RSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
1822 02727 9462
TH THE
EMPRESS
DOWAGER
OF CHINAH
V
KATHARINE A. CARL
WITH THE EMPRESS
DOWAGER OF CHINA
PORTRAIT OF THE EMPRESS DOWAGER
This is the portrait which was exhibited at the St. Louis Exposition, is now owned
by the United States Government, and is in the National Museum at Washington
With the
Empress Dowager
of China
By
Katharine A. Carl
- U
Illustrated by the Author
and with Photographs
New York
The Century Co.
1907
Copyright, 1905, by
THE CENTURY Co.
Published November, 1905,
TO SIB ROBERT HART
To whose helpful encouragement I owe so
much, I affectionately dedicate this account
of my experiences at the Court of the coun-
try he has so long and faithfully served.
KATHARINE A. CARL.
New York, May, 1905.
Contents
PAGE
CHAPTER I. MY PRESENTATION AND FIRST DAY
AT THE CHINESE COURT 3
Drive Out to the Summer Palace Presentation Be-
ginning the Portrait Luncheon The Palace Theater
My Pavilion within the Precincts.
CHAPTER II. PERSONAL APPEARANCE OP HER
MAJESTY A CHINESE REPAST BOATING . 18
Second Sitting The Siesta Her Majesty's Barge A
Promenade on the Lake.
CHAPTER III. THE PALACE OF THE EMPEROR'S
FATHER 27
A Chinese Palace Gardens The Chinese Poem-
Tombstones of Pets The Highway from Peking to
the Summer Palace Chinese Modes of Locomotion
The Seventh Prince.
CHAPTER IV. HER MAJESTY'S THRONE-ROOM . 34
Clocks Third Sitting A Promenade in the Gar-
dens The Orchard The Empress Dowager's Love
of Flowers Customs as to Fruits and Flowers.
CHAPTER V. THE YOUNG EMPRESS AND LADIES
OF THE COURT 42
The Young Empress The Secondary Wife The
Princesses Children by Adoption Chinese Widows
vii
Contents
PAGE
The Princess Imperial The Relationships of the
Princesses of the Blood The Maids and Tiring-
women Women of the Eighth Banner The Chinese
Woman at Court Slaves.
CHAPTER VI. CONTINUATION OP THE PORTRAIT 50
Advantages and Disadvantages of Painting in the
Throne-room The Empress Dowager's Voice Chinese
Opinion as to Portraits of Royalty Walks with Her
Majesty Her Dogs Their Pavilions Cats The Em-
press Dowager's Gift of "Me-lah."
CHAPTER VII. FESTIVITIES AT COURT .... 57
The Celebration of His Majesty's Birthday Invita-
tion from the Empress Dowager to be Present Birth-
day Plays The Imperial Actors Birthday Decora-
tions of the Palace Courts and Buildings Presents
First Gala Performance Luncheon in the Court of the
Theater The Mat-sheds at the Palace Visitors Chi-
nese Courtesy The Imperial Theater at Summer Pal-
ace Actresses Customs of Manchu Women.
CHAPTER VIII. His MAJESTY THE EMPEROR . . 64
Beginning of his Reign The Name of an Emperor
The Manchu Dynasty Personality of the Emperor-
Appearance His Orientalism His Dreams of Prog-
ress His Edicts Despatches The Emperor's Pal-
ace and Attendants His Studies and Talents Early
Rising His Meals Conventionalities Observed
Dislike of Public Functions.
CHAPTER IX. THE EMPEROR'S BIRTHDAY ... 73
Morning Salutations His Majesty's Throne-room
The Imperial Pearl Buttons Denoting Rank of Offi-
cials Manchu Buttons ' 'Lever" of the Empress Dow-
agerCourt Costume Young Empress in Court Attire
Going in State to Audience Hall Official Congratu-
lation by High Officials and Princes The Young Em-
press's Palace Presentation of Jade Emblem (Ruyie)
Young Empress's Official Congratulation to the
Emperor Simplicity of Attire of Empress Dowager
Grand Theatrical Representation at Palace Thea-
terImperial Congratulatory Poem Splendid Cos-
viii
Contents
PAGE
tumes Luncheon in the Court of the Theater Chil-
dren at Court The Emperor's Presents to the Manchu
Nobles and High Officials The Finale at the Theater
Spectacular Procession Thanks of the Princes and
Nobles Bowing to the "Great Ancestress" The
Procession to the Hall of Ancestral Tablets.
