should commence her work, she +replied: "I will give her my answer to-morrow. I must first +consult my book, as I don't want to start this portrait on an +unlucky day." So the next day, after her usual morning audience +Her Majesty consulted this book for quite a time. Finally she said +to me: "According to my book the next lucky day will not occur for +another ten days or so," and handed me the book to look myself. +Eventually she picked out the twentieth day of the second-fifth +moon as the most lucky day for beginning the work. Next she had to +consult the book again in order to fix on the exact hour, finally +fixing on 7 o'clock in the evening. I was very much worried when +she told me that, as by that time it would be quite dark, so I +explained to Her Majesty as nicely as I could that it would be +impossible for Miss Carl to work at that hour of the day. Her +Majesty replied: "Well, we have electric lights here. Surely that +would be sufficient light for her." Then I had to explain that it +would not be possible to get such good results by means of +artificial light as if it were painted during the daytime. You see +I was anxious to get her to change the hour, as I was sure that +Miss Carl would refuse to paint by means of electric light. Her +Majesty replied: "What a bother. I can paint pictures myself in +any kind of light, and she ought to be able to do the same." After +much discussion it was finally settled that 10 o'clock on the +morning of the twentieth day of the second-fifth moon should be +the time for Miss Carl to commence to paint this portrait, and I +can assure you that I felt very much relieved when it was all +settled. When the eunuch brought in my portrait, he also brought +in several photographs which I had had taken during my stay in +Paris, but I decided not to show them to Her Majesty in case she +should decide to have a photograph taken instead of having this +portrait painted, as it would be much quicker and save her the +trouble of sitting each day. However, as Her Majesty was passing +on the veranda in front of my bedroom the next morning she stepped +into the room just to have a look around and, as she put it, to +see whether I kept everything clean, and in good order. This was +the first time she had visited me in my own room, and I was +naturally very much embarrassed, as she very rarely visited the +rooms of her Court ladies. I could not keep her standing, and I +could not ask her to sit down in any of my own chairs, as it is +the Chinese custom that the Emperor and Empress should only sit +down in their own special chairs, which are usually carried by an +attendant wherever they go. I therefore was on the point of giving +an order for her own stool to be brought in, when Her Majesty +stopped me and said that she would sit on one of the chairs in the +room, and so bring me good luck. So she sat down in an easy chair. +A eunuch brought in her tea, which I handed to her myself instead +of letting the eunuch wait upon her. This of course was Court +etiquette, and was also a sign of respect + +After she had finished her tea, she got up and went around the +room, examining everything, opening up all my bureau drawers and +boxes in order to see whether I kept my things in proper order. +Happening to glance into one corner of the room she exclaimed: +"What are those pictures on the table over there," and walked +across to examine them. As soon as she picked them up, she +exclaimed in much surprise: "Why, they are all photographs of +yourself, and are very much better than the picture you had +painted. They are more like you. Why didn't you show them to me +before?" I hardly knew what to answer, and when she saw that I was +very much embarrassed by her question, she immediately started +talking about something else. She often acted in this manner when +she saw that any of us were not quite prepared for any of her +questions, but she would be sure to reopen the subject at some +future time, when we were expected to give a direct answer. + +After examining the photographs for sometime, which by the way, +were all taken in European dress, Her Majesty said: "Now these are +good photographs; much better than the portrait you had painted. +Still I have given my promise, and I suppose I shall have to keep +it. However, if I do have my photograph taken, it will not +interfere at all with the painting of the portrait. The only +trouble is I cannot ask an ordinary professional photographer to +the Palace. It would hardly be the thing." + +My mother thereupon explained to Her Majesty that if she desired +to have her photograph taken, one of my brothers, who had studied +photography for some considerable time, would be able to do all +that was necessary. + +I would like to explain that I had two brothers at Court at that +time, who held appointments under the Empress Dowager. One was in +charge of all the electrical installation at the Summer Palace, +and the other, her private steam launch. It was the custom for all +the sons of the Manchu officials to hold certain positions at the +Court for two or three years. They were perfectly free to walk +about the grounds of the Palace, and saw Her Majesty daily. Her +Majesty was always very kind to these young men, and chatted with +them in quite a motherly way. These young fellows had to come to +the Palace each morning very early, but as no man was allowed to +stay all night in the Palace they of course had to leave when they +had finished their duties for the day. + +When Her Majesty heard what my mother said, she was very much +surprised, and asked why she had never been told that my brother +was learned in photography. My mother replied that she had no idea +that Her Majesty wished to have a photograph taken, and had not +dared to suggest such a thing herself. Her Majesty laughed, and +said: "You may suggest anything you like, as I want to try +anything that is new to me, especially as outsiders can know +nothing about it." She gave orders to send for my brother at once. +On his arrival Her Majesty said to him: "I hear that you are a +photographer. I am going to give you something to do." My brother +was kneeling, as was the custom of the Court, whilst Her Majesty +was addressing him. Everybody, with the exception of the Court +ladies, had to kneel when she was speaking to them. Even the +Emperor himself was no exception to this rule. Of course the Court +ladies, being constantly in attendance, were allowed not to kneel, +as Her Majesty was talking to us all the time, and it was her +orders that we should not do so, as it would be wasting a lot of +time. + +Her Majesty asked my brother when he would be able to come and +take her photograph, and what kind of weather was necessary. My +brother said that he would go back to Peking that night, to fetch +his camera, and that he could take the photograph at any time she +desired, as the weather would not affect the work. So Her Majesty +decided to have her photograph taken the next morning. She said: +"I want to have one taken first of all in my chair, when going to +the audience, and you can take some others afterwards." She also +asked my brother how long she would have to sit, and was surprised +to learn that only a few seconds would suffice. Next she enquired +how long it would be before it was finished, so that she could see +it. My brother answered that if it were taken in the morning it +could be finished late the same afternoon. Her Majesty said that +was delightful, and expressed a wish to watch him do the work. She +told my brother that he might select any room in the Palace to +work in, and ordered a eunuch to make the necessary preparations. + +The next day was a beautiful day, and at eight o'clock my brother +was waiting in the courtyard with several cameras. Her Majesty +went to the courtyard and examined each of them. She said: "How +funny it is that you can take a person's picture with a thing like +that." After the method of taking the photograph had been fully +explained to her, she commanded one of the eunuchs to stand in +front of the camera so that she might look through the focusing +glass, to see what it was like. Her Majesty exclaimed: "Why is it +your head is upside down? Are you standing on your head or feet?" +So we explained when the photo was taken it would not look that +way. She was delighted with the result of her observations, and +said that it was marvellous. Finally she told me to go and stand +there, as she wanted to have a look at me through this glass also. +She then exchanged places with me, and desired that I should look +through the glass and see if I could make out what she was doing. +She waved her hand in front of the camera, and on my telling her +of it, she was pleased. + +She then entered her chair, and ordered the bearers to proceed. My +brother took another photograph of Her Majesty in the procession +as she passed the camera. After she had passed the camera she +turned and asked my brother: "Did you take a picture?" and on my +brother answering that he had, Her Majesty said: "Why didn't you +tell me? I was looking too serious. Next time when you are going +to take one, let me know so that I may try and look pleasant." + +I knew that Her Majesty was very much pleased. While we were at +the back of the screen during the audience, I noticed that she +seemed anxious to get it over, in order to have some more +photographs taken. It only took about twenty minutes to get that +particular audience over, which was very rare. + +After the people had gone, we came from behind the screen and Her +Majesty said: "Let us go and have some more pictures taken while +the weather is fine." So she walked the courtyard of the Audience +Hall, where my brother had a camera ready, and had another +photograph taken. She said that she would like to have some taken +sitting on her throne, exactly as though she were holding an +audience. It took us only a few minutes to have everything +prepared in the courtyard. The screen was placed behind the +throne, and her footstool was also placed ready for her, and she +ordered one of the Court ladies to go and bring several gowns for +her to select from. At the same time I went and brought some of +her favorite jewelry. She ordered the two gowns which she had worn +at the audiences when she received Admiral Evans and Mrs. Evans, +to be brought in, and also the same jewels as she had worn on +those respective occasions. She had two photographs taken in these +costumes, one in each dress. Next she wanted one taken in a plain +gown, without any embroidery. She then ordered my brother to go +and finish the pictures which had already been taken, as she was +anxious to see what they were like. She said to my brother: "You +wait a minute, I want to go with you and see how you work on +them." Of course, I had not considered it necessary to explain to +Her Majesty the process of developing the pictures, the dark room, +etc., so I explained to her as well as I could the whole thing. +Her Majesty replied: "It doesn't matter. I want to go and see the +room, no matter what kind of a room it is." So we all adjourned to +the dark room in order to see my brother work on the photographs. +We placed a chair so that Her Majesty could sit down. She said to +my brother: "You must forget that I am here, and go along with +your work just as usual." She watched for a while, and was very +pleased when she saw that the plates were developing so quickly. +My brother held up the plate to the red light, to enable her to +see more distinctly. Her Majesty said: "It is not very clear. I +can see that it is myself all right, but why is it that my face +and hands are dark?" We explained to her that when the picture was +printed on paper, these dark spots would show white, and the white +parts would be dark. She said: "Well, one is never too old to +learn. This is something really new to me. I am not sorry that I +suggested having my photograph taken, and only hope that I shall +like the portrait painting as well." She said to my brother: +"Don't finish these photographs until after I have had my +afternoon rest. I want to see you do it." When she got up at about +half-past three, it did not take her long to dress herself, as was +her usual custom, and she went immediately to where my brother had +the papers and everything prepared. He then showed Her Majesty how +the printing was done. There was plenty of light, as it was summer +time, and as it was only four o'clock in the afternoon, the sun +was still high. Her Majesty watched for two hours while my brother +was printing, and was delighted to see each picture come out quite +plainly. She held the first one in her hands so long while +examining the others, that when she came to look at it again, she +found that it had turned quite black. She could not understand +this at all, and exclaimed: "Why has this gone black? Is it bad +luck?" We explained to her that it must be washed after printing, +otherwise a strong light would cause the picture to fade, as this +one had done. She said: "How very interesting, and what a lot of +work there is." + +After the printing process had been finished, my brother placed +the pictures in a chemical bath, as usual, finally washing them in +clean water. This caused Her Majesty even more surprise when she +saw how clear the pictures came out, and caused her to exclaim: +"How extraordinary. Everything is quite true to life." When they +were finally completed, she took the whole of them to her own room +and sat down on her little throne, and gazed at them for a long +time. She even took her mirror in order to compare her reflection +with the photographs just taken. + +All this time my brother was standing in the courtyard awaiting +Her Majesty's further commands. Suddenly she recollected this +fact, and said: "Why, I had forgotten all about your brother. The +poor fellow must be still standing waiting to know what I want +next. You go and tell him--no, I had better go and speak to him +myself. He has worked so hard all the day, that I want to say +something to make him feel happy." She ordered my brother to print +ten copies of each of the photographs, and to leave all his +cameras at the Palace, in order that he could proceed with the +work the next day. + +The following ten days it rained continually, which made Her +Majesty very impatient, as it was impossible to take any more +photographs until the weather improved. Her Majesty wanted to have +some taken in the Throne Room, but this room was too dark, the +upper windows being pasted over with thick paper, only the lower +windows allowing the light to enter. My brother tried several +times, but failed to get a good picture. + +During this rainy period the Court was moved to the Sea Palace, as +the Emperor was to sacrifice at the Temple of Earth. This was a +yearly ceremony and was carried out on similar lines to all other +annual ceremonies. On account of the rain Her Majesty ordered that +boats should be brought alongside the west shore of the Summer +Palace. On entering the boats, Her Majesty, accompanied by the +Court, proceeded to the Western Gate of the city, and on arrival +at the last bridge, disembarked. Chairs were awaiting us and we +rode to the gate of the Sea Palace. There we again entered the +boats and proceeded across the lake, a distance of about a mile. +While crossing the lake Her Majesty noticed a lot of lotus plants +which were in full bloom. She said: "We are going to stay at least +three days here. I hope the weather will be fine, as I should like +to have some photographs taken in the open boats on the lake. I +have also another; good idea, and that is, I want to have one +taken as `Kuan Yin' (Goddess of Mersy). The two chief eunuchs will +be dressed as attendants. The necessary gowns were made some time +ago, and I occasionally put them on. Whenever I have been angry, +or worried over anything, by dressing up as the Goddess of Mercy +it helps me to calm myself, and so play the part I represent. I +can assure you that it does help me a great deal, as it makes me +remember that I am looked upon as being all-merciful. By having a +photograph taken of myself dressed in this costume, I shall be +able to see myself as I ought to be at all times." + +When we arrived at the private Palace the rain ceased. We walked +to her bedroom, although the ground was still in bad condition. +One of Her Majesty's peculiarities was a desire to go out in the +rain and walk about. She would not even use an umbrella unless it +was raining very heavily. The eunuchs always carried our +umbrellas, but if Her Majesty did not use her umbrella, of course +we could not very well use ours. The same thing applied in +everything. If Her Majesty wanted to walk, we had to walk also, +and if she decided to ride in her chair, we had to get into our +chairs and ride as well. The only exception to this rule was when +Her Majesty, being tired walking, ordered her stool to rest on. We +were not allowed to sit in her presence, but had to stand all the +time. Her Majesty liked her Sea Palace better than her Palace in +the Forbidden City. It was far prettier, and had the effect of +making her good tempered. + +Her Majesty ordered us to retire early that day, as we were all +very tired after the trip, and said that in the event of it being +fine the next day, she would have the proposed photographs taken. +However, much to Her Majesty's disappointment, it rained +incessantly for the next three days, so it was decided to stay a +few days longer. On the last day of our stay it cleared up +sufficiently to enable the photographs to be taken, after which we +all returned to the Summer Palace. + +The day after our arrival at the Summer Palace Her Majesty said +that we had better prepare everything for the audience to receive +the lady artist (Miss Carl). She told the chief eunuch to issue +orders to all the other eunuchs not to speak to Miss Carl, but +simply be polite as occasion required. We Court ladies received +similar orders. Also, that we were not to address Her Majesty +while Miss Carl was present. The Emperor received similar +instructions. Her Majesty gave orders to have the Gardens of +Prince Chung's Palace ready. She then said to us: "I trust you +three to look after this lady artist. I have already given orders +for food to be supplied by the Wai Wu Pu. The only thing that I +have been worried about is that I have no foreign food here for +Miss Carl." She ordered us to have our stove taken over to Prince +Chung's Palace in case Miss Carl desired something cooked. She +said: "I know it will be very hard for you to take her to the +Palace each morning and return with her at night, besides having +to watch her all day long, but I know you do not mind. You are +doing all this for me." After a while she smiled, and said: "How +selfish of me. I order you to bring all your things to this place, +but what is your father going to do? The best thing will be to ask +your father to come and live in the same place. The country air +might benefit him." We kowtowed and thanked Her Majesty, as this +was a special favor, no official nor anyone else having been +allowed to live in Prince Chung's Palace previously. We all were +very pleased--I could now see my father every day. Hitherto we had +only been able to see him about once a month, and then only by +asking special leave. + +The next day Her Majesty sent us to Prince Chung's Palace to make +all necessary arrangements for Miss Carl's stay. + +This Palace of Prince Chung's was a magnificent place. All the +smaller dwellings were quite separate from each other, not in one +large building, as was the custom. There was a small lake in the +grounds, and lovely little paths to walk along, exactly like the +Empress Dowager's Summer Palace, but, of course, on a much smaller +scale. We selected one of these small dwellings, or summer houses, +for the use of Miss Carl during her stay, and had it fitted up +nicely, to make her as comfortable as possible. We ourselves were +to occupy the next house to Miss Carl, in order that we might +always be on hand, and at the same time keep a good eye on her. We +returned to the Summer Palace the same evening, and told Her +Majesty just how everything had been arranged. She said: "I want +you all to be very careful not to let this lady know that you are +watching her." She seemed very anxious about this, repeating these +instructions for several days prior to Miss Carl's arrival. + +I felt very much relieved when the day before the audience +arrived, and everything was finally fixed to Her Majesty's +satisfaction. She ordered us to retire early that evening, as she +wanted to rest and look well the next morning. When morning came +we hurried over everything, even the usual morning audience, so +that we could be ready when Miss Carl arrived. + +While I was standing behind the screen, as usual, a eunuch came +and told me that Mrs. Conger, the artist, and another lady had +arrived, and that they were now in the waiting room. By that time +the audience was about finished. The chief eunuch came in and told +Her Majesty that the foreign ladies had arrived and were waiting +in another room. Her Majesty said to us: "I think I will go to the +courtyard and meet them there." Of course, at all private +audiences Her Majesty received the people in the Throne Room, but +as Miss Carl was more of a guest, she did not think it necessary +to go through the usual formal reception. + +While we were descending the steps we saw the ladies entering the +gate of the courtyard. I pointed out Miss Carl to Her Majesty, and +noticed that she eyed Miss Carl very keenly. When we arrived in +the courtyard, Mrs. Conger came forward and greeted Her Majesty +and then presented Miss Carl. Her Majesty's first impression of +Miss Carl was a good one, as Miss Carl was smiling very +pleasantly, and Her Majesty, who always liked to see a pleasant +smile, exclaimed to me in an undertone: "She seems to be a very +pleasant person," to which I replied that I was very glad she +thought so, as I was very anxious about the impression Miss Carl +would make on Her Majesty. Her Majesty watched Miss Carl and +myself as we greeted each other, and I could see that she was +satisfied. She told me afterwards that she had noticed Miss Carl +appeared very glad to see me again, and said: "We will handle her +pretty easily, I think." Her Majesty then went to her own private +Palace, and we all followed. On our arrival, Miss Carl told me +that she had brought her own canvas. This was a piece about six +feet by four feet. I had told Miss Carl a little previously that +Her Majesty refused to sit for a very small portrait and that she +would like a life-size one. When Her Majesty saw the canvas she +appeared to be very much disappointed, as in her opinion even that +was not large enough. We placed the tables ready for Miss Carl, +and Her Majesty asked her to choose the position in which she +wished to paint. I knew that Miss Carl would have great difficulty +in choosing a good position on account of the windows being built +so low, there being very little light except low down near the +ground. However, Miss Carl finally placed the canvas near the door +of the room. Her Majesty told Mrs. Conger and the rest to sit down +for a while as she wanted to change into another gown. I followed +her into her bedroom. The first question Her Majesty asked was how +old I thought Miss Carl was, as she herself could not guess her +age, her hair being extremely light, in fact almost white. I could +hardly refrain from laughing outright on hearing this, and told +Her Majesty that Miss Carl's hair was naturally of a light color. +Her Majesty said that she had often seen ladies with golden hair, +but never one with white hair, excepting old ladies. She said: "I +think that she is very nice, however, and hope she will paint a +good portrait." + +Turning to one of the Court ladies, she ordered her to fetch a +yellow gown as although, as she put it, she did not like yellow, +she thought it would be the best color for a portrait. She +selected one from a number which the Court lady brought, +embroidered all over with purple wisteria. Her shoes and +handkerchiefs matched. She also wore a blue silk scarf, +embroidered with the character "Shou" (long life). Each character +had a pearl in the center. She wore a pair of jade bracelets and +also jade nail protectors. In addition she wore jade butterflies +and a tassel on one side of her headdress, and, as usual, fresh +flowers on the other side. Her Majesty certainly did look +beautiful on that occasion. + +By the time she came out from her room Miss Carl had everything +prepared. When she saw how Her Majesty was dressed, she exclaimed: +"How beautiful Her Majesty looks in this dress," which remark I +interpreted to Her Majesty, and it pleased her very much. + +She seated herself on her throne, ready to pose for the picture. +She just sat down in an ordinary easy position, placing one hand +on a cushion. Miss Carl explained: "That is an excellent position, +as it is so natural. Please do not move." I told Her Majesty what +Miss Carl said, and she asked me whether she looked all right, or +not. If not, she would change her position. I assured her that she +looked very grand in that position. However, she asked the opinion +of the Young Empress and some of the Court ladies, who all agreed +that she could not look better. I could see that they never looked +at Her Majesty at all, they were too much interested in what Miss +Carl was doing. + +When Miss Carl commenced to make the rough sketch of Her Majesty +everyone watched with open mouth, as they had never seen anything +done so easily and so naturally. The Young Empress whispered to +me: "Although I don't know anything about portrait painting, still +I can see that she is a good artist. She has never seen any of our +clothes and headdresses, and she has copied them exactly. Just +imagine one of our Chinese artists trying to paint a foreign lady, +what a mess he would make of it." + +After the sketch was finished Her Majesty was delighted and +thought it was wonderful for Miss Carl to have made it so quickly +and so accurately. I explained that this was a rough sketch and +that when Miss Carl commenced painting, she would soon see the +difference. Her Majesty told me to ask Miss Carl whether she was +tired and would like to rest; also to tell her that she was very +busy all the day, and would only be able to give her a few +minutes' sitting each day. We then took Miss Carl to luncheon, +together with Mrs. Conger, and after luncheon we accompanied Her +Majesty to the theatre. + +After Mrs. Conger had departed I took Miss Carl to my room to +rest. As soon as we arrived there, Her Majesty sent a eunuch to +call me to her bedroom. Her Majesty said: "I don't want this lady +to paint during my afternoon rest. She can rest at the same time. +As soon as I am up you can bring her here to paint. I am glad that +it looks like turning out better than I had anticipated." I +therefore told Miss Carl Her Majesty's wishes in this respect and +that she could paint for a little while, if she chose to, after +Her Majesty had had her rest. Miss Carl was so interested in Her +Majesty, she told me she didn't want to rest at all, but that she +would like to go on with the painting right away. Of course, I did +not like to tell her anything the first day, as it might upset +her, and did not say that this was a command from Her Majesty. +After a lot of maneuvering I got her to give up the idea of +continuing straight off, without offending her. I took her out on +the veranda as the eunuch was preparing the table for Her +Majesty's dinner in the room we were then occupying. The Young +Empress kept Miss Carl busy talking, I acting as interpreter. Soon +one of the eunuchs came and informed us that Her Majesty had +finished dinner, and would we please come and take ours. On +entering the room I was very much surprised to see that chairs had +been placed there, as this had never been done previously, +everybody, with the exception of Her Majesty, taking their meals +standing. The Young Empress was also very much surprised and asked +me whether I knew anything about it. I said that perhaps it was on +account of Miss Carl being there. The Young Empress told me to go +over and ask Her Majesty, as she was afraid to sit down without +receiving orders to do so. Her Majesty whispered to me: "I don't +want Miss Carl to think we are barbarians, and treat the Young +Empress and the Court ladies in that manner. Of course, she does +not understand our Court etiquette and might form a wrong +impression, so you can all sit down without coming over to thank +me, but be natural, as though you were accustomed to sitting down +to dinner every day." + +After Her Majesty had washed her hands she came over to our table. +Of course we all stood up. Her Majesty told me to ask Miss Carl +whether she liked the food, and was pleased when Miss Carl +answered that she liked the food better than her own kind. That +relieved Her Majesty. + +After dinner was over I told Miss Carl to say good-bye to Her +Majesty. We courtesied to her, also to the Young Empress, and said +good night to the Court ladies. We then took Miss Carl to the +Palace of Prince Chung. It took us about ten minutes' ride in the +carts. We showed Miss Carl her bedroom, and were pleased to leave +her and get to our own rooms, for a good night's rest. + +The next morning we took Miss Carl to the Palace, and arrived +there during the morning audience. Of course Miss Carl, being a +foreigner, could not enter the Throne Room, so we sat down on the +back veranda of the Audience Hall and waited until it was over. +This, of course, prevented my being in attendance each morning, as +usual, and was a great disappointment to me, as I was unable to +keep in touch with what was taking place. Moreover, during the +time I had been at Court, my one object had been to endeavor to +interest Her Majesty in Western customs and civilization. I +believed that to a great extent Her Majesty was becoming +interested in these things, and would refer the subjects of our +conversations to her Ministers, for their opinions. For instance, +I had shown her photographs taken of a Naval Review at which I was +present in France. Her Majesty seemed to be impressed, and said +that she would certainly like to be able to make a similar display +in China. This matter she consulted with her Ministers, but they +gave the usual evasive answer, viz.: "There is plenty of time for +that." From this you will see that Her Majesty was not able to +introduce reforms entirely alone, even though she might desire to +do so, but had to consult the Ministers, who would always agree +with Her Majesty, but would suggest that the matter be put off for +a time. + +My experience while at the Palace was that everybody seemed to be +afraid to suggest anything new for fear they might get themselves +into trouble. + +When Her Majesty came out from the Audience Hall, Miss Carl went +up to her and kissed Her Majesty's hand, which caused her great +surprise, although she did not show it at the time. Afterwards, +however, when we were alone, she asked me why Miss Carl had done +this, as it was not a Chinese custom. She naturally thought that +it must be a foreign custom, and therefore said nothing about it. + +Her Majesty then proceeded on foot to her own Palace, to change +her dress for the portrait. It was a beautiful morning, and when +she had posed for about ten minutes, she told me that she felt too +tired to proceed, and asked if it would be all right to ask Miss +Carl to postpone it. I explained that as Miss Carl was going to be +at the Palace for some time, the postponement of one day's sitting +would not make much difference at that time, although I knew that +Miss Carl would naturally be disappointed. Still, I had to humor +Her Majesty as much as possible, otherwise she might have thrown +up the whole thing. Miss Carl said that if Her Majesty wished to +go to rest, she could be working painting the screen and the +throne, and Her Majesty could pose again later on if she felt like +it. This pleased Her Majesty, and she said that she would try to +sit again after taking her afternoon's rest. Her Majesty ordered +me to give Miss Carl her lunch in my own room at twelve o'clock +each day, my mother, my sister and myself keeping her company. +Dinner at the Palace was usually taken about six o'clock, and it +was arranged that Miss Carl should take dinner with the Young +Empress and the Court ladies at that hour, after Her Majesty had +finished dining. Her Majesty also ordered that champagne or any +other wine which Miss Carl preferred, should be served, as she +said she knew it was the custom for all foreign ladies to take +wine with their meals. Where she got hold of this idea, nobody +knew. I was sure that Her Majesty had been misinformed by +somebody, but it would have been bad policy to have tried to tell +her different at the moment. She disliked very much to be told +that she was wrong in any of these things, and it could only be +done by waiting and casually introducing the subject at some other +time. + +After Miss Carl had gone to rest during the afternoon, Her Majesty +sent for me and asked the usual question, viz.: What had Miss Carl +been saying? etc., etc. She seemed particularly anxious to know +what Miss Carl thought of her, and when I told her that Miss Carl +had said that she was very beautiful and quite young looking, she +said: "Oh! well, of course Miss Carl would say that to you." +However, on my assuring her that Miss Carl had given this opinion +without being asked for it, she showed very plainly that she was +not at all displeased with the compliment. + +Suddenly Her Majesty said: "I have been thinking that if Miss Carl +can paint the screen and the throne, surely she ought to be able +to paint my clothes and jewels, without it being necessary for me +to pose all the time." I told her that would be quite impossible, +as nobody could hold the things for Miss Carl to get the proper +effect. To my surprise she answered: "Well, that is easily gotten +over. You wear them in my place." I hardly knew what to say, but +thought I would get out of the difficulty by telling her that +perhaps Miss Carl would not like such an arrangement. Her Majesty, +however, could see no possible objection on Miss Carl's part, as +she herself could pose when the time came for painting her face. +So I put the matter as nicely as possible to Miss Carl, and it was +finally arranged that I should dress in Her Majesty's robes and +jewels whenever Her Majesty felt too tired to do the posing +herself. In this manner the portrait of the Empress Dowager was +painted, and with the exception of just a few hours to enable Miss +Carl to get Her Majesty's facial expression, I had to sit for two +hours each morning, and for another two hours each afternoon until +the portrait was finished. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN + +THE EMPEROR'S BIRTHDAY + + MY father's four months' leave having expired, he was received in +audience by their Majesties on the first day of the sixth moon. He +was much improved in health, but his rheumatism was still very +troublesome. This was particularly noticeable when climbing the +steps to the Audience Hall, and Her Majesty ordered two of the +eunuchs to assist him. + +First he thanked Her Majesty for her kindness towards my sister +and myself, and, as was the custom, took off his hat and knelt +down, bowing his head until it struck the ground. This ceremony +was always gone through by any official who had received special +favors from Their Majesties. + +He then replaced his hat on his head and remained kneeling before +the throne. Her Majesty then questioned him about his life in +Paris, from time to time complimenting him on his work. Seeing +that remaining in this kneeling position appeared to be making him +tired, Her Majesty ordered one of the eunuchs to bring a cushion +for him to use, which was another great honor, as this cushion was +only used by the President of the Grand Council. + +Her Majesty told him that as he was now getting to be a very old +man, she did not intend sending him away from China again, as she +wanted to keep my sister and myself at the Court, which she could +not do if she sent him to some foreign country, as he would want +to take his daughters with him. She said she was pleased, that +although we had been away from China for such a long time, we were +well acquainted with the Manchu customs. My father replied that it +had been his care that we should be brought up according to the +customs of our own country. + +Her Majesty when asked the Emperor if he had anything to say, and +he replied by asking my father if he spoke French, and thought it +very strange on learning that he did not. My father explained that +he had never had the time to study it, besides which he considered +himself too old to learn a foreign language. + +The Emperor next asked what was the feeling in France towards +China. My father replied that they were very friendly at that +time, but that immediately after the Boxer trouble the post of +Minister had been a very embarrassing one. Her Majesty said that +it had been an unfortunate affair, but she was glad that +everything was now settled satisfactorily. She told my father that +he was to get well again as quickly as possible, and the audience +came to an end. + +Afterwards Her Majesty said that my father was looking very old +since his return from France and that he would have to be careful +and take things easy until he got stronger again. She was pleased +that he had shown appreciation of her interest in my sister and +myself. + +Preparations were now commenced for celebrating the birthday of +His Majesty, the Emperor Kwang Hsu, which was to take place on the +28th of that month. The actual date of the Emperor's birthday was +the 26th of the sixth moon, but this day, being the anniversary of +the death of a previous Emperor of China, we were unable to hold +any festivities, and so it was always celebrated on the 28th day +instead. The official celebration lasted for seven days, three +days before and four days after the actual date. During that time +the whole of the Court dressed in official robes, and no business +of any kind whatever was attended to. This being the Emperor's +32nd birthday, and as the full celebrations only took place every +tenth year, i. e. On his 20th birthday, his 30th birthday, and so +on, the festivities were not carried out on a very grand scale. +However, it was quite sufficient to interfere with all business, +and the usual morning audiences did not take place during these +seven days. The Empress Dowager herself was the only person who +did not dress especially during these celebrations, and who did +not take any active part in the festivities. Another reason why +the celebrations were not carried out on a very large scale was +the fact that the Empress Dowager, being alive, she took +precedence, according to the Manchu custom, over the Emperor +himself, in fact she was the actual ruler of the country, the +Emperor being second. The Emperor was quite aware of this fact, +and when the Empress commanded that preparations be commenced for +the celebrations, the Emperor would always suggest that it was not +at all necessary to celebrate the occasion unless it happened to +be a tenth year, and would very reluctantly agree to the +festivities taking place. Of course this was more out of +politeness on the part of the Emperor and to conform to the +recognized etiquette, but the nation recognized this birthday and +naturally celebrated according to the usual custom. During this +period, therefore, the painting of the portrait was postponed. + +When the morning of the 25th arrived, the Emperor dressed himself +in his official robe-yellow gown, embroidered with gold dragons +and coat of a reddish black color. Of course, being the Emperor, +in place of the usual button on the hat he wore a large pearl. I +might mention that the Emperor was the only person who could wear +this particular pearl in place of a button. He came as usual to +wish Her Majesty Chi Hsiang and then proceeded to the temple to +worship before the ancestral tablets. After this ceremony was over +he returned to the Empress Dowager and kowtowed to her. All the +Chinese adopt this rule of kowtowing to their parents on their own +birthdays, as a sign of reverence and respect. The Emperor next +proceeded to the Audience Hall, where all the Ministers were +assembled, and received their salutations and congratulations. +This ceremony very often caused amusement, for to see several +hundred people all bobbing their heads up and down, especially +when they did not all manage to do it together, was a very funny +sight. Even the Emperor himself had to laugh, it was such an +extraordinary spectacle. + +The musical instruments which were used during the ceremony +deserve a little description. The principal instrument is made of +hard wood, and has a flat bottom about three feet in diameter, +with a dome-shaped top raised about three feet from the ground. +The inside is quite hollow. A long pole made of the same material +is used as a drumstick, and an official, specially appointed, +beats with all his might on the drum. The noise can be better +imagined than described. This is used as a signal to announce when +the Emperor takes his seat upon the throne. In addition to the +above, a full sized model of a tiger, also made of similar hard +wood, and having twenty-four scales on its back, is brought into +the courtyard. In this case they did not beat the instrument, but +scraped along its back over the scales, which emitted a noise +similar to the letting off simultaneously of innumerable crackers. +This noise was kept up during the whole of the ceremony, and what +with the drum and this tiger instrument it was sufficient to +deafen one. During the ceremony, an official crier used to call +out the different orders, such as when to kneel, bow, stand up, +kowtow, etc., etc., but with the noise it was quite impossible to +hear a single word of what he uttered. Another instrument was +composed of a frame made of wood, about eight feet high by three +feet broad. Across this frame were three wooden bars, from which +was suspended twelve bells, made out of pure gold. When these were +struck with a wooden stick the sound was not at all unlike the +dulcimer, only, of course, very much louder. This was placed on +the right side of the Audience Hall. On the left side a similar +instrument was placed, with the exception that the bells were +carved out of white jade. The music which could be brought out of +the instrument was very sweet. + +When this ceremony of receiving the Ministers was concluded, the +Emperor proceeded to his private Palace, where the Young Empress +(his wife), the Secondary wife and all the Court ladies were +gathered, and, after kowtowing, all of the Court ladies present, +led by the Young Empress, knelt before him and presented him with +a Ru Yee. This is a kind of sceptre. Some are made out of pure +jade, while others are made out of wood inlaid with jade. This Ru +Yee is a symbol of good luck and was supposed to bring happiness +and prosperity to the person to whom it was presented. The +ceremony was gone through to the accompaniment of music played on +string instruments, which was very sweet. + +Next the eunuchs were received by the Emperor, and they similarly +congratulated him, but without the accompaniment of music. After +the eunuchs came the servant girls, and the whole of the ceremony +was over. The Emperor next proceeded to Her Majesty's Palace, +where he knelt before Her Majesty and thanked her for the +celebration which had been given in his honor, after which Her +Majesty, accompanied by the whole Court, went to the theatre to +see the play. On arrival at the theatre we were all presented by +Her Majesty with sweetmeats, this being the custom on these +occasions, and after a little while Her Majesty retired for her +afternoon rest. Thus the celebration ended. + +Two days after the celebration the seventh moon commenced. The +seventh day of the seventh moon was the occasion of another +important anniversary. + +The two stars, Niu Lang (Capricorn) and Chih Nu (Lyra) are +supposed to be the patrons of agriculture and weaving and, +according to tradition, were at one time man and wife. As the +result of a quarrel, however, they were doomed to live apart, +being separated from each other by the "Milky Way." But on the +seventh day of the seventh moon of each year they are allowed to +see each other and the magpies are supposed to build a bridge to +enable them to meet. + +The ceremony is rather peculiar. Several basins full of water were +placed so that the sun's rays would fall upon them. Her Majesty +then took several tiny needles and dropped one into each basin. +These floated on the water, casting a shadow across the bottom of +the basins. These shadows took different forms, according to the +position of the needle, and if the shadow took certain prescribed +forms, the person throwing in the needle was supposed to be very +lucky and clever, while if they represented certain other forms, +they were despised by the gods as being ignorant. In addition, Her +Majesty burned incense and offered up prayers to the two gods +referred to. + +This was always a sad moon for Her Majesty, it being the +anniversary of the death of her husband, the Emperor Hsien Feng, +who died on the 17th of that month. The fifteenth of the seventh +moon each year is the day of the festival for the dead, and early +in the morning the Court moved to the Sea Palace in order to +sacrifice. The Chinese hold that when a person dies, his soul +still remains on the earth, and on these anniversaries they burn +imitation money, the belief being that the soul of the departed +one will benefit to the extent of the amount of money so +represented. On the anniversary above referred to Her Majesty sent +for hundreds of Buddhist priests to pray for those unfortunate +people who had died without leaving anyone who could sacrifice for +them. On the evening of this day, Her Majesty and all her Court +ladies set out in open boats on the lake, where imitation lotus +flowers were arranged as lanterns, with a candle placed in the +centre, which formed a sort of floating light, the idea being to +give light to the spirits of those who had departed during the +year, so as to enable them to come and receive the blessings which +had been prepared for them. Her Majesty ordered us to light the +candles and place the flowers on the water ourselves, as she said +it would be appreciated by the spirits of the dead. Some of the +eunuchs had told Her Majesty that they had actually seen some of +these spirits, which assertion was thoroughly believed. Although +she had never seen them herself, she accounted for this by the +fact that she was of too high a rank and the spirits were afraid +of her, but she ordered all the rest of us to keep a sharp lookout +and tell her if we saw anything. Of course we didn't see anything, +but many of the Court ladies were so frightened that they closed +their eyes for fear they might see something supernatural. + +Her Majesty was devoted to the late Emperor Hsien Feng, and she +was very sad and morose during this period. We all had to be very +careful indeed not to upset her in any way, as she would find +fault on the slightest provocation. She hardly had a word to say +to any of us, and cried almost incessantly. I could hardly +understand the reason for such grief, seeing that the Emperor had +died so many years previously. None of the Court ladies were +allowed to dress in light-coloured gowns during the whole of the +seventh moon. We all dressed either in dark blue or pale blue, +while Her Majesty herself dressed in black every day without +exception. Even her handkerchiefs were black. The theatres which +were usually opened on the first and fifteenth of each month, were +closed during the seventh moon. There was no music, and everything +was conducted in the most solemn manner; in fact, the whole Court +was in deep mourning. + +On the morning of the seventeenth day of the seventh moon, Her +Majesty visited the late Emperor's tablet, and knelt there crying +for quite a while. In order to show respect for the late Emperor, +none of us were allowed to eat meat for three days. This being my +first year at the Palace, it appeared to me very strange, after +the customary gaiety and noise. Of course I felt very sorry for +Her Majesty, as I could see that it was a genuine display of grief +and was not in any way put on. As I was her favorite at that time, +she kept me close to her side during this sad period. The Young +Empress said to me one day: "Her Majesty is very much attached to +you, and I think you had better stay with her for the time being." +This I did, and I was so miserable myself that when Her Majesty +commenced crying I would cry also. When she saw that I was crying, +Her Majesty would immediately stop and ask me not to cry. She +would tell me that I was too young to cry, and that in any case I +did not know what real sorrow was as yet. During the conversations +we had at that time she would tell me quite a lot about herself. +On one occasion she said: "You know I have had a very hard life +ever since I was a young girl. I was not a bit happy when with my +parents, as I was not the favorite. My sisters had everything they +wanted, while I was, to a great extent, ignored altogether. When I +first came to the Court, a lot of the people were jealous of me +because I was considered to be a beautiful woman at that time. I +must say myself that I was a clever one, for I fought my own +battles, and won them, too. When I arrived at Court the late +Emperor became very much attached to me and would hardly glance at +any of the other ladies. Fortunately, I was lucky in giving birth +to a son, as it made me the Emperor's undisputed favorite; but +after that I had very bad luck. During the last year of his reign +the Emperor was seized with a sudden illness. In addition to this +the foreign soldiers burnt down the Palace at Yuen Ming Yuen, so +we fled to Jehol. Of course everybody knows what took place at +that time. I was still a young woman, with a dying husband and a +young son. The East Empress Dowager's nephew was a bad man, who +coveted the throne, which he had no right to in any event, as he +was not of royal blood. I would not wish anyone to experience what +I myself passed through at that time. When the Emperor was in a +dying condition, being practically unconscious of what was taking +place around him, I took my son to his bedside and asked him what +was going to be done about his successor to the throne. He made no +reply to this, but, as has always been the case in emergencies, I +was equal to the occasion, and I said to him: `Here is your son,' +on hearing which he immediately opened his eyes and said: `Of +course he will succeed to the throne.' I naturally felt relieved +when this was settled once and for all. These words were +practically the last he spoke, for he died immediately afterwards. +Although it is now so many years ago, I can see him now in that +dying condition, just as though it all happened only yesterday. + +"I thought that I could be happy with my son as the Emperor Tung +Chi, but unfortunately he died before he was twenty years of age. +Since that time I have been a changed woman, as all happiness was +over as far as I was concerned when he died. I had also quite a +lot of trouble with the East Empress Dowager and found it very +difficult to keep on good terms with her. However, she died five +years after the death of my son. In addition to all this, when the +Emperor Kwang Hsu was brought to me as a baby three years old, he +was a very sickly child, and could hardly walk, he was so thin and +weak. His parents seemed to be afraid of giving him anything to +eat. You know his father was Prince Chung, and his mother was my +sister, so of course he was almost the same as my own son, in fact +I adopted him as such. Even now, after all my trouble on his +account, he is not in perfect health. As you know, I have had +plenty of other troubles beside these, but it is useless to +mention them now. I am disappointed with everything, as nothing +has turned out as I had expected." With this remark Her Majesty +commenced crying afresh. Continuing, she said: "People seem to +think that just because I am the Empress Dowager that I am bound +to be happy, but what I have just told you is not all. I have gone +through much more than that. If ever anything went wrong, I was +always the one who was blamed. The censors even dare to impeach me +once in a while. However, I am philosopher enough to take things +for what they are worth, otherwise I would have been in my own +grave long, long ago. Just imagine how small minded these people +are. Amongst other things they objected to my transferring my +Court to the Summer Palace during the hot weather, although I +could do no harm by being there. Even in the short time you have +spent at Court, you can see that I am unable to decide anything +alone, while whenever they want anything they consult with each +other and then present their petition to me, which, unless it is +something of a very serious nature, I never think of refusing." + +After the time set apart for mourning had expired, we all went +back to the Summer Palace, where Miss Carl re-commenced her work +on Her Majesty's portrait. Her Majesty apparently soon got tired +of this portrait painting, for one day she asked me when I thought +it would be finished. She was afraid that it would not be finished +by the time the cold weather came on, when we always removed the +Court to the Forbidden City, and she said it would be a lot of +trouble and inconvenience to have to continue the portrait there. +I told Her Majesty that it could easily be arranged and that she +need not worry herself. + +After I had been posing in Her Majesty's place for several days +Her Majesty asked me whether Miss Carl had said anything about it, +and if she did, I was to inform her that it was a command from Her +Majesty, and that I dare not make any further suggestions in that +respect. So we had no further trouble with Miss Carl after that. I +had, however, quite a lot of trouble with the eunuchs, who, in +spite of Her Majesty's instructions, were anything but polite to +Miss Carl. Of course Miss Carl herself did not know this. I tried +to make them behave better by threatening to tell Her Majesty +about them, which had a good effect for a while, but they were +soon as bad as ever. + +At the commencement of the eighth moon, Her Majesty always +attended to the transplanting of her chrysanthemums, which was one +of her favorite flowers, so each day she would take us with her to +the west side of the lake and, assisted by us, would cut the tops +of the young plants and set them in flower pots. I was very much +surprised at this, as there were no roots, only the stems of the +flowers, but Her Majesty assured me that they would soon grow into +very pretty plants. Every day we went over to water these flowers +until they began to bud. In case it rained heavily, Her Majesty +would order some of the eunuchs to go over and cover up these +chrysanthemum plants with mats, so that they would not be broken. +It was characteristic of Her Majesty that, no matter what other +business she had to attend to, her flowers had her first +consideration and she would, if necessary, even go without her +usual rest in order to superintend them personally. She also spent +quite a time in looking after her orchard, where she had planted +apple trees, pear trees, etc. Another thing which I began to +notice was that when the spring and summer days had passed, she +got quite irritable and sad, while in the winter she was simply +unbearable. She loathed cold weather. + +One day, during the eighth moon, Her Majesty was taken slightly +ill, and complained of suffering from severe headaches. This was +the only time I ever saw Her Majesty actually sick. She, however, +got up as usual in the morning, and held audience, but was unable +to take her luncheon, and very soon had to retire to her bed. +Several doctors were summoned, each of whom took her pulse. This +was quite a ceremony in itself. The doctors knelt at the bedside, +and Her Majesty stretched forth her arm, resting her hand upon a +small pillow which was provided for that purpose. After this each +doctor wrote out his prescription, all of which were different +from each other. We handed them to Her Majesty, who chose the one +which she thought was the nicest to take, and two attendants and +the doctor himself had to take a dose in her presence before she +would touch it. Then she would take it all right. + +During this time it rained a great deal and was very hot. The +climate at this time of the year is very damp, which causes the +flies to make their appearance in millions. If there was one thing +more than another that Her Majesty detested it was these flies. +During the actual summer they were not so troublesome as at this +particular time. Of course every precaution was taken to keep them +away, a eunuch being posted at each door, provided with sort of a +switch made of horse hair fastened at the end of a bamboo pole. We +were never troubled by mosquitoes, however; in fact I never saw a +mosquito curtain in the Palace during the whole of my stay there. +These flies were an abomination, and in spite of all that could be +done a few would find their way into the rooms. Whenever they +alighted on Her Majesty she would scream, while if by any chance +one were to alight on her food she would order the whole lot to be +thrown away. This would spoil her appetite for the whole day and +put her into a terrible temper as well. Whenever she saw one +anywhere near her, she would order whoever happened to be present +to go and catch it. I myself often received this order, but I +detested them almost as much as Her Majesty did, they were so +dirty, and stuck to one's hands whenever they touched them. + +After her illness Her Majesty was indisposed more or less for +quite a long time, and doctors were constantly in attendance. She +took so many different kinds of medicine that instead of getting +better she got worse and eventually contracted a fever. Her +Majesty was very much afraid of fevers of any kind and we had to +stay with her all night and all day and had to take our meals +whenever we could get away from her bedside for a few minutes. +Another peculiarity was Her Majesty's aversion for any kind of +perfume near her when she was sick, while when she was feeling +well she was simply smothered in it. The same applied to fresh +flowers; in spite of her love for them under ordinary conditions, +when she was sick she could not bear them anywhere near. Her +nerves became absolutely unstrung, as she was unable to sleep +during the day, and consequently the time passed very slowly to +her. In order to make the time pass a little less tediously, she +gave instructions for one of the better educated eunuchs to read +to her during the daytime. This reading generally consisted of +ancient Chinese history, poetry and all kinds of Chinese lore, and +while the eunuch was reading to her we had to stand by her +bedside, one of us being told off to massage her legs, which +seemed to soothe her somewhat. This same program was gone through +every day until she was completely herself again--some ten days +later. + +One day Her Majesty asked me: "What kind of medicine does a +foreign doctor usually give in case of a fever? I have heard that +they make you take all kinds of pills. This must be very +dangerous, as you never know what they are made of. Here in China +all medicines are made from roots, and I can always find out +whether I am receiving the right medicine, as I have a book which +explains what each different medicine is for. Another thing I have +heard is that foreign doctors generally operate on you with a +knife, while we cure the same sickness by means of our medicine. +Li Lien Ying told me that one of our little eunuchs had a boil on +his wrist and someone advised him to go to the hospital. Of course +they didn't know what they would do, and the foreign doctor there +opened the boil with a knife, which frightened the child very +much. I was very much surprised when I heard he was all right +again in a couple of days." Continuing, Her Majesty said: "A year +ago one of the foreign ladies came to the Palace, and hearing me +cough a lot, gave me some black pills and told me to swallow them. +I did not like to offend her, so I took the pills and told her I +would take them by and bye. However, I was afraid to take them and +threw them away." Of course I answered that I didn't know much +about medicines, to which she replied that she had seen me take +foreign medicines whenever I was not feeling well. She then said: +"Of course I know there are people in Peking who do take the +medicines given them by foreign doctors and even some of my own +relatives patronize these foreigners also. They try not to let me +know, but I do know for all that. In any case, if they choose to +kill themselves by taking these things, it is none of my business; +that is the reason why, when they are sick, I never send my own +doctors to attend them." + +When Her Majesty had completely recovered from her illness she +used to go out on the lake a great deal, sometimes in an open boat +and at other times in a steam launch. She always appeared to enjoy +this kind of thing. For some reason or other she always insisted +on taking the west side of the lake, which was very shallow, and +invariably the launch would get stuck fast in the mud, which +seemed to afford Her Majesty great enjoyment; she simply loved to +feel the launch strike the bottom. The open boats would then come +alongside and we would have to get out of the launch and enter the +boats and proceed to the top of the nearest hill to watch the +efforts of the eunuchs trying to refloat the launch. It was a +characteristic of Her Majesty to experience a keen sense of +enjoyment at the troubles of other people. The eunuchs knew this +quite well, and whenever opportunity offered, they would do +something which they thought would amuse Her Majesty. So long as +it was nothing of a serious nature Her Majesty would always +overlook it, but in case it proved serious or was carelessness, +she would always order them to be severely punished. Thus it was +very hard to tell just what to do in order to please her. + +Another of Her Majesty's peculiarities was inquisitiveness. For +example: As I have stated before, it was the custom for Her +Majesty to have sweetmeats brought to her before every meal, and +after she had finished with them, the remainder were distributed +among the Court ladies. Whenever it happened that we were very +busy, we did not bother with the sweetmeats at all, which Her +Majesty very soon found out. One day, after she had finished +dining, she came and looked through the window to see what we were +doing, and saw some of the eunuchs eating the sweetmeats which she +had given to us. She did not say anything, but simply ordered that +the sweetmeats should be brought back again, making us believe +that she wanted some more herself. I knew that there was something +wrong, as she never ordered them back before. When she saw what +was left of them, she asked who had been eating so many, as they +were nearly all finished, but she got no reply--we were all too +scared. However, after thinking it over, I came to the conclusion +that it would be best to tell her the truth, for I was quite +certain that she knew anyhow. So I told her that we had all been +very busy and had forgotten all about the sweetmeats, and that the +eunuchs had come and taken them themselves, and I added that this +was not the first time they had done so. I was rather glad that +she had given me this opportunity to report the eunuchs, for Her +Majesty replied that if she intended the eunuchs to have +sweetmeats, she herself could give them some, but thought it a +lack of appreciation on our part not eating them ourselves after +she had been so kind as to provide them for us. She turned to me, +and said: "I am glad that you have told the truth, as I saw myself +what was happening." She gave orders that the offending eunuchs +should each have three months' wages deducted as a punishment, but +of course I knew very well they didn't mind that, as they were +making many times the amount of their salary in other ways. On my +return to the sitting room, one of the Court ladies said: "You +should not have told Her Majesty about the eunuchs, they are sure +to revenge themselves in some way." I asked how they could +possibly injure me in any way, as they were only servants, but she +told me that they would find some underhand way in which to get +even with me, this being their general custom. Of course I knew +the eunuchs were a bad lot, but could not see what cause they had +to be against me in any way. I knew they dare not say anything +against me to Her Majesty, so I forgot all about the matter. I +found out afterwards that one of the tricks they used to play on +any of the Court ladies who offended them was to try and prejudice +Her Majesty against us. For instance, if Her Majesty told one of +the eunuchs that a certain thing should be done, instead of +telling me what Her Majesty wanted, the eunuch would go off to one +of the other ladies and tell her. In this way Her Majesty would +get the impression that I was too lazy to wait upon her myself, +and of course the other lady would get all the credit. Although +Her Majesty was very kind to me, also the Young Empress, it was +very hard to get along with eunuchs, and it was not good policy to +offend them in any way. They regarded themselves as being +exclusively the servants of Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and +refused to take instructions from anybody else, consequently they +were often very rude to the other ladies of the Court, not even +excepting the Young Empress. + +Everything proceeded as usual until the eighth moon, when the +Emperor was to sacrifice at the "Temple of the Sun." On this +occasion the Emperor wore a red robe. + +About this time Mrs. Conger asked for a private audience, as she +wanted to see Her Majesty and at the same time see how the +portrait was progressing. Her Majesty replied that she would +receive her and gave orders accordingly. At this private audience +Mrs. Conger brought into the Court two of her relatives to be +presented to Her Majesty, besides Miss Campbell and a missionary +lady. As it was a private audience, the guests were conducted to +Her Majesty's private Palace. They were received in the hall which +was being used as studio for this lady artist, although Her +Majesty was out of patience with the portrait painting, and talked +to us a great deal about it, yet when she saw Mrs. Conger and the +others she was extremely polite and told them that the portrait +was going to be a masterpiece. She was in an unusually good humor +that day and told me to give orders to the eunuchs to open all the +buildings and show them to her guests. Her Majesty led the way +from one room to another and showed them her curios in the +different rooms, until she came to rest in one of the bedrooms, +when she ordered chairs to be brought in for the guests. There +were many chairs in this room, but they were really small thrones +of Her Majesty's, although they looked like any ordinary chairs. +The custom is that no matter what kind of a chair it may be, as +soon as she uses it, it is at once called her throne and no one is +allowed to sit on it thereafter unless the order is given by her. + +During the time the eunuchs were bringing in the chairs kept +purposely for foreigners to use, one of the ladies of the party +made a mistake and sat upon one of Her Majesty's thrones. I +noticed her at once, and before I had a chance to warn her, Her +Majesty made a sign of annoyance to me. I went to this lady at +once and told her I wanted to show her something and naturally she +was obliged to get up. The trouble was this, although Her Majesty +felt that no one had the right to sit upon her throne, she +expected me to get this lady off the chair and at the same time +not to tell her the reason why. While I was busy interpreting for +her, she said in an undertone: "There she is again, sitting on my +bed. We had better leave this room." After this the ladies were +conducted to the refreshment room, and when they had partaken of +lunch, bade Her Majesty good-bye, leaving Miss Carl with us. As +usual we reported to her that we had seen the guests safely off. +She said to me: "That was a funny lady: first she sat upon my +throne, and then upon my bed. Perhaps she does not know what a +throne is when she sees one, and yet foreigners laugh at us. I am +sure that our manners are far superior to theirs. Another +thing--did you notice that Mrs. Conger handed a parcel to Miss +Carl out in the courtyard when she came in?" I replied that I had +noticed her passing something like a parcel, but could not tell +what the parcel contained. She thereupon told me to go and ask +Miss Carl what it was. At that time I had received so many +peculiar orders from Her Majesty that I was beginning to get +accustomed to them and used my own discretion in carrying out her +instructions. Therefore I did not ask Miss Carl, but set about +finding out for myself. However, when I began to look around for +the parcel, it had mysteriously disappeared and I could not find +the thing anywhere. This naturally worried me, knowing as I did +that Her Majesty liked her instructions carried out quickly. While +I was searching, one of the eunuchs came in and told me that Her +Majesty wanted to see me, and of course I had to go to her. Before +she could say anything to me, I informed Her Majesty that I had +not been able to ask Miss Carl about the parcel as she was asleep, +but would do so immediately she got up. Her Majesty said: "I don't +want Miss Carl to think I have told you to ask what the parcel +contains, otherwise she might think I am suspicious of what is +going on, so you must manage to get the information somehow +without mentioning the matter; you are clever enough to do that +much." Shortly afterwards, while I was walking along with Miss +Carl to Her Majesty's Palace, to proceed with the portrait, I +noticed that she was carrying the parcel in question, which was a +great relief to me, I can assure you. On arrival at the Palace, +Miss Carl said to me: "You need not trouble to pose at present, as +it is rather dark, and I can be painting the throne; you can look +through this magazine, if you like, to pass the time away." So I +opened up the parcel, which proved to contain nothing more than an +ordinary American monthly magazine. After glancing through the +book, I made an excuse to hurry away and inform Her Majesty. +However, she had already gone out for her usual trip on the lake, +so I took my chair and followed. When I reached the lake, Her +Majesty, who had seen me, sent a small boat and I was rowed out to +the launch. Before I could get a chance to speak, Her Majesty said +with a smile: "I know all about it, it was a book and Miss Carl +handed it to you to read." I was very much disappointed that I had +had my journey for nothing. I knew that the eunuchs would report +it to Her Majesty at the first opportunity, but I hardly expected +they would have done so already. Her Majesty was now quite +satisfied, and simply asked whether Miss Carl suspected that she +had enquired about the matter. + +As I was about to return to Miss Carl, Her Majesty called me and +said: "There is one thing I want to tell you and that is whenever +any foreign ladies are visiting the Palace, always keep close to +the Emperor so that in the event of their speaking to him you can +interpret." I answered that so far whenever any foreigners were +present I was present also and did not think that anybody had held +any conversation with the Emperor whatsoever. She explained that +her reason for mentioning this was that she wanted me to be just +as courteous to the Emperor as I was to herself, and I was to +place myself entirely at his disposal whenever visitors were +present. Of course I knew very well that this was not the true +reason at all but that she wanted to take every precaution to +preclude the possibility of foreigners influencing the Emperor in +matters of reform, etc. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN + +THE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL + + ON the fifteenth day of the eighth moon came the celebration of +the Mid-Autumn Festival, sometimes called the Moon Festival. + +This name is derived from the belief which the Chinese hold that +the moon is not permanently round when full, but that on this +particular day it is a perfect circle. The ceremony which is gone +through is conducted entirely by the Court ladies and consists of +worshiping the moon as soon as it appears in the sky. In other +respects the celebrations are exactly the same as in the Dragon +Boat Festival, presents were exchanged between Her Majesty and the +Court officials. The festival concluded with a theatrical +performance which describes a scene in the moon. The belief is +that a beautiful maiden lives in the moon, her only companion +being a white rabbit, called a Jade Rabbit. According to the play +this rabbit escapes from the moon to the Earth and becomes a young +and beautiful girl. A golden rooster which lives in the sun, +becoming aware of the rabbit's descent to the earth, himself +descends from the sun and changes into a handsome prince. Of +course they very naturally meet and immediately fall in love. Now, +on the earth lived another rabbit--a red one, who, on finding out +what was going on, changed himself into a prince also and set +about making love to the beautiful maiden with the object of +cutting out the rooster. However, he was seriously handicapped +inasmuch as he was unable to change the color of his face, which +remained red, therefore his love making met with no success and +the rooster prince had it all his own way. At this point, the +beautiful maiden in the moon, on discovering her loss, sent the +soldiers of Heaven to re-capture her rabbit, with the result that +she was taken back to the moon and the rooster being left alone, +had no alternative but to reluctantly return to his home in the +sun. + +During this performance the head eunuch brought a young man into +the courtyard, who kowtowed to Her Majesty. This was such an +unusual occurrence that everybody noticed it. I could see that he +was a stranger and did not belong to the Court and I wondered who +he could be. At the other end of the veranda I saw two or three of +the Court ladies whispering together and smiling. They finally +came over to me and asked if I knew who he was. I told them that +he was a stranger to me and they ought to know better than I did +as they had been at the Court much longer. Anyhow I gave it as my +opinion that he was decidedly ugly. That same evening Her Majesty +asked me whether I had noticed this young man, and told me that he +was the son of a very high Manchu official; that his father was +dead and that he had succeeded to the title and to a large amount +of money. I was surprised that Her Majesty should give such a +lengthy explanation about this young man, but I told her that I +did not think him very handsome. Her Majesty was talking in a very +serious manner but I did not think anything of the occurrence at +the time but a few days later while I was posing for the portrait +I heard Her Majesty whispering to my mother at the other end of +the room. I saw that Her Majesty was holding a photograph in her +hands which she showed to my mother, at the same time asking +whether my mother considered him good looking. My mother answered +"not very." On Her Majesty replying that beauty was not everything +I began to suspect that there was something going on which +directly concerned me. I began to think of some excuse in order to +get out of what I could plainly see was a proposed marriage +between myself and this gentleman. I knew that if Her Majesty had +made up her mind that I was to marry him I could not help myself, +but, at the same time, I made up my own mind that rather than +marry anyone whom I did not like, especially one I had never seen +before, I would leave the Court altogether. When Her Majesty +retired for her usual afternoon rest she told me she wanted to see +me for a moment. After beating about the bush for some time, she +asked me whether I would like to stay with her always or whether I +would like to go away again to some foreign country. I at once +answered that I was quite satisfied to stay with her as long as +she cared to have me but that when she was tired of me she could +then send me away. Her Majesty informed me that it had been her +intention to marry me to this young gentleman and asked my +opinion. I told her that I did not want to get married at all, +especially seeing that my father was sick at this time, and +leaving home to go to live apart from my family would break his +heart and perhaps be the cause of his premature death. Her Majesty +said that was no excuse as I should not have to go out of China +but would be able to see my father and family any time I wished. I +told Her Majesty that I would much rather stay with her altogether +and that I did not want to marry anybody. Her Majesty then said: +"I won't listen to any excuse. I have already explained everything +to your mother, but much to my surprise she said it would be +better to mention it to you first, on account of your having been +brought up differently from the rest of the Court ladies. Had it +not been for this fact I would simply have arranged everything +with your mother and the matter would have been settled so far as +you were concerned." I could not say anything in answer to this, +so commenced to cry. I told Her Majesty that I was not like the +rest of the Court ladies who pretended they did not want to marry, +when all the time they were simply looking forward to getting +married, if only for the change from the monotony of Court life. I +promised that I would stay with her forever, and that I had no +desire to go away from China again. I explained that I should not +have gone away at all had it not been that my father was +transferred to Paris. Her Majesty said: "Oh, well, I am very glad +that you did go away as you are more useful to me than you would +have been had you stayed in China all your life." After a lot more +discussion Her Majesty said: "Well, I will leave you to think the +matter over. If you don't like the young man I have chosen there +are plenty of others," which remark did not help me very much as I +could see that she meant to marry me off anyway. However, I had +managed to get out of it this time, and thought I would be able to +arrange matters satisfactorily should the question come up again. +Nothing further was said about the matter until nearly a month +later when I heard that a marriage had been arranged between this +gentleman and the daughter of one of the princes. So everything +ended very satisfactorily from my point of view. + +The twenty-sixth day of the eighth moon was the occasion of +another celebration. At the time the Manchu Dynasty began, Emperor +Shung Chih, who had fought very hard to gain the throne, found +himself on the twenty-sixth day of the eighth moon, absolutely out +of provisions of every kind and it was necessary for him and his +army to live on the leaves of trees, which was the only form of +food obtainable at the time. Thus the anniversary of this day, +even up to the present time, is always celebrated by the Manchu +people, who deny themselves all luxuries, especially at the Court. +We did not eat any meat on that day, but only rice wrapped in +lettuce leaves. Chopsticks were also discarded and the food was +conveyed to the mouth by the hands alone. Even the Empress Dowager +was no exception to this rule. This is done in order to remind the +present generation of the privation suffered by their ancestors +who established the Manchu Dynasty. + +Towards the close of the eighth moon Her Majesty's gourd plants, +which had been planted early in the spring, were ripening, and +each day she would take us all to see what progress they were +making. She would pick out those which she considered to be the +most perfect in form, i. e., those with the smallest waist and tie +ribbons around them so as not to lose sight of them. She pointed +to one of these plants one day, and said to me: "This reminds me +of yourself when dressed in foreign clothes. Surely you feel more +comfortable in the clothes you are now wearing." When these gourds +were quite ripe they were cut down and Her Majesty would scrape +the outer skin with a bamboo knife, afterwards wiping the fruit +with a wet cloth. They were then allowed to dry and after a few +days they would assume a brownish color, when they were ready for +hanging as ornaments in the Summer Palace. In one room alone there +were over 10,000 of these gourds, of different shapes. It was the +duty of the Court ladies to periodically wipe these gourds with a +cloth, in order to give them a shiny appearance, and also to +scrape any new ones which were pulled and prepare them for the +Palace. None of us cared very much about this work excepting Her +Majesty. One day whilst attending to these gourds I happened to +knock the top off one of the old ones which was Her Majesty's +particular favorite. I dared not go and tell Her Majesty what had +happened and one of the Court ladies suggested throwing the thing +away altogether and saying nothing about it as Her Majesty would +not be likely to find it out, having so many of them. However, I +finally decided to go and tell Her Majesty about it, and take +punishment if necessary. For a wonder Her Majesty did not make +much bother about it. She said: "Well it was quite an old one in +any case and the top was ready to drop off at any time; it so +happens that you were the one to wipe it, and of course it came +off. It can't be helped." I told Her Majesty that I was very much +ashamed at being so careless, especially as I knew it was one of +her favorites, and there the matter ended. All the rest of the +Court ladies were in the waiting room and were anxious to know how +I would get out of it, and when I told them they said that had it +been any of them there would have been a fine row. They laughed, +and said it must be nice to be a favorite which made me feel very +uncomfortable. I told the Young Empress exactly what had happened, +and she said I was quite right to tell Her Majesty the truth and +told me to be very careful as there was much jealousy going on. + +At the beginning of the ninth moon the chrysanthemums commence to +bud and it was the duty of the ladies of the Court to go and trim +them each day by cutting away all the buds except one on each +stalk. This trimming gives the flower a better chance of +developing, a much larger blossom being the result. Even Her +Majesty would help with this work. She was very particular about +these plants, and would not allow any of us to meddle with them if +our hands were not perfectly cool, as to touch them with hot hands +would cause the leaves to shrivel up. These flowers are generally +in full bloom about the end of the ninth moon or beginning of the +tenth moon. Her Majesty had a wonderful gift of being able to tell +what kind of flower would bloom from each separate plant, even +before the buds appeared. She would say: "This is going to be a +red flower," and we would place a bamboo stick in the flower pot, +with the name written on it. Then another, Her Majesty would +declare to be a white one and we would place a similar bamboo +stick in the flower pot, with the description, and so on. Her +Majesty said: "This is your first year at the Palace and no doubt +you are surprised at what you have just seen and heard me say, but +I have never yet made a mistake. For you will see when the flowers +commence to bloom." It was a fact as everything turned out exactly +as she had predicted. None of us ever knew how she was able to +distinguish one from the other, but she was always right. I did +once ask her to explain how she was able to tell but she answered +that it was a secret. + +All this time the portrait was proceeding very slowly and one day +Her Majesty asked me how long I thought it would be before it was +finished and what the custom in Europe was as regards remuneration +for such a portrait. I replied that it was customary to pay very +handsomely, but she would not hear of such a suggestion, saying +that in China it was not the custom and that it would be regarded +as an insult to offer money for such a service. She suggested +decorating Miss Carl as a reward for her services, which she +considered would be appreciated far more than a money present. +There was nothing for me to say at this time but I determined to +mention the matter again when a favorable opportunity occurred. + +During the ninth moon a Russian circus visited Peking and of +course everybody talked of little else. Her Majesty, hearing so +much talk about this circus asked what it was like, and after we +had explained to her, she became very interested and said that she +would like to see it. My mother thought it would be a good idea to +have the circus brought up to the Summer Palace, where they could +perform, so she asked Her Majesty whether this might be done. Her +Majesty was delighted with the idea, and arrangements were +accordingly made for the performance. While everything was being +fixed, the people belonging to the circus, and the animals, were +quartered near our own house and we had to feed them at our own +expense. However, we wanted to show Her Majesty what a circus was +like so the expense did not matter. It took them two days to erect +the tent and make all necessary preparations, and during this time +Her Majesty received reports as to what was being done, and the +progress they were making. + +The day before the performance, we noticed that Her Majesty, on +coming from her audience, looked very angry, and on our enquiring +what was the matter she informed my mother and myself that some +censors had raised objections against having this circus in the +Palace grounds, as there had never been anything of this kind +allowed before and they had begged Her Majesty to give up the +idea. Her Majesty was very angry, and said: "You see how much +power I have here; I cannot even have a circus without somebody +raising objections. I think we had better pay them something and +let them go away." Of course we agreed to anything she thought +best. After considering for a time Her Majesty jumped up and said: +"They have the tent up already; they will talk just the same +whether we have the circus or not; I will have it anyway." So the +performance duly took place and Her Majesty and all the Court were +delighted. One item consisted of a young girl walking and dancing +on a large globe. This especially pleased Her Majesty and she +insisted on the performance being repeated several times. Another +item of interest was the trapeze act. Of course nobody present +with the exception of my mother, sister and myself had ever seen a +circus performance before, and Her Majesty was very much afraid +that the man would fall from the trapeze and kill himself. Another +thing which interested Her Majesty was the bare-back riding, which +she thought simply wonderful. The only objection to the whole show +which she raised was when it was suggested to bring in the lions +and tigers, etc. She said it was not safe to bring wild beasts +into the Palace and that she would rather not see this part of the +performance. The proprietor of the circus, however, brought in a +small baby elephant which performed several clever tricks. This +delighted Her Majesty more than anything else and when the +proprietor saw how pleased she was he offered the elephant as a +present, which she accepted. However, after the performance was +over we tried to make him go through his tricks again but he would +not budge an inch, so we had to give it up as a bad job and send +him away to be placed along with the other elephants belonging to +the Palace. + +Altogether there were three performances given by the circus, and +before the final performance, the circus Manager told me that he +would very much like to show the lions and tigers: there was no +chance of any accident and it really would be worth seeing. So +after a lot of discussion Her Majesty finally consented to allow +them to be brought in but on the distinct understanding that they +should not be let out of their cages. + +When they were brought in the ring all the eunuchs gathered around +Her Majesty, and after remaining in the ring for a few minutes Her +Majesty ordered them to be taken away again. She said: "I am not +afraid for myself, but they might get loose and hurt some of the +people." This item finished the whole of the performance and the +circus departed richer by some Taels 10,000 which Her Majesty had +ordered to be given to them. + +For the next couple of days we discussed the merits of the circus +but afterwards, Her Majesty, when referring to the subject, +expressed great disappointment with the whole thing. She said she +had expected something entirely different and far more wonderful. +This was another characteristic of Her Majesty; nothing pleased +her for more than five minutes at a time. She said to me: "I don't +see anything at all wonderful in foreign accomplishments. Take for +instance this portrait which this lady is painting. I don't think +it is going to be at all a good picture, it seems so rough. (Her +Majesty did not understand oil painting). Then again why should +she always want to have the things before her while painting them. +An ordinary Chinese artist could paint my dress, shoes, etc., +after seeing the things once. She cannot be very much of an artist +in my opinion, though you need not tell her that I said so." +Continuing, Her Majesty said: "By the way, what do you talk about +when you are posing for this portrait of mine; although I don't +understand what she is saying, still I can see she has a lot to +say. Be sure not to tell her anything connected with the Court +life and do not teach her any Chinese. I hear that she often asks +what different things are called in Chinese, but don't tell her. +The less she knows the better for us. I can see that she has seen +nothing of our ordinary Court life, as yet. I wonder what she +would say if she were to see one of the eunuchs being punished, or +anything like that. She would think that we were savages, I +suppose. I noticed the other day, when I was angry, that you took +this lady artist away. This was very wise of you; it is better +that she should not see me in a temper, she might talk about it +afterwards. I wish this portrait was finished. The cool weather is +coming on and we have to open up the boxes and get our winter +clothes ready. You girls need winter clothes I know as you have +none but foreign dresses. Then, again, my birthday is next month +and there will be the usual celebrations. After that we return to +the Sea Palace, and what can we do with this artist? I suppose she +will have to go back and stay at the American Legation and come to +the Sea Palace each day until the work is finished. This will be a +lot of trouble as it is not ten minutes' drive as at present, but +nearer an hour's drive. And even if this can be satisfactorily +arranged, what about the Winter Palace in the Forbidden City? Try +and get to know how long she expects to be before it is finished." +This gave me an opportunity to tell Her Majesty that Miss Carl was +just as anxious to get the work finished as she was to have it +finished, but explained that Miss Carl had very little time to +paint as Her Majesty could spare very little time to give personal +sittings, and again, when Her Majesty went to lie down each +afternoon, Miss Carl had to stop painting as she was working in +the next room to Her Majesty's bedroom. Her Majesty replied: +"Well, if she expects me to sit for her all day long I will give +up the whole thing at once," and then added: "I think you yourself +are getting tired of sitting, and want me to take it up again, but +I have already had quite enough of it." Of course, I told her that +instead of being tired of it, I enjoyed sitting on Her Throne, +which I regarded as a great honor. I explained to Her Majesty that +Miss Carl did not like me to pose in her place, as she could not +get along so quickly as if she were to sit herself; but she simply +said that I was acting under her commands, and that should be +sufficient for me. + +For the next ten days we were kept very busy selecting materials +for winter clothing and also official robes for my sister and +myself to be worn during the forthcoming birthday celebrations. +These dresses were full winter Court dresses, of red satin +embroidered with golden dragons and blue clouds, and were trimmed +with gold braid and lined with grey squirrel. The cuffs and +collars (which were turned down) were of sable. While Her Majesty +was giving one of the eunuchs instructions as to how these were to +be made, the Young Empress beckoned to me, and I went out. She +said: "You go and kowtow to Her Majesty as it is a great favor for +her to give you a dress trimmed with sable. This is usually only +worn by a Princess." So when I returned to the room I availed +myself of the first opportunity to kowtow and thank Her Majesty +for the great favor she had granted me. She answered: "You deserve +it, and I see no reason why you should not be treated as a +Princess anyway; many of the Princesses are not of the Imperial +family. Any title may be bestowed for special services rendered to +the country and you have been of more help to me than any other +Court lady I have ever had, and I can see that you are faithful in +the discharge of your duties. You may think I do not notice these +things, but I do. You are certainly entitled to be ranked as a +Princess, and in fact I never treat you different from the +Princesses, but rather better in many ways." Turning to a eunuch +she said: "Bring my fur cap here." This cap was made of sable, +trimmed with pearls and jade and Her Majesty explained that our +caps would be something after the same style except that the +crown, instead of being yellow as in the case of Her Majesty's +cap, would be red. I was naturally delighted. In addition to the +cap and full Court dress Her Majesty had two ordinary dresses made +for everyday wear, one lined with sheepskin and the other lined +with grey squirrel. Then she gave us four other dresses of finer +material, lined with black and white fox skin, and all trimmed +with gold braid and embroidered ribbons. In addition there were +two other dresses, one of a pale pink color, embroidered with one +hundred butterflies and the other of a reddish color embroidered +with green bamboo leaves. Several short jackets, also lined with +fur, were also included in Her Majesty's present, and several +sleeveless jackets went to complete the lot. + +On coming out of the room, one of the Court ladies remarked that I +was very lucky to receive so many clothes from Her Majesty and +said that she had never received so many during the whole time she +had been at the Palace--nearly ten years. I could see she was +jealous. The young Empress, overhearing this conversation, joined +us and told her that when I arrived at the Palace I had nothing +but foreign clothes and how was I to manage if Her Majesty did not +get me the proper dresses. This incident was the beginning of +another unpleasant time for me with the ladies of the Court. At +first I took no notice until one day one of the girls attached to +the Palace joined in the unkind remarks. She said that before my +arrival she had been Her Majesty's particular favorite, but I gave +her to understand that she had no right to discuss me in any way +whatsoever. The Young Empress, who was present, spoke to them +about their treatment of me and said that some fine day I would be +telling Her Majesty about it. This seemed to have a good effect +for they never troubled me much afterwards with their talk. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN + +THE SUMMER PALACE + + JUST about the end of the ninth moon Her Majesty began to tire of +doing nothing day after day, and said: "What is the use of waiting +until the first of the month to have the theatrical performance? +Let us have a performance to-morrow." So she gave instructions for +the eunuchs to prepare for the play, which should be staged +without the assistance of any outside actors. I might here mention +that certain of the eunuchs were specially trained as actors and +used to study their parts every day. Indeed, they were far +cleverer than the professionals from outside. + +Her Majesty gave the head eunuch the list of the plays she wished +to be performed, which were for the most part dramatised fairy +tales, and we had a performance the next day. + +After Her Majesty had gone to rest in the afternoon, during the +theatrical performance I met the Emperor returning to his own +Palace. I was surprised to see only one eunuch in attendance. This +was the Emperor's own private eunuch and he trusted him +implicitly. He asked me where I was going and I told him I was +going to my room to rest a while. He remarked that he had not seen +me for quite a long time, which made me laugh as I saw him every +morning at the audience. He said: "I don't get as much chance of +chatting with you as formerly since this portrait painting began. +I am afraid I am not making much progress with my English as I +have nobody to help me now that your time is occupied with this +lady artist. You appear to enjoy her company very much. All the +same I suppose it is very monotonous. Has she found out yet that +you are there simply to keep an eye upon her?" I told him that I +was very careful not to betray myself in any way and that I did +not think she suspected she was being watched. + +The Emperor then said: "I understand there is a rumor to the +effect that when this lady has finished Her Majesty's portrait she +is going to paint mine. I should very much like to know who says +so." I told him this was the first I had heard about it so could +not say. I asked him whether he would like to have his portrait +painted but he only answered: "That is rather a difficult question +for me to answer. You know best whether I ought to have it painted +or not. + +"I see Her Majesty having so many photographs taken and even the +eunuchs are in the picture." I understood at once what he meant, +so I asked him if he wished me to take him with my little kodak. +He looked surprised and asked: "Can you take pictures, too? If it +is not too risky for us, we might try it some day when we have an +opportunity. Don't forget, but I think we must be very careful." + +He then changed the conversation by saying: "Well, now that we +have time to talk I want to ask you a question and I expect you to +answer me truly. What is the general opinion amongst the +foreigners regarding myself? Do they consider me a man of +character and do they think me clever? I am very anxious to know." +Before I could say anything in answer to this question he +continued: "I know very well that they regard me as nothing more +than a boy, and as being of no consequence at all. Tell me, is not +this so?" I replied that many foreigners had asked me about +him--as to what kind of man he was, but that they had never +expressed any opinion of their own regarding him excepting that +they understood he was in the best of health. "If any wrong +impression does exist regarding myself and my position at the +Court," continued the Emperor, "it is owing to the very +conservative customs of the Chinese Court. I am not expected to +either say or do anything on my own initiative, consequently +outsiders never hear much about me and I am regarded as being +nothing more than a figure-head. I know this is so. Whenever they +ask you about me in the future just explain to them exactly what +my position here is. I have plenty of ideas regarding the +development of this country but you know I am not able to carry +them out as I am not my own master. I don't think the Empress +Dowager herself has sufficient power to alter the state of things +existing in China at present, and even if she has, she is not +willing to. I am afraid it will be a long time before anything can +be done towards reform." + +The Emperor went on to say how nice it would be if he were allowed +to travel about from place to place the same as the European +monarchs, but of course such a thing was out of the question for +him. I told him that several Princesses had expressed a wish to +visit the St. Louis Exposition and said I thought it would be a +good thing if that could be arranged as they would see for +themselves the difference between their own country and customs +and foreign countries and customs. The Emperor expressed doubts as +to this permission being granted as such a thing had never been +heard of before. + +We talked for quite a long time, mostly about foreign customs, and +the Emperor remarked that he would very much like to visit Europe +and see for himself how things were carried on there. + +Just then one of my eunuchs came and said that Her Majesty was +awake, so I had to hurry off to her room. + +We now arrive at the tenth moon. + +The first day it snowed, and the head eunuch enquired of Her +Majesty whether it was her intention to celebrate her birthday at +the Summer Palace as usual. As previously explained the Summer +Palace was Her Majesty's favorite place of abode; so she replied +in the affirmative and arrangements were accordingly made for the +celebration to be held there as usual. The head eunuch then +brought Her Majesty a list giving the names and ranks of all the +Princesses and the names of the wives and daughters of the Manchu +officials, and she selected those whom she wished to be present at +the celebrations. On this occasion she selected forty-five ladies, +who were duly informed that she desired their presence at the +Palace. I was standing behind Her Majesty's chair all this time, +and she turned and said: "Usually I do not ask many people to my +birthday celebrations, but on this occasion I have made an +exception as I want you to see the way they dress and how ignorant +they are of Court etiquette." + +The celebrations commenced on the sixth day of the tenth moon. +Miss Carl, having returned to the American Legation in Peking for +the time being, my mother, my sister and myself went back to the +Palace again. Early on the morning of the sixth, the eunuchs +decorated the verandas with different colored silks and hung +lanterns all over the place and amongst the trees. At about seven +o'clock in the morning the visitors began to arrive and I quite +agreed with what Her Majesty had told me about them. The eunuchs +introduced them to all the Court ladies, but they seemed to have +very little to say, appearing very shy. They were then conducted +to the waiting room, but there were so many of them that we Court +ladies had to stand outside on the veranda. Some of them were very +expensively dressed, but their colors were, for the most part, +very old fashioned, and their manners very awkward. We watched +them for quite a while and then went off to report to Her Majesty. + +On such occasions as this Her Majesty was generally in pretty good +spirits. She commenced asking us a lot of questions. Amongst other +things she asked whether we had noticed an elderly lady among the +visitors, dressed as a bride. She explained that this lady was the +only Manchu lady present who was married to a Chinese official, +and had been invited because of her previous connection with the +Court. Her Majesty said she had never seen her herself, but +understood that she was a very clever woman. We had not noticed +such a person, and suggested that perhaps she had not yet arrived. + +Her Majesty dressed very quickly, and as soon as she was ready she +came into the hall, where the head eunuch brought in the visitors +and presented them to Her Majesty. We Court ladies were all +standing in a row behind the Throne. As they came in, some +kowtowed; others courtesied, while others did not do anything at +all, in fact nobody appeared to know what to do with herself. Her +Majesty spoke a few words of welcome and thanked them for the +presents they had sent her. + +I would like to say here that, contrary to the general idea which +exists, Her Majesty always expressed her thanks for any present or +service rendered, no matter how insignificant. + +Her Majesty could see plainly that everybody was embarrassed and +ordered the head eunuch to show them to their respective rooms, +and told them to make themselves at home and to go and take a +rest. They hesitated a moment, not knowing whether to go or not, +until Her Majesty said to us: "Take them and present them to the +Young Empress." + +When we arrived at the Palace of the Young Empress they were duly +presented and were not nearly so shy as before. The Young Empress +informed them that in case they desired to know anything or to be +put right on any point of Court etiquette, the Court ladies would +be pleased to give them all necessary information and she decided +that the best way would be for each Court lady to have charge of +so many of the visitors, as it would not be nice to have any +mistakes occur during the ceremony, on the tenth. So we each were +allotted so many guests and had to look after them and instruct +them how to act on the different occasions. + +During Her Majesty's afternoon rest I paid a visit to the guests I +was to take charge of. Among them was the bride referred to by Her +Majesty. So I went and made myself agreeable to her and found her +very interesting. She had evidently received a good education, +unlike the majority of Manchu ladies, as I found she could read +and write Chinese exceptionally well. I then explained to all of +them what they would have to do, and how to address Her Majesty, +should it be necessary to do so. I don't know whether I have +mentioned it previously, but whenever anybody spoke to Her +Majesty, they always addressed her as "Great Ancestor," and when +referring to themselves, instead of the pronoun "I," they would +say "Your slave." In all Manchu families a similar rule is +observed, the pronouns "You" and "I" being dispensed with and the +titles "Mother" and "Father" and the son's or daughter's first +name being substituted. + +Her Majesty was very particular about this rule being strictly +observed. + +For the next four days, until the day of the ceremony, these +visitors passed their time in learning the Court etiquette and +going to the theatre. + +Every morning, as usual, we waited on Her Majesty and reported +anything of interest which had occurred during the previous day. +Then we all preceded Her Majesty to the theatre, where we awaited +her arrival standing in the courtyard. On Her Majesty appearing, +we would all kneel down until she had passed into the building +opposite the stage, kneeling in rows --first the Emperor, behind +him the Young Princess, next the Secondary wife, then the +Princesses and Court ladies, and last of all the visitors. The +first two days everything went of all right, but on the third +morning the Emperor, from whom we received the signal, suddenly +turned and said: "Her Majesty is coming." Down we all went on our +knees, the Emperor alone remaining standing and laughing at us. Of +course there was no sign of Her Majesty and everybody joined in +the laugh. He was never so happy as when he could work off a joke +like this. + +On the evening of the ninth, none of the Court ladies went to bed, +as we all had to be up betimes on the morning of the tenth. The +visitors were told to proceed by chair to Her Majesty's special +Audience Hall on the top of the hill, where they were to await our +arrival. They arrived at the Audience Hall at three o'clock in the +morning, and we followed soon afterwards, arriving there about +daybreak. By and bye Her Majesty arrived and the ceremony +commenced. This ceremony in no way differed from the one +previously described in connection with the Emperor's birthday, so +there is no need to give particulars, except one thing. Very early +on the morning of the tenth, we had to bring another present to +her and each of us brought a hundred birds of various kinds. Each +year, on her birthday, Her Majesty did a very peculiar thing. She +would buy 10,000 birds with her own money, from her private purse +and set them free. It was a very pretty sight to see those huge +cages hung in the courtyard of the Audience Hall. Her Majesty +would select the most lucky hour and order the eunuchs to carry +the cages and to follow her. The hour selected was four o'clock in +the afternoon. Her Majesty took the whole Court with her to the +top of the hill, where there was a Temple. First she burnt sandal +wood and offered up prayers to the Gods, then the eunuchs, each +with a cage of birds, knelt in front of Her Majesty and she opened +each cage one after another and watched the birds fly away, and +prayed to the Gods that these birds should not be caught again. +Her Majesty did this very seriously and we asked each other in +whispers which bird we thought was the prettiest and would like to +keep it for ourselves. Among this lot there were a few parrots. +Some were pink; others were red and green; all were chained on +stands, and when the eunuchs broke the chains, the parrots would +not move. Her Majesty said: "How funny; each year a few parrots +will not go away at all and I have kept them until they died. Look +at them now. They won't go away." By this time the head eunuch +arrived. Her Majesty told him what had happened and he immediately +knelt down and said: "Your Majesty's great luck. These parrots +understand Your Majesty's kindness and would rather stay here and +serve Your Majesty." This ceremony is called "Fang Sheng." It is +considered a very meritorious action and will not fail of reward +in Heaven. + +One of the Court ladies asked me what I thought of the parrots +that would not fly away, and I told her that it was really very +strange. She said: "It is very simple and not strange at all. +These eunuchs, ordered by the head one, have bought these parrots +long ago and trained them. During Her Majesty's afternoon rest, +these parrots were brought to the top of the very same hill every +day to accustom them to the place. The object of this is just to +please and otherwise fool Her Majesty, to make her feel happy and +believe that she is so merciful that even such dumb things would +rather stay with her." Continuing, she said: "The huge joke is +this: while Her Majesty is letting the birds free, there are a few +eunuchs waiting at the rear of the hill to capture them and sell +them again, and so, no matter how Her Majesty prays for their +freedom, they will be caught at once." + +The celebrations were continued until the thirteenth day. Nobody +did any work and all was gaiety and enjoyment, the theatre being +open every day. Towards the close of the thirteenth day the +visitors were informed that the celebrations were at an end and +they made arrangements to leave early the next morning. They all +bade Her Majesty good-bye that evening and departed early the +following day. + +For the next few days we were all busy preparing for removing to +the Sea Palace. Her Majesty consulted her book and finally +selected the 22d as being the most favorable day for this removal. +So at six o'clock on the morning of the 22d the whole Court left +the Summer Palace. It was snowing very heavily and the journey was +only accomplished with great difficulty. Of course we were all in +chairs, as usual, and the eunuchs who were not employed as +chair-bearers rode horseback. Many of the horses fell on the +slippery stones and one of Her Majesty's chair-bearers also +slipped and brought Her Majesty to the ground. All of a sudden I +thought something dreadful had happened, horses galloping and +eunuchs howling: "Stop! Stop!!" I heard someone saying: "See if +she is still alive." The whole procession stopped and blocked the +way. This happened on the stone road just before entering the +Western Gate. Finally we saw that Her Majesty's chair was resting +on the ground, so we all alighted and went forward to see what had +happened. A great many people were talking excitedly all at the +same time, and for a moment I was rather frightened (for just +about that time we heard a rumor that some of the revolutionists +were going to take the life of the whole Court, and, although we +heard that, we did not dare tell Her Majesty), so I immediately +went to her chair and found her sitting there composedly giving +orders to the chief eunuch not to punish this chair-bearer, for he +was not to blame, the stones being wet and very slippery. Li Lien +Ying said that would never do, for this chair-bearer must have +been careless, and how dare he carry the Old Buddha in this +careless way. After saying this, he turned his head to the beaters +(these beaters, carrying bamboo sticks, went everywhere with the +Court, for such occasions as this) and said: "Give him eighty +blows on his back." This poor victim, who was kneeling on the +muddy ground, heard the order. The beaters took him about a +hundred yards away from us, pushed him down and started to do +their duty. It did not take very long to give the eighty blows +and, much to my surprise, this man got up, after receiving the +punishment, as if nothing had happened to him. He looked just as +calm as could be. While we were waiting a eunuch handed me a cup +of tea, which I presented to Her Majesty, and asked her if she was +hurt. She smiled and said it was nothing, ordering us to proceed +on our journey. I must explain about this tea; the eunuchs had it +prepared all the time and always carried a little stove along with +hot water. Although this went every time when the Court moved, it +was seldom used. + +As usual, all the Court ladies take a short cut to the Palace, so +as to be ready to receive Her Majesty, when she arrived. After +waiting in the courtyard for quite a long time, during which we +were nearly frozen, Her Majesty arrived, and we all knelt until +she had passed, and then followed her into the Palace. Her Majesty +also complained of the cold and ordered that fires should be +brought into the hall. These fires were built in brass portable +stoves lined with clay, and were lighted outside and brought into +the hall after the smoke had passed off somewhat. There were four +stoves in all. All the windows and doors were closed, there being +no ventilation of any description, and very soon I began to feel +sick. However, I went on with my work getting Her Majesty's things +in order until I must have fainted, for the next thing I +remembered was waking up in a strange bed and inquiring where I +was, but on hearing Her Majesty giving orders in the next room, I +knew it was all right. One of the Court ladies brought me a cup of +turnip juice which Her Majesty said I was to drink. I drank it and +felt much better. I was informed that Her Majesty had gone to +rest, and so I went off to sleep again myself. When I awoke, Her +Majesty was standing by my bedside. I tried to get up, but found +that I was too weak, so Her Majesty told me to lie still and keep +quiet and I would soon be all right again. She said that I had +better have a room close to her bedroom, and gave instructions for +the eunuchs to remove me there as soon as it was prepared. Every +few minutes Her Majesty would send to inquire how I was +progressing and whether I wanted anything to eat. It was the +custom to stand up whenever receiving a message from Her Majesty, +but it was out of the question for me to do so, although I tried, +with the result that I made myself worse than ever. + +Towards evening the head eunuch came to see me and brought several +plates of sweetmeats. He was very nice, and told me that I was +very fortunate, as Her Majesty very rarely bothered herself about +any of the Court ladies and that evidently she had taken a fancy +to me. He sat talking for some little time, and told me to eat +some of the sweetmeats. Of course I was not able to eat anything +at all, let alone sweetmeats, so I told him to leave them and I +would eat them later. Before leaving he said that in case I wanted +anything I was to let him know. This visit was a great surprise to +me, as usually he took very little notice of any of us, but I was +told afterwards that the reason he was so nice was because Her +Majesty showed such an interest in me. + +The next morning I was able to get up and resume my duties. I went +in to see Her Majesty and kowtowed to her, thanking her for her +kindness during my indisposition. Her Majesty said that the head +eunuch had told her the previous evening that I was much better +and that she was glad I was up and about again. She said it was +nothing serious, simply that I was unaccustomed to the fumes from +the fires, which had gone to my head. + +As the snow had stopped falling, Her Majesty decided that the next +day we would go and choose a place for Miss Carl to continue the +painting. I suggested that perhaps it would be better if we waited +until Miss Carl arrived herself, so that she could choose a +suitable place for her work, but Her Majesty said that would not +do at all, because if it were left to Miss Carl, doubtless she +would choose some impossible place. Of course there were many +parts of the Palace which were kept quite private and Miss Carl +would not be allowed to go there. So the next day Her Majesty and +myself set out to find a place. After visiting many different +rooms, all of which were too dark, we finally fixed on a room on +the lake side of the Palace. Her Majesty said: "This is very +convenient, as you can go to and fro either by chair or by water. +I found that it took about three-quarters of an hour by chair to +get to the Palace Gate, and rather less than that by boat. I was +expecting to return to stay at the Palace with Her Majesty, but it +was finally decided that this would not do, as it would not be +policy to allow Miss Carl, who was staying at the American +Legation, to go in and out of the Palace Gate alone, so Her +Majesty said it would be better for me to stay at my father's +place in the city and bring Miss Carl to the Palace each morning, +returning with her in the evening. This was anything but pleasant, +but I had no other alternative than to obey Her Majesty's +instructions. + +When Miss Carl arrived at the Palace the next day and saw the room +which had been selected for her to work in, she was not at all +pleased. In the first place she said it was too dark, so Her +Majesty ordered the paper windows to be replaced by glass. This +made the room too bright, and Miss Carl asked for some curtains so +as to focus the light on the picture. When I informed Her Majesty +of this request, she said: "Well, this is the first time I have +ever changed anything in the Palace except to suit myself. First I +alter the windows, and she is not satisfied, but must have +curtains. I think we had better take the roof off, then perhaps +she may be suited." However, we fixed up the curtains to Miss +Carl's satisfaction. + +When Her Majesty examined the portrait to see how it was +progressing, she said to me: "After all the trouble we have had +over this picture, I am afraid it is not going to be anything very +wonderful. I notice that the pearls in my cape are painted in +different colors; some look white, some pink, while others are +green. You tell her about it." I tried to explain to Her Majesty +that Miss Carl had simply painted the pearls as she saw them, +according to the different shades of light, but Her Majesty could +not understand that at all and asked if I could see anything green +about them, or pink either. I again explained that this was simply +the tints caused by the light falling on the pearls, but she +replied that she could not see any shade except white. However, +after a while she did not seem to trouble any further about the +matter. + +Situated in a room near Her Majesty's bedroom in the Sea Palace +was a Pagoda, about ten feet in height, made of carved sandalwood. +This contained various images of Buddha, which Her Majesty used to +worship every morning. The ceremony consisted of Her Majesty +burning incense before the Pagoda, while a Court lady was told off +each day to kowtow before the images. Her Majesty told me that +this Pagoda had been in the Palace for more than a hundred years. +Among the different images was one representing the Goddess of +Mercy. This image was only about five inches in height and was +made of pure gold. The inside was hollow and contained all the +principal anatomical parts of the human body, made out of jade and +pearls. This Goddess of Mercy was supposed to possess wonderful +powers and Her Majesty often worshiped before it when in any +trouble, and maintained that on many occasions her prayers had +been answered. She said: "Of course, when I pray to the image, I +pray earnestly, not the same as you girls, who simply kowtow +because it is your duty and then get away as quickly as possible." +Her Majesty went on to say that she was quite aware that many of +the people in China were discarding the religion of their +ancestors in favor of Christianity, and that she was very much +grieved that this was so. + +Her Majesty was a firm believer in the old Chinese superstitions +connected with the Sea Palace, and during one of our conversations +she told me I was not to be surprised at anything I saw. She said +it was quite a common occurrence for a person walking beside you +to suddenly disappear altogether, and explained that they were +simply foxes who took human shape to suit their purpose. They had +probably lived in the Sea Palace for thousands of years and +possessed this power of changing their form at will. She said that +no doubt the eunuchs would tell me they were spirits or ghosts, +but that was not true: they were sacred foxes and would harm +nobody. As if to confirm this superstition, one evening, a few +days later, my fire having gone out, I sent my eunuch to see if +any of the other Court ladies were awake, and if so, to try to get +me some hot water. He went out taking his lantern along with him, +but he returned almost immediately with a face as white as chalk. +On inquiring what was the matter, he replied: "I have seen a +ghost: a woman, who came up to me, blew the light out and +disappeared." I told him that perhaps it was one of the servant +girls, but he said "No"; he knew all the women attached to the +Palace and he had never seen this one before. He stuck to it that +it was a ghost. I told him that Her Majesty had said there were no +ghosts, but that it might be a fox which had taken human shape. He +replied: "It was not a fox. Her Majesty calls them foxes, because +she is afraid to call them ghosts." He went on to tell me that +many years previously the head eunuch, Li Lien Ying, while walking +in the courtyard back of Her Majesty's Palace, saw a young servant +girl sitting on the edge of the well. He went over to ask her what +she was doing there, but on getting closer he found that there +were several other girls there also, and on seeing him approach, +they all deliberately jumped down the well. He immediately raised +the alarm, and on one of the attendants coming forward with a +lantern, he explained what had occurred. The attendant showed him +that it was impossible for anybody to jump into the well, as it +was covered with a large stone. My eunuch said that a long time +before this several girls did actually commit suicide by jumping +down this well, and that what Li Lien Ying had seen were the +ghosts of these girls, and nothing more. It is believed by the +Chinese that when a person commits suicide their spirit remains in +the neighborhood until such time as they can entice somebody else +to commit suicide, when they are free to go to another world, and +not before. I told him that I did not believe such things and that +I would very much like to see for myself. He replied: "You will +only want to see it once; that will be sufficient." + +Things went along in the usual way until the first day of the +eleventh moon, when Her Majesty issued orders to the Court that as +the eleventh moon contained so many anniversaries of the deaths of +previous rulers of China, the usual theatrical performance would +be eliminated and the Court dress would in addition be modified to +suit the occasion. On the ninth day the Emperor was to go and +worship at the Temple of Heaven. So, as was customary on all these +occasions, he confined himself to his own private apartments for +three days before the ninth, during which time he held no +communication whatsoever with anybody excepting his private +eunuchs. Not even the Young Empress, his wife, was allowed to see +him during these three days. + +This ceremony did not differ very materially from the other +sacrifices, except that pigs were killed and placed on the +numerous altars of the Temple, where they remained for a time, +after which they were distributed among the different officials. +The eating of the flesh of these pigs, which had been blessed, was +believed to bring good luck and prosperity, and the officials who +were presented with them considered themselves greatly favored by +Her Majesty. Another difference was that the Emperor could not +appoint a substitute to officiate for him; but must attend in +person, no matter what the circumstances might be. The reason for +this was, that according to the ancient law, the Emperor signs the +death warrant of every person sentenced to death, record of which +is kept in the Board of Punishments. At the end of the year the +name of each person executed is written on a piece of yellow paper +and sent to the Emperor. When the time for worshiping at the +Temple arrives, he takes this yellow paper and burns it in order +that the ashes may go up to Heaven and his ancestors know that he +has been fearless and faithful, and has done his duty according to +the law. + +As this ceremony of worshiping at the Temple of Heaven was to take +place in the Forbidden City, in spite of Her Majesty's dislike to +the place, she commanded that the whole of the Court be +transferred there, her reason for this being that she did not wish +to be away from the Emperor's side even for an hour. So we all +moved to the Palace in the Forbidden City. After the ceremony was +over, the Court was to return to the Sea Palace, but as the +thirteenth day was the anniversary of the death of the Emperor +Kang Hsi, it was decided that we should remain in the Forbidden +City, where the ceremony was to be held. The Emperor Kang Hsi +ruled over the Chinese Empire for sixty-one years, the longest +reign of any Chinese Ruler up to the present time, and Her Majesty +told us that he was the most wonderful Emperor China had ever had +and that we must respect his memory accordingly. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN + +THE AUDIENCE HALL + + ON the fourteenth day of the eleventh moon, after the morning +audience, Her Majesty informed us that there was a likelihood of +war breaking out between Russia and Japan and that she was very +much troubled, as although it actually had nothing whatever to do +with China, she was afraid they would fight on Chinese territory +and that in the long run China would suffer in some way or other. +Of course we did not bother ourselves about it much at the moment, +but the next morning the head eunuch reported to Her Majesty that +fifty eunuchs were missing. As there was no apparent reason for +this, everybody was much excited. There was no rule against any of +the eunuchs going into the city after their duties were ended, +providing they returned before the Palace Gate was closed, but +when on the following morning it was reported that another hundred +eunuchs had also disappeared, Her Majesty at once said: "I know +now what the trouble is; they must have heard what I said about +this war coming on and are afraid there may be a repetition of the +Boxer trouble, and so they have cleared out." It was the custom +whenever a eunuch was missing to send out search parties and have +him brought back and punished, but in the present instance Her +Majesty gave instructions that nothing was to be done about +recapturing them. One morning, however, one of Her Majesty's +personal attendants was missing, which made her furious. She said +that she had been very kind to this particular eunuch in many +ways, and this was all the thanks she got; he ran away at the +first sign of trouble. I myself had noticed how good she had been +to this eunuch, but I was not really sorry that he had left, as he +used to take advantage of every opportunity of getting some of the +Court ladies into trouble. + +These disappearances continued from day to day until Her Majesty +decided that it would be safer for us to remain in the Forbidden +City until the following spring at any rate. + +On inquiring from my eunuch the cause of these disappearances, he +said that it was just as Her Majesty suspected; they were afraid +of getting mixed up in another such affair as the Boxer trouble, +and added that he was not a bit surprised at Her Majesty's +favorite eunuch going along with the rest. He further told me that +even Li Lien Ying himself was not to be absolutely relied upon, as +at the time of Her Majesty's leaving Peking for Shi An during the +Boxer movement, he had feigned sickness, and followed a little +later, so that in the event of anything happening, he would be +able to return and make his escape. While talking about Li Lien +Ying, my eunuch told me in confidence that he was responsible for +the death of many innocent people, mostly eunuchs. He had +unlimited power at the Court, and it was very easy for him to get +anybody put away who offended him or to whom, for some reason or +another, he took a dislike. Furthermore, the eunuch informed me +that, although not generally known, Li Lien Ying was addicted to +opium-smoking, which habit he indulged in very freely. Even Her +Majesty was unaware of this, as opium-smoking was strictly +forbidden in the Palace. + +Each morning there was fresh news regarding the trouble between +Russia and Japan, and of course everybody gradually became very +much excited at the Palace. One day Her Majesty summoned the whole +of the Court to a special audience and there informed us that +there was no need for us to get excited at all; that if any +trouble did occur, it was none of our business and we should not +be interfered with, as the spirits of our ancestors were watching +over us, and she did not want to hear any more talk and gossip on +the subject. However, she summoned all of the Court ladies to her +apartment and there commanded us to pray to the spirits of our +ancestors to protect us, which plainly showed that she was just as +much worried as we were ourselves. In spite of what she had said +with reference to gossiping about this trouble, Her Majesty often +spoke about it herself, and during one of our conversations she +said she wished she could get information each day as to what was +actually occurring, so I suggested that it would be very easy to +get all the latest news by taking the foreign papers and also +Reuter's specials. Her Majesty jumped at the suggestion and told +me to have these sent each day to my father's house in his name, +and have them brought to the Palace, where I could translate them +for her. I told her that my father received all these papers as +they were published, so I arranged that they should be brought +along as directed by Her Majesty. Each morning during the audience +I translated into Chinese all the war news, but the telegrams +began to arrive so rapidly that it soon became quite impossible +for me to write them all out in Chinese, so I told Her Majesty +that I would read and translate them into Chinese as they arrived. +This was much quicker and interested Her Majesty so much that she +insisted on my not only translating the war news, but everything +else of interest in the papers. Especially was she interested in +all news appertaining to the movements, etc., of the crowned heads +of Europe, and was very plainly astonished when she learned that +their every movement was known. She said: "Here, at any rate, it +is more private, for nobody outside the Palace ever knows what is +going on inside, not even my own people. It would be a good thing +if they did know a little more, then perhaps all these rumors +about the Palace would stop." + +Of course, during our stay in the Forbidden City, Miss Carl +attended each morning to work on the portrait. We had given her a +nice room, which seemed to suit her very well, and Her Majesty had +instructed me to let her have every convenience possible to assist +her, as she was getting tired of the business and would like to +see it finished quickly. Her Majesty hardly ever went near the +place herself, but when she did go, she would be most affable and, +really, one would think that it was the greatest pleasure of her +life to go and inspect the portrait. + +Things went very slowly during this eleventh moon on account of +the Court being in mourning, so one day Her Majesty suggested that +she should show us round the Forbidden City. First we proceeded to +the Audience Hall. This differs somewhat from the Audience Hall of +the Summer Palace. To enter, one must mount some twenty odd steps +of white marble, with rails on either side of the steps made of +the same material. At the top of the steps a large veranda, +supported by huge pillars of wood, painted red, surrounded the +building. The windows along this verandah were of marvellously +carved trellis-work, designed to represent the character "Shou" +arranged in different positions. Then we entered the hall itself. +The floor is of brick, and Her Majesty told us that all these +bricks were of solid gold and had been there for centuries. They +were of a peculiar black color, doubtless painted over, and were +so slippery that it was most difficult to keep on one's feet. The +furnishing was similar to that in the Audience Halls in the Summer +Palace and in the Sea Palace, with the exception that the throne +was made of dark brown wood inlaid with jade of different colors. + +The Hall was only used for audience on very rare occasions, such +as the birthday of the Empress Dowager and New Year's Day, and no +foreigner has ever entered this building. All the usual audiences +were held in a smaller building in the Forbidden City. + +After spending some little time in the Audience Hall, we next +visited the Emperor's quarters. These were much smaller than those +occupied by Her Majesty, but were very elaborately furnished. +There were thirty-two rooms, many of which were never used, but +all were furnished in the same expensive style. In the rear of +this building was the Palace of the Young Empress, which was +smaller still, having about twenty-four rooms in all, and in the +same building three rooms were set apart for the use of the +Secondary wife of the Emperor. Although close together, the +Palaces of the Emperor and his wife were not connected by any +entrance, but both buildings were surrounded by verandas +connecting with Her Majesty's apartments, which were quite a +distance away. There were several other buildings, which were used +as waiting rooms for visitors. In addition to the above, there +were several buildings which were not used at all; these were +sealed and nobody seemed to know what they contained, or whether +they contained anything at all. Even Her Majesty said she had +never been inside these buildings, as they had been sealed for +many years. Even the entrance to the enclosure containing these +buildings was always closed, and this was the only occasion that +any of us ever even passed through. They were quite different in +appearance from any other buildings in the Palace, being very +dirty and evidently of great age. We were commanded not to talk +about the place at all. + +The apartments of the Court ladies were connected with those of +Her Majesty, but the rooms were so small one could hardly turn +round in them; also they were very cold in winter. The servants' +quarters were at the end of our apartments, but there was no +entrance and they could only be reached by passing along our +veranda, while the only entrance we ourselves had to our rooms was +by passing along Her Majesty's veranda. This was Her Majesty's own +idea, in order that she could keep an eye on all of us and could +see when we either went out or came in. + +Her Majesty now conducted us to her own Palace, and pausing a +little said: "I will now show you something which will be quite +new to you." We entered a room adjoining her bedroom, which was +connected by a narrow passage some fifteen feet in length. On +either side the walls were painted and decorated very beautifully. +Her Majesty spoke to one of the eunuch attendants, who stooped +down and removed from the ground at each end of this passage two +wooden plugs which were fitted into holes in the basement. I then +began to realize that what I had hitherto regarded as solid walls +were in reality sliding panels of wood. These panels when opened +revealed a kind of grotto. There were no windows, but in the roof +was a skylight. At one end of this room or grotto was a large +rock, on the top of which was a seat with a yellow cushion, and +beside the cushion an incense burner. Everything had the +appearance of being very old. The room contained no furniture of +any description. One end of this room led into another passage +similar to the one already described, having sliding panels, which +led into another grotto, and so on; in fact the whole of the +palace walls were intersected by these secret passages, each +concealing an inner room. Her Majesty told us that during the Ming +dynasty these rooms had been used for various purposes, +principally by the Emperor when he wished to be alone. One of +these secret rooms was used by Her Majesty as a treasure room +where she kept her valuables. During the time of the Boxer +trouble, she hid all her valuables here before she fled. When she +returned and opened this secret room she found everything intact, +not one of the vandals who ransacked the Palace even suspecting +there was such a place. + +We returned to our veranda, and on looking around for the rooms we +had just vacated, could see nothing excepting black stone walls, +so well were they hidden. One of the principal reasons for Her +Majesty's dislike to the Forbidden City was the mysteries which it +contained, many of which she did not know of herself. She said: "I +don't even talk about these places at all, as people might think +that they were used for all kinds of purposes." + +While at the Palace in the Forbidden City I met the three +Secondary wives of the previous Emperor Tung Chi, son of the +Empress Dowager, who, since the death of the Emperor, had resided +in the Forbidden City and spent their time in doing needlework, +etc., for Her Majesty. When I got to know them I found that they +were highly educated, one of them, Yu Fai, being exceptionally +clever. She could write poetry and play many musical instruments, +and was considered to be the best educated lady in the Empire of +China. Her knowledge of western countries and their customs +surprised me very much; she seemed to know a little bit of +everything. I asked how it was that I had never seen them before, +and was informed that they never visited Her Majesty unless +commanded by her to do so, but that when Her Majesty stayed in the +Forbidden City, of course they had to call and pay their respects +each day. One day I received an invitation to visit them in their +Palace. This was separated from all the other buildings in the +city. It was rather a small building, and very simply furnished, +with just a few eunuchs and servant girls to wait upon them. They +said they preferred this simple life, as they never received any +visitors and had nobody to please but themselves. Yu Fai's room +was literally packed with literature of all descriptions. She +showed me several poems which she had written, but they were of a +melancholy character, plainly showing the trend of her thoughts. +She was in favor of establishing schools for the education of +young girls, as only very few could even read or write their own +language, and she suggested that I should speak to Her Majesty +about it at the first opportunity. In spite of her desire to see +western reforms introduced into China, however, she was not in +favor of employing missionary teachers, as these people always +taught their religion at the expense of other subjects, which she +feared would set the Chinese against the movement. + +Toward the end of the eleventh moon Her Majesty granted an +audience to the Viceroy of Chihli, Yuan Shih Kai, and as this +particular day was a holiday and Miss Carl was absent, I was able +to attend. Her Majesty asked him for his opinion of the trouble +between Russia and Japan. He said that although these two +countries might make war against each other, China would not be +implicated in any way, but that after the war was over, there was +sure to be trouble over Manchuria. Her Majesty said she was quite +aware of that, as they were fighting on Chinese territory, and +that the best thing for China to do would be to keep absolutely +neutral in the matter, as she had quite enough of war during the +China-Japan war. She said it would be best to issue orders to all +the officials to see that the Chinese did not interfere in any +way, so as not to give any excuse for being brought into the +trouble. + +She then asked his opinion as to what would be the result in the +event of war--who would win. He said that it was very hard to say, +but that he thought Japan would win. Her Majesty thought that if +Japan were victorious, she would not have so much trouble over the +matter, although she expressed doubts as to the outcome, saying +that Russia was a large country and had many soldiers, and that +the result was far from certain. + +Her Majesty then spoke about the condition of things in China. She +said that in case China were forced into war with another nation, +we should be nowhere. We had nothing ready, no navy and no trained +army, in fact nothing to enable us to protect ourselves. Yuan Shih +Kai, however, assured her there was no need to anticipate any +trouble at present so far as China was concerned. Her Majesty +replied that in any event it was time China began to wake up and +endeavor to straighten things out in some way or other, but she +did not know where to begin; that it was her ambition to see China +holding a prominent position among the nations of the world and +that she was constantly receiving memorials suggesting this reform +and that reform, but that we never seemed to get any further. + +After this audience was over, Her Majesty held an audience with +the Grand Council. She told them what had been said during her +interview with Yuan Shih Kai, and of course they all agreed that +something should be done. Several suggestions were discussed with +regard to national defense, etc., but a certain Prince said that +although he was in perfect sympathy with reform generally, he was +very much against the adoption of foreign clothing, foreign modes +of living, and the doing away with the queue. Her Majesty quite +agreed with these remarks and said that it would not be wise to +change any Chinese custom for one which was less civilized. As +usual, nothing definite was decided upon when the audience was +over. + +For the next few days nothing was talked of but the war, and many +Chinese generals were received in audience by Her Majesty. These +audiences were sometimes very amusing, as these soldiers were +quite unaccustomed to the rules of the Court and did not know the +mode of procedure when in the presence of Her Majesty. Many +foolish suggestions were made by these generals. During one of the +conversations Her Majesty remarked on the inefficiency of the navy +and referred to the fact that we had no trained naval officers. +One of the generals replied that we had more men in China than in +any other country, and as for ships, why we had dozens of river +boats and China merchant boats, which could be used in case of +war. Her Majesty ordered him to retire, saying that it was +perfectly true that we had plenty of men in China, but that the +majority of them were like himself, of very little use to the +country. After he had retired, everybody commenced to laugh, but +Her Majesty stopped us, saying that she did not feel at all like +laughing, she was too angry to think that such men held positions +as officers in the army and navy. One of the Court ladies asked me +why Her Majesty was so angry with the man for mentioning the river +boats, and was very much surprised when I informed her that the +whole of them would be worse than useless against a single war +vessel. + +Just about the end of the eleventh moon Chang Chih Tung, Viceroy +of Wuchang, arrived, and was received in audience. Her Majesty +said to him: "Now, you are one of the oldest officials in the +country, and I want you to give me your unbiased opinion as to +what effect this war is going to have on China. Do not be afraid +to give your firm opinion, as I want to be prepared for anything +which is likely to happen." He answered that no matter what the +result of the war might be, China would in all probability have to +make certain concessions to the Powers with regard to Manchuria +for trade purposes, but that we should not otherwise be interfered +with. Her Majesty repeated what had been discussed at the previous +audiences on this subject and also regarding reform in China. +Chang Chih Tung replied that we had plenty of time for reform, and +that if we were in too great a hurry, we should not accomplish +anything at all. He suggested that the matter be discussed at +length before deciding upon anything definite. In his opinion it +would be foolish to go to extremes in the matter of reform. He +said that ten or fifteen years ago he would have been very much +against any reform whatsoever, but that he now saw the need for it +to a certain extent, as circumstances had changed very much. He +said that we should adhere strictly to our own mode of living and +not abandon the traditions of our ancestors. In other words, he +simply advised the adoption of western civilization where it was +an improvement on our own, and nothing more. Her Majesty was +delighted with the interview, for Chang Chih Tung's opinions +coincided exactly with her own. + +During the whole of these audiences the Emperor, although present +each time, never opened his lips to say a word, but sat listening +all the time. As a rule, Her Majesty would ask his opinion, just +as a matter of form, but he invariably replied that he was quite +in accord with what Her Majesty had said or decided upon. + +Of the many religious ceremonies in connection with the Buddhist +religion the "La-pachow" was the most important. This was held on +the 8th day of the twelfth moon each year. According to the common +belief, on this eighth day of the twelfth moon, many centuries +ago, a certain Buddhist priest Ju Lai set out to beg for food, and +after receiving a good supply of rice and beans from the people, +he returned and divided it with his brother priests, giving each +an equal share, and he became celebrated for his great charity. +This day was therefore set apart as an anniversary to commemorate +the event. The idea was that by practising self-denial on this +day, one would gain favor in the sight of this Buddha Ju Lai, +therefore the only food eaten was rice, grain and beans, all mixed +together in a sort of porridge, but without any salt or other +flavoring. It was not at all pleasant to eat, being absolutely +tasteless. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN + +THE NEW YEAR FESTIVALS + + WE now reached the time set apart for cleaning the Palace in +preparation for the New Year festivals. Everything had to be taken +down and thoroughly overhauled, and all the images, pictures, +furniture and everything else were subjected to a thorough +scrubbing. Her Majesty again consulted her book in order to choose +a lucky day on which to commence these operations, finally +choosing the twelfth day as being most favorable. As we had all +received our orders previously, we commenced early on the morning +of the twelfth. Several of the Court ladies were told off to take +down and clean the images of Buddha and prepare new curtains for +them. The rest of the cleaning was done by the eunuchs. I asked +Her Majesty whether I was to clean her jewelry, but she answered +that as nobody but herself ever wore it, it didn't need cleaning. + +After everything had been cleaned to Her Majesty's satisfaction, +she prepared a list of names of the people she desired to attend +the ceremony of Tzu Sui. This ceremony was held on the last day of +each year and was something like the midnight services usually +held in Europe on the last night of each old year--just a farewell +ceremony to bid the old year adieu. The guests were invited about +a fortnight ahead, so as to give them plenty of time to get ready. +Her Majesty also ordered new winter clothing for the Court ladies. +The only difference between these new garments and those we were +then. wearing was that they were trimmed with the fur of the +silver fox instead of the gray squirrel. + +The next thing was to prepare cakes, which were to be placed +before the Buddhas and ancestors, during the New Year. It was +necessary that Her Majesty should make the first one herself. So +when Her Majesty decided that it was time to prepare these cakes +the whole Court went into a room specially prepared for the +purpose and the eunuchs brought in the ingredients-ground rice, +sugar and yeast. These were mixed together into a sort of dough +and then steamed instead of baked, which caused it to rise just +like ordinary bread, it being believed that the higher the cake +rises, the better pleased are the gods and the more fortunate the +maker. The first cake turned out fine and we all congratulated Her +Majesty, who was evidently much pleased herself at the result. +Then she ordered each of the Court ladies to make one, which we +did, with disastrous results, not one turning out as it should. +This being my first year, there was some excuse for my failure, +but I was surprised that none of the older Court ladies fared any +better, and on inquiring from one of them the reason, she replied: +"Why, I did it purposely, of course, so as to flatter Her +Majesty's vanity. Certainly I could make them just as well as she, +if not better, but it would not be good policy." After we had all +finished making our cakes, the eunuchs were ordered to make the +rest, and needless to say they were perfect in every way. + +The next thing was to prepare small plates of dates and fresh +fruits of every kind. These were decorated with evergreens, etc., +and placed before the images of Buddha. Then we prepared glass +dishes of candy, which were to be offered to the God of the +Kitchen. On the twenty-third day of the last moon the God of the +Kitchen left this earth to go on a visit to the King of Heaven, to +whom he reported all that we had been doing during the past year, +returning to earth again on the last day of the year. The idea of +offering him these sweets was in order that they should stick to +his mouth and prevent him from telling too much. When these +candies were prepared, we all adjourned to the kitchen and placed +the offering on a table specially placed for the purpose. Turning +to the head cook, she said: "You had better look out now; the God +of the Kitchen will tell how much you have stolen during the past +year, and you will be punished." + +The following day another ceremony had to be gone through, that of +writing out the New Year Greetings for the guests and Court, so in +the morning we all went with Her Majesty to the Audience Hall, +where the eunuchs had prepared large sheets of yellow, red and +pale green paper. Her Majesty took up a large brush and commenced +to write. On some of these sheets she wrote the character "Shou" +(Long Life) and on others "Fu" (Prosperity). By and bye, when she +began to feel tired, she would get either one of the Court ladies +or one of the official writers to finish them for her. When +finished, they were distributed to the guests and different +officials, the ones Her Majesty had written herself being reserved +for her special favorites. These were given out a few days before +the New Year. + +Her Majesty received New Year presents from all the Viceroys and +principal officials. She would examine each present as it was +received, and if it found favor in her eyes, she would use it, but +if not, she would have it locked away in one of the storerooms and +probably never see it again. These presents consisted of small +pieces of furniture, curios, jewelry, silks, in fact +everything--even clothing. The present sent by Viceroy Yuan Shih +Kai was a yellow satin robe, embroidered with different colored +precious stones and pearls designed to represent the peony flower; +the leaves were of green jade. It was really a magnificent thing, +and must have cost a fortune. The only drawback was its weight; it +was too heavy to wear comfortably. Her Majesty appeared delighted +with this gown, and wore it the first day, after which it was +discarded altogether, although I often suggested that she should +wear it, as it was the most magnificent gown I ever saw. Once when +Her Majesty was granting an audience to the Diplomatic Corps, I +suggested that she should wear this dress, but she refused, giving +no reason, so nobody outside the Court has ever seen this +wonderful garment. + +Another costly present was received from the Viceroy of Canton, +and consisted of four bags of pearls, each bag containing several +thousands. They were all perfect in shape and color, and would +have brought fabulous prices in Europe or America. However, Her +Majesty had so many jewels, especially pearls, that she hardly +paid any attention to them beyond remarking that they were very +nice. + +The Young Empress and the Court ladies were also expected to give +presents to Her Majesty each New Year. These were for the most +part articles that we had made ourselves, such as shoes, +handkerchiefs, collars, bags, etc. My mother, my sister and myself +made presents of mirrors, perfumes, soaps and similar toilet +accessories which we had brought with us from Paris. These Her +Majesty appreciated very much; she was very vain. The eunuchs and +servant girls gave fancy cakes and other food stuffs. + +The presents were so numerous that they filled several rooms, but +we were not allowed to remove them until Her Majesty gave orders +to do so. + +The Court ladies also exchanged presents among themselves, which +often led to confusion and amusement. On this occasion I had +received some ten or a dozen different presents, and when it came +my turn to give something, I decided to use up some of the +presents I had received from my companions. To my surprise, the +next day I received from one of the Court ladies an embroidered +handkerchief which I immediately recognized as the identical +handkerchief I had myself sent her as my New Year's present. On +mentioning the fact, this lady turned and said: "Well, that is +rather funny; I was just wondering what had made you return the +shoes I sent you." Of course everybody laughed very heartily, and +still further merriment was caused when, on comparing all the +presents, it was found that quite half of us had received back our +own presents. In order to settle the matter, we threw them all +into a heap and divided them as evenly as possible, everybody +being satisfied with the result. + +About a week before New Year's day all audiences ceased and the +seals were put away until after the holidays. During this time no +business was transacted by Her Majesty. Everything was much more +comfortable and we could see that Her Majesty also appreciated the +change from bustle to quietness. We had nothing whatever to do but +to take things easy until the last day of the year. + +Early on the morning of the thirtieth Her Majesty went to worship +before the Buddhas and Ancestral Tablets. After this ceremony was +finished, the guests began to arrive, until by midday, all the +guests, numbering about fifty, were present. The principal guests +were: The Imperial Princess (Empress Dowager's adopted daughter), +Princess Chung (wife of Emperor Kwang Hsu's brother), Princesses +Shun and Tao (wives of the Emperor's younger brothers), Princess +hung (wife of the nephew of the Imperial Princess), and Prince +Ching's family. All these ladies were frequent visitors to the +Court. Next day many other Princesses, not of the Imperial family, +but whose titles were honorary titles bestowed by previous rulers, +came. Next, the daughters of the high Manchu officials and many +other people whom I had never seen before. By midday all the +guests had arrived, and, after being presented to Her Majesty, +were taken to their different apartments and told to rest a while. +At two o'clock in the afternoon everybody assembled in the +Audience Hall, lined up according to their different ranks and, +led by the Young Empress, kowtowed to Her Majesty. This was the +ceremony Tzu Sui already referred to, and was simply a last +goodbye to Her Majesty before the New Year set in. When it was all +over, Her Majesty gave each of us a small purse made of red satin +embroidered with gold, containing a sum of money. This is to +enable each one to commence the New Year with a kind of reserve +fund for a rainy day, when they would have this money to fall back +upon. It is an old Manchu custom and is still kept up. + +The evening was spent in music and enjoyment, and was carried on +right through the night, none of us going to bed. At Her Majesty's +suggestion we commenced gambling with dice, Her Majesty providing +each of us with money, sometimes as much as $200. She told us to +be serious about it, and to try and win, but of course we took +good care not to win from Her Majesty. When Her Majesty began to +tire, she stopped the game and said: "Now, all this money I have +won I am going to throw on the floor, and you girls can scramble +for it." We knew that she wanted to see some fun, so we fought for +it as hard as we could. + +At midnight the eunuchs brought into the room a large brass +brazier containing live charcoal. Her Majesty pulled a leaf from a +large evergreen tree, which had been placed there for the purpose, +and threw it into the fire. We each followed her example, adding +large pieces of resin, which perfumed the whole atmosphere. This +ceremony was supposed to bring good luck during the coming year. + +The next item was making cakes or pies for New Year's day. On the +first of the New Year, nobody is allowed to eat rice, these cakes +taking its place. They were made of flour paste, with minced meat +inside. While some of us were preparing these cakes, others were +peeling lotus seeds for Her Majesty's breakfast. + +It was now well on into the morning hours and Her Majesty said +that she was tired and would go and rest a while. She was not +going to sleep, however, so we could carry on our noise as much as +we liked. This we did for some time, and on visiting Her Majesty's +bedroom, we found that she was fast asleep. We then all repaired +to our various rooms and commenced to make ourselves tidy for the +day. As soon as Her Majesty was awake, we all proceeded to her +bedroom, taking with us plates of apples (representing "Peace"), +olives ("Long Life"), lotus seeds (Blessing). She suitably +acknowledged these gifts and wished us all good luck in return. +She inquired whether we had been to bed and, on learning that we +had been up all night, she said that was right. She herself had +not meant to sleep, only to rest a little, but somehow she had not +been able to keep awake, and gave as a reason that she was an old +woman. We waited on her until she had finished her toilet and then +wished her a Happy New Year. We then proceeded to pay our respects +to the Emperor and to the Young Empress. There was nothing further +to be done in the way of ceremonies, and we therefore all +accompanied Her Majesty to the theatre. The performance took place +on a stage erected in the courtyard, and Her Majesty closed in one +part of her veranda for the use of the guests and Court ladies. +During the performance I began to feel very drowsy, and eventually +fell fast asleep leaning against one of the pillars. I awoke +rather suddenly to find that something had been dropped into my +mouth, but on investigation I found it was nothing worse than a +piece of candy, which I immediately proceeded to eat. On +approaching Her Majesty, she asked me how I had enjoyed the candy, +and told me not to sleep, but to have a good time like the rest. I +never saw Her Majesty in better humor. She played with us just +like a young girl, and one could hardly recognize in her the +severe Empress Dowager we knew her to be. + +The guests also all seemed to be enjoying themselves very much. In +the evening, after the theatrical performance was over, Her +Majesty ordered the eunuchs to bring in their instruments and give +us some music. She herself sang several songs, and we all sang at +intervals. Then Her Majesty ordered the eunuchs to sing. Some were +trained singers, and sang very nicely, but others could not sing +at all and caused quite a lot of amusement by their efforts to +please Her Majesty. The Emperor appeared to be the only one +present who was not having a good time; he never smiled once. On +meeting him outside, I asked him why he looked so sad, but he only +answered: "A Happy New Year" in English, smiled once, and walked +away. + +Her Majesty rose very early next morning and proceeded to the +Audience Hall to worship the God of Wealth. We all accompanied her +and took part in the ceremony. During the next few days we did +nothing but gamble and scramble for Her Majesty's winnings. This +was all very nice in its way, until one day one of the Court +ladies began to cry, and accused me of stepping on her toes in the +scramble. This made Her Majesty angry and she ordered the offender +to go to her room and stay there for three days, saying that she +did not deserve to be enjoying herself if she could not stand a +little thing like that. + +The tenth of the first moon was the birthday of the Young Empress, +and we asked Her Majesty whether we would be allowed to give +presents. She gave us permission to give whatever presents we +might wish to. However, we submitted all our presents to Her +Majesty for her approval, before giving them to the Young Empress, +and we had to be very discreet and not choose anything which Her +Majesty might think was too good. It was very difficult to tell +what to send, as Her Majesty might take a fancy to any of the +presents herself, even though they might not be of much value +intrinsically. In such a case Her Majesty would tell us that she +would keep it, and to give the Young Empress something else. + +The celebration was very similar to that of the Emperor's +birthday, but not on such an elaborate scale. We presented the Ru +Yee to the Young Empress and kowtowed to her. She was supposed to +receive these tokens of respect sitting on her throne, but out of +deference to Her Majesty (we were Her Majesty's Court ladies) she +stood up. She always was very polite to us under all +circumstances. + +On this day, as on the Emperor's birthday, the Emperor, Young +Empress and Secondary wife dined together. These were the only two +occasions when they did so, always dining separately at other +times. Her Majesty sent two of her Court ladies to wait upon the +Empress, I myself being one of them. I was very pleased, as I +wanted to see for myself how they conducted themselves when +together. I went into the Young Empress' room and informed her +that Her Majesty had ordered us to wait upon them, to which she +simply answered: "Very well." So we went to the dining room and +set the table, placing the chairs into position. The meal was much +different from what I expected. Instead of being stiff and serious +like Her Majesty when dining they were quite free and easy, and we +were allowed to join in the conversation and partake of some of +the food and wine. A very pretty ceremony was gone through at the +commencement of the meal. The Emperor and Young Empress seated +themselves, and the Secondary wife filled their cups with wine and +presented it to them in turn as a sign of respect, the Emperor +first. When the meal was over we returned to Her Majesty's +apartment and told her that everything had passed off nicely. We +knew very well that we had been sent simply to act as spies, but +we had nothing interesting to tell Her Majesty. She asked if the +Emperor had been very serious and we answered "Yes." + +The New Year celebrations terminated with the Festival of Lanterns +on the fifteenth day of the first moon. These lanterns were of +different shapes, representing animals, flowers, fruits, etc., +etc. They were made of white gauze, painted in different colors. +One lantern representing a dragon about fifteen feet long was +fastened to ten poles, and ten eunuchs were required to hold it in +position. In front of this dragon a eunuch was holding a lantern +representing a large pearl, which the dragon was supposed to +devour. This ceremony was gone through to the accompaniment of +music. + +After the lanterns came a firework display. These fireworks +represented different scenes in the history of China, grape vines, +wisteria blossoms, and many other flowers. It was a very imposing +sight. Portable wooden houses had been placed near the fireworks +from which Her Majesty and the rest of the Court could see them +without being out in the cold air. This display lasted for several +hours without a stop, and thousands of firecrackers were set off +during the time. Her Majesty seemed to enjoy the noise very much. +Altogether it was a good finish to the celebrations and we all +enjoyed it very much. + +The next morning all the guests departed from the Palace and we +re-commenced our everyday life. + +As usual after the guests had departed Her Majesty began to +criticise their mode of dressing, their ignorance of Court +etiquette, etc., but added that she was rather glad, as she didn't +want them to know anything about Court life. + +As Spring soon arrived it was time for the farmers to commence +sowing seed for the rice crop, and of course there was another +ceremony. The Emperor visited the Temple of Agriculture where he +prayed for a good harvest. Then he proceeded to a small plot of +ground situated in the temple and after turning the earth over +with a hand plow he sowed the first seeds of the season. This was +to show the farmers that their labors were not despised and that +even the Emperor was not ashamed to engage in this work. Anybody +could attend this ceremony, it being quite a public affair, and +many farmers were present. + +About this same time the Young Empress went to see the silkworms +and watch for the eggs to be hatched. As soon as they were out, +the Young Empress gathered mulberry leaves for the worms to feed +upon and watched them until they were big enough to commence +spinning. Each day a fresh supply of leaves were gathered and they +were fed four or five times daily. Several of the Court ladies +were told off to feed the worms during the night and see that they +did not escape. These silkworms grow very rapidly and we could see +the difference each day. Of course when they became full grown +they required more food and we were kept busy constantly feeding +them. The Young Empress was able to tell by holding them up to the +light when they were ready to spin. If they were transparent then +they were ready, and were placed on paper and left there. When +spinning the silkworm does not eat, therefore all we had to do was +to watch that they did not get away. After spinning for four or +five days their supply of silk becomes exhausted and they shrivel +up and apparently die. These apparently dead worms were collected +by the Young Empress and placed in a box where they were kept +until they developed into moths. They were then placed on thick +paper and left there to lay their eggs. + +If left to themselves, the silkworms when ready for spinning will +spin the silk around their bodies until they are completely +covered up, gradually forming a cocoon. In order to determine when +they have finished spinning it was customary to take the cocoon +and rattle it near the ear. If the worm was exhausted you could +plainly hear the body rattle inside the cocoon. The cocoon is then +placed in boiling water until it becomes soft. This, of course, +kills the worm. In order to separate the silk a needle is used to +pick up the end of the thread which is then wound on to a spool +and is ready for weaving. A few of the cocoons were kept until the +worms had turned into moths, which soon ate their way out of the +cocoons when they were placed on sheets of paper and left to lay +their eggs, which are taken away and kept in a cool place until +the following Spring, when the eggs are hatched and become worms. + +When the silk had all been separated we took it to Her Majesty for +inspection and approval. On this particular occasion Her Majesty +ordered one of the eunuchs to bring in some silk which she herself +had woven when a young girl in the Palace, and on comparing it +with the new silk it was found to be just as good in every way +although many years had passed since it was made. + +All this was done with the same object as the Emperor sowing the +seeds, viz.:--to set the people a good example and to encourage +them in their work. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN + +THE SEA PALACE + + THIS year we had a very hot spring and Her Majesty was desirous +of getting back again to the Sea Palace. However, as war had +already been declared between Russia and Japan it was thought best +to remain in the Forbidden City until things were more settled. +Her Majesty was very much worried over this war and spent most of +her time in offering prayers to the different divinities for the +welfare of China and we, of course, were expected to join her. +Things were very monotonous about this time and nothing particular +occurred until the beginning of the second moon. By this time Her +Majesty was quite sick of staying in the Forbidden City and said +that no matter what happened she would remove the Court to the Sea +Palace, where Miss Carl could get along and finish the portrait +which had been hanging on for nearly a year. So on the sixth day +of the second moon we moved back to the Sea Palace. Everything +looked fresh and green and many of the trees had commenced to +blossom. Her Majesty took us around the lake and we were in such +good spirits that Her Majesty remarked that we acted more like a +lot of wild animals escaped from a menagerie than human beings. +She was much brighter now, but said that she would be happier +still to get to the Summer Palace. + +Miss Carl was summoned to the Palace, and Her Majesty visited her +and asked to see the portrait. She again asked me how long it +would be before it was finished, and I told her that unless she +gave a little more of her time to posing it might not be finished +for quite a long time. After a lot of consideration Her Majesty +finally agreed to give Miss Carl five minutes each day after the +morning audience, but that she desired it to be distinctly +understood that she did not intend to pose for anything but the +face. She accordingly sat for two mornings, but on the third +morning she made an excuse saying that she was not feeling well. I +told her that Miss Carl could not proceed further unless she sat +for the face, so, although she was very angry, she gave Miss Carl +a few more sittings until the face was finished. She absolutely +refused to sit again whether it was finished or not, saying that +she would have nothing more to do with the portrait. I myself sat +for the remainder of the portrait, viz.:--for Her Majesty's dress, +jewels, etc., and so by degrees the portrait was completed. + +When Her Majesty learned that the portrait was nearing completion +she was very much pleased, and I thought it a good opportunity to +again broach the subject of payment. Her Majesty asked me whether +I really thought it necessary to pay cash for the portrait and how +much. I told her that as painting was Miss Carl's profession, if +she had not been engaged on painting Her Majesty's portrait she +would most probably have been engaged on other similar work for +which she would have received compensation, and that therefore she +would naturally expect to be paid even more handsomely in this +instance. It was difficult to make Her Majesty understand this and +she asked if I was quite certain that Miss Carl would not be +offended by an offer of money, also Mrs. Conger who had presented +her. I explained that in America and Europe it was quite customary +for ladies to earn their own living either by painting, teaching +or in some other similar manner, and that it was no disgrace but +rather the opposite. Her Majesty seemed very much surprised to +learn this, and asked why Miss Carl's brother did not support her +himself. I told Her Majesty that Miss Carl did not desire him to +provide for her, besides which he was married and had a family to +support. Her Majesty gave it as her opinion that this was a funny +kind of civilization. In China when the parents were dead it was +the duty of the sons to provide for their unmarried sisters until +such time as they married. She also said that if Chinese ladies +were to work for their living it would only set people talking +about them. However, she promised to speak with Her Ministers +about paying Miss Carl, and I felt somewhat relieved as there +seemed to be a probability of something satisfactory being +arranged after all. + +The twelfth day of the second moon was the anniversary of another +interesting ceremony, viz.:--the birthday of the flowers and +trees. After the morning audience we all went into the Palace +grounds, where the eunuchs were waiting with huge rolls of red +silk. These we all commenced to cut into narrow strips about two +inches wide and three feet long. When we had cut sufficient Her +Majesty took a strip of red silk and another of yellow silk which +she tied round the stem of one of the peony trees (in China the +peony is considered to be the queen of flowers). Then all the +Court ladies, eunuchs and servant girls set to work to decorate +every single tree and plant in the grounds with red silk ribbons, +in the same manner as Her Majesty had done. This took up nearly +the entire morning and it made a very pretty picture, with the +bright costumes of the Court ladies, green trees and beautiful +flowers. + +We then went to a theatrical performance. This represented all the +tree fairies and flower fairies celebrating their birthday. The +Chinese believe that all the trees and flowers have their own +particular fairies, the tree fairies being men and the flower +fairies being women. The costumes were very pretty and were chosen +to blend with the green trees and flowers which were on the stage. +One of the costumes worn by a lotus fairy was made of pink silk, +worked so as to represent the petals of the flower, the skirt +being of green silk to represent the lotus leaves. Whenever this +fairy moved about the petals would move just as though wafted by +the breeze, like a natural flower. Several other costumes +representing different flowers were made in the same manner. The +scene was a woodland dell, surrounded with huge rocks perforated +with caves, out of which came innumerable small fairies bearing +decanters of wine. These small fairies represented the smaller +flowers, daisies, pomegranate blossoms, etc. The result can be +better imagined than described. All the fairies gathered together +and drank the wine, after which they commenced to sing, +accompanied by stringed instruments, played very softly. The final +scene was a very fitting ending to the performance. It represented +a small rainbow which gradually descended until it rested on the +rocks; then each fairy in turn would sit upon the rainbow which +rose again and conveyed them through the clouds into Heaven. This +completed the celebration and we all retired to our rooms. + +On the fourteenth day of the second moon (March 2, 1904), I +completed my first year at Court. I had quite forgotten this fact +until Her Majesty reminded me of it. She asked whether I was +comfortable and happy where I was or did I long to return to +Paris. I answered truly that although I had enjoyed myself while +in France still I preferred the life of the Court, it was so +interesting, besides which I was in my own native land and among +all my friends and relations, and naturally I preferred that to +living in a strange land. Her Majesty smiled and said she was +afraid that sooner or later I would tire of the life in the Palace +and fly away again across the ocean. She said that the only way to +make sure of me was to marry me off. She again asked me what was +my objection to getting married; was I afraid of having a +mother-in-law, or what was it? If that was all, I need not worry, +for so long as she was alive there was nothing to be afraid of. +Her Majesty said that even if I were married it would not be +necessary for me to stay at home all the time, but that I would be +able to spend my time in the Palace as usual. Continuing, she +said: "Last year when this marriage question came up I was willing +to make allowances as you had been brought up somewhat differently +from the rest of my Court ladies, but do not run away with the +idea that I have forgotten all about it. I am still on the lookout +for a suitable husband for you." I simply answered as before--that +I had absolutely no desire to marry, but that I wanted to stay +where I was and live at the Court so long as Her Majesty was +willing to have me there. She made some remark about my being +stubborn and said that I should probably change my mind before +long. + +During the latter part of the second moon Miss Carl worked very +hard to get the portrait finished and Her Majesty again consulted +her book in order to select a lucky day on which to put the final +touches to the picture. The 19th of April, 1904, was chosen by Her +Majesty as the best time, and Miss Carl was duly notified. Miss +Carl most emphatically stated that it was quite impossible to +finish the portrait properly by the time named, and I told Her +Majesty what Miss Carl said, explaining that there were many small +finishing touches to be added and I suggested it would be better +to give Miss Carl a few days longer if possible. However, Her +Majesty said that it must be finished by four o'clock on the 19th +day of April, and therefore there was nothing further to be said. + +About a week before the time fixed for completion Her Majesty paid +a visit to the studio to finally inspect the picture. She seemed +very much pleased with it, but still objected to her face being +painted dark on one side and light on the other. As I have said +before, I had explained that this was the shading, but Her Majesty +insisted on my telling Miss Carl to make both sides of her face +alike. This led to a pretty hot discussion between Miss Carl and +myself but she finally saw that it was no use going against Her +Majesty's wishes in the matter, so consented to make some slight +alteration. Happening to catch sight of some foreign characters at +the foot of the painting Her Majesty inquired what they were and +on being informed that they were simply the artist's name, said: +"Well, I know foreigners do some funny things, but I think this +about the funniest I ever heard of. Fancy putting her own name on +my picture. This will naturally convey the impression that it is a +portrait of Miss Carl, and not a portrait of myself at all." I +again had to explain the reason for this, saying that it was +always customary for foreign artists to write their names at the +foot of any picture they painted, whether portrait or otherwise. +So Her Majesty said she supposed it was all right, and would have +to remain, but she looked anything but satisfied with it. + +By working practically all night and all day, Miss Carl managed to +get the portrait finished by the time stipulated, and Her Majesty +arranged that Mrs. Conger and the other ladies of the Diplomatic +Corps should come to the Palace and see the portrait. This was +quite a private audience and Her Majesty received them in one of +the small Audience Halls. After the usual greetings Her Majesty +ordered us to conduct the ladies to the studio, which we did, Her +Majesty bidding them good-bye and remaining in her own apartments. +The Young Empress in accordance with instructions from Her +Majesty, accompanied us to the studio, and acted as hostess. +Everybody expressed great admiration for the portrait and it was +voted a marvellous likeness. After inspecting the picture we all +adjourned for refreshments. The Young Empress sat at the head of +the table and asked me to sit next to her. Shortly after everybody +was seated a eunuch came and asked the Young Empress to inform +these ladies that the Emperor was slightly indisposed and was +unable to be present. I interpreted this, and everybody appeared +satisfied. As a matter of fact the Emperor was quite well, but we +had forgotten all about him. And so the guests departed without +seeing him on this occasion. + +On reporting everything to Her Majesty as usual, she asked what +they thought of the portrait, and we told her that they had +admired it very much. Her Majesty said: "Of course they did, it +was painted by a foreign artist." She didn't appear to be very +much interested and was quite cross about something, which caused +me great disappointment after all the trouble Miss Carl had taken +to finish the portrait. Her Majesty then remarked that Miss Carl +had taken a long time to get the portrait finished, and asked why +nobody had reminded her to inform the Emperor about the audience, +being particularly angry with the head eunuch on this occasion. +Her Majesty said that as soon as she remembered, she immediately +sent a eunuch to make excuses, as the ladies might very well think +that something had happened to the Emperor and it might cause +talk. I told her that I explained to them that the Emperor was not +well and they evidently thought nothing further of his absence. + +By the next day the carpenters in the Palace had finished the +frame for the portrait and when it had been properly fitted Her +Majesty ordered my brother to take a photograph of it. This +photograph turned out so well that Her Majesty said it was better +than the portrait itself. + +The picture being now quite finished, Miss Carl prepared to take +her leave, which she did a few days later, having received a +handsome present in cash from Her Majesty in addition to a +decoration and many other presents as remuneration for her +services. For quite a long time after Miss Carl had left the +Palace I felt very lonely, as during her stay I had found her a +genial companion and we had many things in common to talk about. +Her Majesty noticed that I was rather quiet, and asked me the +cause. She said: "I suppose you are beginning to miss your friend, +the lady artist." I did not care to admit that this was so, for +fear she might think me ungrateful to herself, besides which I +knew she did not like the idea of my being too friendly with +foreigners. So I explained to Her Majesty that I always did regret +losing old friends but that I would get used to the change very +soon. Her Majesty was very nice about it and said she wished that +she was a little more sentimental over such small things, but that +when I got to her age I should be able to take things more +philosophically. + +After Miss Carl had left the Court, Her Majesty asked me one day: +"Did she ever ask you much about the Boxer movement of 1900?" I +told her that I knew very little of the Boxer movement myself, as +I was in Paris at the time and I could not say very much. I +assured her that the lady artist never mentioned the subject to +me. Her Majesty said: "I hate to mention about that affair and I +would not like to have foreigners ask my people questions on that +subject. Do you know, I have often thought that I am the most +clever woman that ever lived and others cannot compare with me. +Although I have heard much about Queen Victoria and read a part of +her life which someone has translated into Chinese, still I don't +think her life was half so interesting and eventful as mine. My +life is not finished yet and no one knows what is going to happen +in the future. I may surprise the foreigners some day with +something extraordinary and do something quite contrary to +anything I have yet done. England is one of great powers of the +world, but this has not been brought about by Queen Victoria's +absolute rule. She had the able men of parliament back of her at +all times and of course they discussed everything until the best +result was obtained, then she would sign the necessary documents +and really had nothing to say about the policy of the country. Now +look at me. I have 400,000,000 people, all dependent on my +judgment. Although I have the Grand Council to consult with, they +only look after the different appointments, but anything of an +important nature I must decide myself. What does the Emperor know? +I have been very successful so far, but I never dreamt that the +Boxer movement would end with such serious results for China. That +is the only mistake I have made in my life. I should have issued +an Edict at once to stop the Boxers practising their belief, but +both Prince Tuan and Duke Lan told me that they firmly believed +the Boxers were sent by Heaven to enable China to get rid of all +the undesirable and hated foreigners. Of course they meant mostly +missionaries, and you know how I hate them and how very religious +I always am, so I thought I would not say anything then but would +wait and see what would happen. I felt sure they were going too +far as one day Prince Tuan brought the Boxer leader to the Summer +Palace and summoned all the eunuchs into the courtyard of the +Audience Hall and examined each eunuch on the head to see if there +was a cross. He said, `This cross is not visible to you, but I can +identify a Christian by finding a cross on the head.' Prince Tuan +then came to my private Palace and told me that the Boxer leader +was at the Palace Gate and had found two eunuchs who were +Christians and asked me what was to be done. I immediately became +very angry and told him that he had no right to bring any Boxers +to the Palace without my permission; but he said this leader was +so powerful that he was able to kill all the foreigners and was +not afraid of the foreign guns, as all the gods were protecting +him. Prince Tuan told me that he had witnessed this himself. A +Boxer shot another with a revolver and the bullet hit him, but did +not harm him in the least. Then Prince Tuan suggested that I hand +these two eunuchs supposed to be Christians to the Boxer leader, +which I did. I heard afterwards that these two eunuchs were +beheaded right in the country somewhere near here. This chief +Boxer came to the Palace the next day, accompanied by Prince Tuan +and Duke Lan, to make all the eunuchs burn incense sticks to prove +that they were not Christians. After that Prince Tuan also +suggested that we had better let the chief Boxer come every day +and teach the eunuchs their belief; that nearly all of Peking was +studying with the Boxers. The next day I was very much surprised +to see all my eunuchs dressed as Boxers. They wore red jackets, +red turbans and yellow trousers. I was sorry to see all my +attendants discard their official robes and wear a funny costume +like that. Duke Lan presented me with a suit of Boxer clothes. At +that time Yung Lu, who was the head of the Grand Council, was ill +and asked leave of absence for a month. While he was sick, I used +to send one of the eunuchs to see him every day, and that day the +eunuch returned and informed me that Yung Lu was quite well and +would come to the Palace the next day, although he still had +fifteen days more leave. I was puzzled to know why he should give +up the balance of his leave. However, I was very anxious to see +him, as I wished to consult him about this chief Boxer. Yung Lu +looked grieved when he learned what had taken place at the Palace, +and said that these Boxers were nothing but revolutionaries and +agitators. They were trying to get the people to help them to kill +the foreigners, but he was very much afraid the result would be +against the Government. I told him that probably he was right, and +asked him what should be done. He told me that he would talk to +Prince Tuan, but the next day Prince Tuan told me that he had had +a fight with Yung Lu about the Boxer question, and said that all +of Peking had become Boxers, and if we tried to turn them, they +would do all they could to kill everyone in Peking, including the +Court; that they (the Boxer party) had the day selected to kill +all the foreign representatives; that Tung Fou Hsiang, a very +conservative General and one of the Boxers, had promised to bring +his troops out to help the Boxers to fire on the Legations. When I +heard this I was very much worried and anticipated serious +trouble, so I sent for Yung Lu at once and kept Prince Tuan with +me. Yung Lu came, looking very much worried, and he was more so +after I had told him what the Boxers were going to do. He +immediately suggested that I should issue an Edict, saying that +these Boxers were a secret society and that no one should believe +their teaching, and to instruct the Generals of the nine gates to +drive all the Boxers out of the city at once. When Prince Tuan +heard this he was very angry and told Yung Lu that if such an +Edict was issued, the Boxers would come to the Court and kill +everybody. When Prince Tuan told me this, I thought I had better +leave everything to him. After he left the Palace, Yung Lu said +that Prince Tuan was absolutely crazy and that he was sure these +Boxers would be the cause of a great deal of trouble. Yung Lu also +said that Prince Tuan must be insane to be helping the Boxers to +destroy the Legations; that these Boxers were a very common lot, +without education, and they imagined the few foreigners in China +were the only ones on the earth and if they were killed it would +be the end of them. They forgot how very strong these foreign +countries are, and that if the foreigners in China were all +killed, thousands would come to avenge their death. Yung Lu +assured me that one foreign soldier could kill one hundred Boxers +without the slightest trouble, and begged me to give him +instructions to order General Nieh, who was afterwards killed by +the Boxers, to bring his troops to protect the Legations. Of +course I gave him this instruction at once, and also told him that +he must see Prince Tuan at once and Duke Lan to tell them that +this was a very serious affair and that they had better not +interfere with Yung Lu's plans. Matters became worse day by day +and Yung Lu was the only one against the Boxers, but what could +one man accomplish against so many? One day Prince Tuan and Duke +Lan came and asked me to issue an Edict ordering the Boxers to +kill all the Legation people first and then all remaining +foreigners. I was very angry and refused to issue this Edict. +After we had talked a very long time, Prince Tuan said that this +must be done without delay, for the Boxers were getting ready to +fire on the Legations and would do so the very next day. I was +furious and ordered several of the eunuchs to drive him out, and +he said as he was going out: `If you refuse to issue that Edict, I +will do it for you whether you are willing or not,' and he did. +After that you know what happened. He issued these Edicts unknown +to me and was responsible for a great many deaths. He found that +he could not carry his plans through and heard that the foreign +troops were not very far from Peking. He was so frightened that he +made us all leave Peking." As she finished saying this, she +started to cry, and I told her that I felt very sorry for her. She +said: "You need not feel sorry for me for what I have gone +through; but you must feel sorry that my fair name is ruined. That +is the only mistake I have made in my whole life and it was done +in a moment of weakness. Before I was just like a piece of pure +jade; everyone admired me for what I have done for my country, but +the jade has a flaw in it since this Boxer movement and it will +remain there to the end of my life. I have regretted many, many +times that I had such confidence in, and believed that wicked +Prince Tuan; he was responsible for everything." + +By the end of the third moon Her Majesty had had enough of the Sea +Palace and the Court moved into the Summer Palace. This time we +travelled by boat as it was very beautiful weather. On reaching +the water-gates of the Palace we found everything just lovely and +the peach blossoms were in full bloom. Her Majesty plainly showed +how glad she was to be back once more and for the time being +seemed to have forgotten everything else, even the war. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY + +CONCLUSION + + MY second year at the Palace was very much the same as the first. +We celebrated each anniversary and festival in the same way as +before: the usual audience was held each morning by Her Majesty, +after which the day was given up to enjoyment. Amongst other +things Her Majesty took great interest in her vegetable gardens, +and superintended the planting of the different seeds. When +vegetables were ready for pulling, from time to time, all the +Court ladies were supplied with a kind of small pruning fork and +gathered in the crop. Her Majesty seemed to enjoy seeing us work +in the fields, and when the fit seized her she would come along +and help. In order to encourage us in this work, Her Majesty would +give a small present to the one who showed the best results so we +naturally did our best in order to please her, as much as for the +reward. Another hobby of Her Majesty's was the rearing of +chickens, and a certain number of birds were allotted to each of +the Court ladies. We were supposed to look after these ourselves +and the eggs had to be taken to Her Majesty every morning. I could +not understand why it was that my chickens gave less eggs than any +of the others until one day my eunuch informed me that he had seen +one of the other eunuchs stealing the eggs from my hen house and +transferring them to another, in order to help his mistress to +head the list. + +Her Majesty was very particular not to encourage untidyness or +extravagance among the Court ladies. On one occasion she told me +to open a parcel which was lying in her room. I was about to cut +the string when Her Majesty stopped me and told me to untie it. +This I managed to do after a lot of trouble, and opened the +parcel. Her Majesty next made me fold the paper neatly and place +it in a drawer along with the string so that I would know where to +find it should it be wanted again. From time to time Her Majesty +would give each of us money for our own private use and whenever +we wanted to buy anything, say flowers, handkerchiefs, shoes, +ribbons, etc., these could be bought from the servant girls who +used to make them in the Palace and we would enter each item in a +small note book supplied by Her Majesty for the purpose. At the +end of each month Her Majesty examined our accounts and in case +she considered that we had been extravagant she would give us a +good scolding, while on the other hand, if we managed to show a +good balance she would compliment us on our good management. Thus +under Her Majesty's tuition we learned to be careful and tidy +against such time as we might be called upon to look after homes +of our own. + +About this time my father began to show signs of breaking down and +asked for permission to withdraw from public life. However, Her +Majesty would not hear of this and decided to give him another six +months vacation instead. It was his intention to go to Shanghai +and see the family physician, but Her Majesty did not approve of +this, maintaining that her own doctors were quite as good as any +foreign doctor. These doctors therefore attended him for some +time, prescribing all kinds of different concoctions daily. After +a while he seemed to pick up a little but was still unable to get +about on account of having chronic rheumatism. We therefore again +suggested that it would be better for him to see his own doctor in +Shanghai, who understood my father thoroughly, but Her Majesty +could not be made to see it in that light. She said that what we +wanted was a little patience, that the Chinese doctors might be +slow, but they were sure, and she was convinced they would +completely cure my father very soon. The fact of the matter was +she was afraid that if my father went to stay in Shanghai the rest +of the family would want to be there with him, which was not in +her programme at all. So we decided to remain in Peking unless my +father showed signs of getting worse. + +In due course the time arrived on which it had been arranged to +hold the Spring Garden Party for the Diplomatic Corps, and as +usual one day was set apart for the Ministers, Secretaries and +members of the various Legations, and the following day for their +wives, etc. This year very few guests attended the Garden Party +but among those who did come were several strangers. About half a +dozen ladies from the Japanese Legation came with Madame Uchida, +wife of the Japanese Minister. Her Majesty was always very pleased +to see this lady whom she very much admired on account of her +extreme politeness. After the usual presentation we conducted the +ladies to luncheon, showed them over the Palace grounds, after +which we wished them good-bye and they took their leave. We +reported everything to Her Majesty, and as usual were asked many +questions. Among the guests there was one lady (English so far as +I could make out) dressed in a heavy tweed travelling costume, +having enormous pockets, into which she thrust her hands as though +it were extremely cold. She wore a cap of the same material. Her +Majesty asked if I had noticed this lady with the clothes made out +of "rice bags," and wasn't it rather unusual to be presented at +Court in such a dress. Her Majesty wanted to know who she was and +where she came from. I replied that she certainly did not belong +to any of the Legations as I was acquainted with everybody there. +Her Majesty said that whoever she was she certainly was not +accustomed to moving in decent society as she (Her Majesty) was +quite certain that it was not the thing to appear at a European +Court in such a costume. "I can tell in a moment," Her Majesty +added, "whether any of these people are desirous of showing proper +respect to me, or whether they consider that I am not entitled to +it. These foreigners seem to have the idea that the Chinese are +ignorant and that therefore they need not be so particular as in +European Society. I think it would be best to let it be understood +for the future what dress should be worn at the different Court +Functions, and at the same time use a certain amount of discretion +in issuing invitations. In that way I can also keep the missionary +element out, as well as other undesirables. I like to meet any +distinguished foreigners who may be visiting in China, but I do +not want any common people at my Court." I suggested that the +Japanese custom could be followed, viz.: to issue proper +invitation cards, stipulating at the foot the dress to be worn on +each particular occasion. Her Majesty thought this would meet the +case and it was decided to introduce a similar rule in China. + +Whenever the weather permitted, Her Majesty would pass quite a lot +of her time in the open air watching the eunuchs at work in the +gardens. During the early Spring the lotus plants were +transplanted and she would take keen interest in this work. All +the old roots had to be cut away and the new bulbs planted in +fresh soil. Although the lotus grew in the shallowest part of the +lake (the West side) it was necessary for the eunuchs to wade into +the water sometimes up to their waists in order to weed out the +old plants and set the young ones. Her Majesty would sit for hours +on her favorite bridge (The Jade Girdle Bridge) and superintend +the eunuchs at their work, suggesting from time to time as to how +the bulbs were to be planted. This work generally took three or +four days, and the Court ladies in attendance would stand beside +Her Majesty and pass the time making fancy tassels for Her +Majesty's cushions, in fact doing anything so long as we did not +idle. + +It was during the Spring that Yuan Shih Kai paid another visit to +the Palace, and among other subjects discussed was the Russo-Japan +war. He told Her Majesty that it was developing into a very +serious affair and that he feared China would be the principal +sufferer in the long run. Her Majesty was very much upset by this +news, and mentioned that she had been advised by one of the +censors to make a present to the Japanese of a large quantity of +rice, but had decided to take no action whatever in the matter, +which resolve Yuan Shih Kai strongly supported. + +I was still working each day translating the various newspaper +reports and telegrams relating to the war and one morning, seeing +a paragraph to the effect that Kang Yu Wei (Leader of the Reform +Movement in China in 1898) had arrived at Singapore from Batavia, +I thought it might interest Her Majesty and so translated it along +with the rest. Her Majesty immediately became very much excited +which made me feel frightened as I did not know what could be the +matter. However, she explained to me that this man had caused all +kinds of trouble in China, that before meeting Kang Yu Wei the +Emperor had been a zealous adherent to the traditions of his +ancestors but since then had plainly shown his desire to introduce +reforms and even Christianity into the country. "On one occasion," +continued Her Majesty, "he caused the Emperor to issue +instructions for the Summer Palace to be surrounded by soldiers so +as to keep me prisoner until these reforms could be put into +effect, but through the faithfulness of Yung Lu, a member of the +Grand Council, and Yuan Shill Kai, Viceroy of Chihli, I was able +to frustrate the plot. I immediately proceeded to the Forbidden +City, where the Emperor was then staying and after discussing the +question with him he replied that he realized his mistake and +asked me to take over the reins of government and act in his +stead." + +(The result of this was, of course, the Edict of 1898 appointing +the Empress Dowager as Regent of China.) + +Her Majesty had immediately ordered the capture of Kang Yu Wei and +his followers, but he had managed to effect his escape and she had +heard nothing further about him until I translated this report in +the newspaper. She seemed relieved, however, to know where he was, +and seemed anxious to hear what he was doing. She suddenly became +very angry again and asked why it was that the foreign governments +offered protection to Chinese political agitators and criminals. +Why couldn't they leave China to deal with her own subjects and +mind their own business a little more? She gave me instructions to +keep a lookout for any further news of this gentleman and report +to her immediately, but I made up my mind that in any case, I +would not mention anything about him again and so the matter +gradually died away. + +During one of our visits to the Sea Palace Her Majesty drew +attention to a large piece of vacant ground and said that it had +formerly been the site of the Audience Hall which had been +destroyed by fire during the Boxer trouble. Her Majesty explained +that this had been purely an accident and was not deliberately +destroyed by the foreign troops. She said that it had long been an +eyesore to her as it was so ugly, and that she had now determined +to build another Audience Hall on the same site, as the present +Audience Hall was too small to accommodate the foreign guests when +they paid their respects at New Year. She therefore commanded the +Board of Works to prepare a model of the new building in +accordance with her own ideas, and submit it for her approval. Up +to that time all the buildings in the Palace Grounds were +typically Chinese but this new Audience Hall was to be more or +less on the foreign plan and up to date in every respect. This +model was accordingly prepared and submitted to Her Majesty. It +was only a small wooden model but was complete in every detail, +even to the pattern of the windows and the carving on the ceilings +and panels. However, I never knew anything to quite come up to Her +Majesty's ideas, and this was no exception. She criticised the +model from every standpoint, ordering this room to be enlarged and +that room to be made smaller: this window to be moved to another +place, etc., etc. So the model went back for reconstruction. When +it was again brought for Her Majesty's inspection everybody agreed +that it was an improvement on the first one, and even Her Majesty +expressed great satisfaction. The next thing was to find a name +for the new building and after serious and mature consideration it +was decided to name it Hai Yen Tang (Sea Coast Audience Hall). +Building operations were commenced immediately and Her Majesty +took great interest in the progress of the work. It had already +been decided that this Audience Hall was to be furnished +throughout in foreign style, with the exception of the throne, +which, of course, retained its Manchu appearance. Her Majesty +compared the different styles of furniture with the catalogues we +had brought with us from France and finally decided on the Louis +Fifteenth style, but everything was to be covered with Imperial +Yellow, with curtains and carpets to match. When everything had +been selected to Her Majesty's satisfaction, my mother asked +permission to defray the expense herself and make a present of +this furniture. This Her Majesty agreed to and the order was +accordingly placed with a well-known Paris firm from whom we had +purchased furniture when in France. By the time the building was +completed the furniture had arrived, and it was quickly installed. +Her Majesty went to inspect it and, of course, had to find fault +as usual. She didn't seem at all pleased with the result of the +experiment and said that after all a Chinese building would have +been the best as it would have had a more dignified appearance. +However, the thing was finished and it was no use finding fault +now, as it could not be changed. + +During the Summer months I had plenty of leisure time and devoted +about an hour each day to helping the Emperor with his English. He +was a most intelligent man with a wonderful memory and learned +very quickly. His pronunciation, however, was not good. In a very +short time he was able to read short stories out of an ordinary +school reader and could write from dictation fairly well. His +handwriting was exceptionally fine, while in copying old English +and ornamental characters, he was an expert. Her Majesty seemed +pleased that the Emperor had taken up this study, and said she +thought of taking it up herself as she was quite sure she would +learn it very quickly if she tried. After two lessons she lost +patience, and did not mention the matter again. + +Of course these lessons gave me plenty of opportunity to talk with +His Majesty, and on one occasion he ventured the remark that I +didn't seem to have made much progress with Her Majesty in the +matter of reform. I told him that many things had been +accomplished since my arrival at Court, and mentioned the new +Audience Hall as an instance. He didn't appear to think that +anything worth talking about, and advised me to give up the matter +altogether. He said when the proper time arrived--if it ever did +arrive--then I might be of use, but expressed grave doubts on the +subject. He also enquired about my father and I told him that +unless his health improved very soon it would be necessary for us +to leave the Court for a while at any rate. He replied that +although he should very much regret such a necessity, he really +believed that it would be for the best. He said he felt certain +that I should never be able to settle down permanently to Court +life after spending so many years abroad, and for his part would +put no obstacles in the way of my leaving the Court if I desired +to do so. + +Her Majesty had given me permission to visit my father twice every +month, and everything appeared to be going along nicely until one +day one of Her Majesty's servant girls told me that Her Majesty +was trying to arrange another marriage for me. At first I did not +take any notice of this, but shortly afterwards Her Majesty +informed me that everything was arranged and that I was to be +married to a certain Prince whom she had chosen. I could see that +Her Majesty was waiting for me to say something, so I told her +that I was very much worried at that time about my father and +begged her to allow the matter to stand over for the time being at +any rate. This made Her Majesty very angry, and she told me that +she considered me very ungrateful after all she had done for me. I +didn't reply, and as her Majesty did not say anything more at the +time, I tried to forget about it. However, on my next visit home, +I told my father all about it, and as before he was strongly +opposed to such a marriage. He suggested that on my return to the +Palace I should lay the whole matter before Li Lien Ying, the head +eunuch, and explain my position, for if anybody could influence +Her Majesty, he was the one. I, therefore, took the first +opportunity of speaking to him. At first he appeared very +reluctant to interfere in the matter, and said he thought I ought +to do as Her Majesty wished, but on my stating that I had no +desire to marry at all, but was quite willing to remain at Court +in my present position, he promised to do his best for me. I never +heard anything further about my marriage, either from Her Majesty +or Li Lien Ying, and therefore concluded that he had been able to +arrange the matter satisfactorily. + +The Summer passed without anything further important occurring. +During the eighth moon the bamboos were cut down and here again +the Court ladies were called upon to assist, our work being to +carve designs and characters on the cut trees, Her Majesty +assisting. These were afterwards made into chairs, tables and +other useful articles for Her Majesty's teahouse. During the long +Autumn evenings Her Majesty would teach us Chinese history and +poetry and every tenth day would put us through an examination in +order to find out how much we had learned, prizes being awarded +for proficiency. The younger eunuchs also took part in these +lessons and some of their answers to Her Majesty's questions were +very amusing. If Her Majesty were in a good humor she would laugh +with the rest of us, but sometimes she would order them to be +punished for their ignorance and stupidity. However, as they were +quite accustomed to being punished they did not seem to mind very +much and forgot all about it the next minute. + +As Her Majesty's seventieth birthday was approaching the Emperor +proposed to celebrate this event on an unusually grand scale, but +Her Majesty would not give her consent to this proposal on account +of the war trouble, for fear people might comment on it. The only +difference, therefore, between this birthday and former ones was +that Her Majesty gave presents to the Court, in addition to +receiving them. These included the bestowal of titles, promotions +and increases in salary. Among the titles conferred by Her +Majesty, my sister and myself received the title of Chun Chu Hsien +(Princess). These titles, however, were confined to members of the +Court, and were granted specially by the Empress Dowager. Similar +promotions to outside officials were always conferred by the +Emperor. It was proposed to hold the celebrations in the Forbidden +City as it was more suited for such an important event. However, +Her Majesty did not like this idea at all, and gave instructions +that the Court should not be moved until three days before the +10th of the tenth moon, the date of her birthday. This entailed a +lot of unnecessary work as it necessitated decorating both the +Summer Palace and the Forbidden City. Everything was hurry and +bustle. To add to this, it snowed very heavily during the few days +previous to the tenth. Her Majesty was in a very good mood. She +was very fond of being out in the snow and expressed a wish to +have some photographs taken of herself on the hillside. So my +brother was commanded to bring his camera, and took several very +good pictures of Her Majesty. + +On the seventh day the Court moved into the Forbidden City and the +celebrations commenced. The decorations were beautiful; the +Courtyards being covered with glass roofs to keep out the snow. +The theatres were in full swing each day. The actual ceremony, +which took place on the tenth, did not differ in any respect from +previous ones. Everything passed off smoothly, and the Court +removed again into the Sea Palace. + +While at the Sea Palace we received news that my father's +condition was becoming serious, and he again tendered his +resignation to Her Majesty. She sent her eunuchs to find out +exactly what the matter was, and on learning that he was really +very ill, accepted his resignation. Her Majesty agreed that it +might be better for him to go to Shanghai and see if the foreign +physicians could do him any good. She said she supposed it would +be necessary for my mother to accompany him to Shanghai, but did +not consider it serious enough to send my sister and myself along +also. I tried to explain that it was my duty to go along with him +as he might be taken worse and die before I could get down to see +him again, and I begged Her Majesty to allow me to go. She offered +all kinds of objections but eventually, seeing that I was bent on +going, she said: "Well, he is your father, and I suppose you want +to be with him, so you may go on the understanding that you return +to Court as soon as ever possible." We did not get away until the +middle of the eleventh moon, as Her Majesty insisted on making +clothes for us and other preparations for our journey. Of course +we could do nothing but await Her Majesty's pleasure. + +When everything was ready Her Majesty referred to her book to +choose a suitable day for our departure, and fixed on the +thirteenth as being the best. We therefore left the Palace for our +own house on the twelfth. We kowtowed and said good-bye to Her +Majesty, thanking her for her many kindnesses during our stay with +her. Everybody cried, even Her Majesty. We then went to say +good-bye to the Emperor and Young Empress. The Emperor simply +shook hands and wished us "Good Luck" in English. Everybody +appeared sorry to see us leave. After standing about for a long +time Her Majesty said it was no use wasting any more time and that +we had better start. At the gate the head eunuch bade us good-bye +and we entered our carriage and drove to my father's house, our +own eunuchs accompanying us to the door. We found everything +prepared for our journey, and early the next morning we took train +to Tientsin where we just managed to catch the last steamer of the +season leaving for Shanghai. As it was, the water was so shallow +that we ran aground on the Taku bar. + +On arrival in Shanghai my father immediately consulted his +physician who examined him and prescribed medicine. The trip +itself seemed to have done him a lot of good. I very soon began to +miss my life at Court, and, although I had many friends in +Shanghai and was invited to dinner parties and dances; still I did +not seem to be able to enjoy myself. Everything seemed different +to what I had been accustomed to in Peking and I simply longed for +the time when I should be able to return to Her Majesty. About two +weeks after our arrival, Her Majesty sent a special messenger down +to Shanghai to see how we were getting along. He brought us many +beautiful presents and also a lot of medicine for my father. We +were very glad to see him. He informed us that we were missed very +much at Court and advised us to return as soon as it was possible +for us to do so. As my father began to show signs of improvement +he suggested that there was no further need for me to stay in +Shanghai, and thought it better that I should return to Peking and +resume my duties at Court. I therefore returned early in the New +Year. The river was frozen and I had to travel by boat to +Chinwantao, from thence by rail to Peking. It was a most miserable +journey and I was very glad when it was over. Her Majesty had sent +my eunuchs to the station to meet me and I at once proceeded to +the Palace. On meeting Her Majesty we both cried again by way of +expressing our happiness. I informed her that my father was +progressing favorably and that I hoped to be able to remain with +her permanently. + +I resumed my previous duties, but this time I had neither my +sister for a companion nor my mother to chat with and everything +appeared changed. Her Majesty was just the same, however, and +treated me most kindly. Still, I was not comfortable, and heartily +wished myself back again in Shanghai. I stayed at the Court, going +through pretty much the same daily routine as before until the +second moon (March 1905), when I received a telegram summoning me +to Shanghai as my father had become worse, and was in a critical +condition and wished to see me. I showed Her Majesty the telegram +and waited for her decision. She commenced by telling me that my +father was a very old man, and therefore his chances of recovery +were not so great as if he were younger, finally winding up by +telling me that I could go to him at once. I again wished +everybody good-bye, fully expecting to return very soon; but this +was not to be. I found my father in a very dangerous condition, +and after a lingering illness, he died on the 18th of December, +1905. Of course we went into mourning for one hundred days which +in itself prevented my returning to the Court. + +While in Shanghai I made many new friends and acquaintances and +gradually began to realize that after all, the attractions of +Court life had not been able to eradicate the influences which had +been brought to bear upon me while in Europe. At heart I was a +foreigner, educated in a foreign country, and, having already met +my husband the matter was soon settled and I became an American +citizen. However, I often look back to the two years I spent at +the Court of Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager of China, the most +eventful and happiest days of my girlhood. + +Although I was not able to do much towards influencing Her Majesty +in the matter of reform, I still hope to live to see the day when +China shall wake up and take her proper place among the nations of +the world. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Two Years in the Forbidden City + + diff --git a/old/tyifc10.zip b/old/tyifc10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f4005c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tyifc10.zip |