CHAPTER X. PEKING THE SEA PALACE ... 87
His Majesty's Sacrifice to his Ancestors The Empress
Dowager's Favorite Summer-house The Sacred Pic-
ture The United States Legation at Peking Mrs.
Conger's Relations with Chinese Ladies The Sea
Palace The Boats of the Lake Our Resting-place at
the Sea Palace Promenade on the Lake The Eunuch
Li-Wun-ti Memory Story-telling The Island
Temple Gardens Two Temples Cathedral within
the Precincts Theater.
CHAPTER XL SOME CHARACTERISTICS OP HER
MAJESTY SECOND VISIT TO THE SEA
PALACE 100
The Empress Dowager's Magnetic Personality Inter-
esting Study Her Chinese Appellations Hall of Mon-
golian Princes Dragon Wall Fruits Sent to the
Palace Repast at the Sea Palace Promenade in the
Train of Her Majesty The Imperial Gourds A Prom-
enade in the Rain Rest in Hall of Mongolian Princes
Archery in China The Sunset Call.
CHAPTER XII. RETURN TO THE SUMMER PALACE 111
The Empress Dowager as a Psychological Study See-
ing Her Face to Face Work on Portrait Resumed
Easels and Cases for Materials for Work on Sacred
Picture Walks Refreshments for the Promenades-
Imperial Tea The Empress Dowager's Tea and Tea-
cupsHer Deftness with her Fingers Her Thought-
fulness.
CHAPTER XIII. THE STEAM-LAUNCH SEMI-AN-
NUAL SACRIFICES TO CONFUCIUS .... 117
Chinese Tolerance in Religious Matters Halls of Con-
fuciusThe Odes to Peace Burning the Offerings.
ix
Contents
PAGE
CHAPTER XIV. THE PALACE EUNUCHS . . . 123
Their Grades The Chief Eunuchs Li Lien Ying
His Power with the Courtiers "L'Eminence Grise"
of the Court The Shut-in Position of Chinese Im-
perial Rulers Need of an Unofficial Messenger Per-
sonal Appearance of Li Lien Ying Sui, Her Majesty's
Second Eunuch Punishment of Eunuchs Pupils
OpiumSmoking Pets Good Manners of the Eunuchs.
CHAPTER XV. LITERARY TASTES AND ACCOM-
PLISHMENTS OF THE EMPRESS DOWAGER . 130
The Empress of the Eastern Palace Co-Regency Her
Majesty's Literary Tastes Her Love of Heroic Poems
Her Memory The Chinese Joan of Arc The Em-
press, Widow of Tung-Chih The Empress Dowager's
Reader and her Favorite Authors Her Love of the
Theater Her Humor A Great Stickler for Purity of
Language Li-Hung-Chang's Chinese How the Em-
press Dowager Speaks It Her Writing of the Great
Characters The Chinese Written Character Paint-
ing Embroidery Her Designs for Floral Decora-
tions Cultivation of her Person The Empress
Dowager an Epicure Her Soaps and Perfumes Her
Personal Magnetism as a Power over Animals
The Escaped Bird The Katydid.
CHAPTER XVI. THE GREAT AUDIENCE HALL . 142
Hours of the Audiences The Audience Hall at Sum-
mer Palace Its Interior Ancient and Modern
Thrones and Dais Audiences of Heads of Depart-
ments The Grand Council Official Despatches
Telegrams The Cushions for Members of the Grand
Council Special Audiences The Introducing Eunuch
Amusing Subterfuge of Officials at Audience The
Young Emperor and Tiresome Official Sacred Quality
of the Imperial Person Mode of Address of Courtiers
The Kow-tow.
CHAPTER XVII. THE SUMMER PALACE . . . 149
The Empress Dowager's Favorite Palace The Marble
Terrace The Hills of the Summer Palace The Tem-
ple of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Memorial Arches
The Marble Bridge The Canals Camel-back
Contents
Bridges Chinese Architecture Utilitarian Spirit of
the Chinese Flowers and Fields in the Park of Sum-
mer Palace Grand Peony Mountain The Sacred
Buddha-Temple of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Ruins
of Old Summer Palace Views from the Summer Palace
Belvederes When Their Majesties Go Abroad.
CHAPTER XVIII. FESTIVAL OF THE HARVEST
MOON 156
The Chinese Love of Festivals The Fruit of Immor-
talityThe Little Handmaiden and her White Rab-
bitThe Play at the Palace Theater on the Mid-
Autumn Festival Dinner in the Imperial Loge
Procession to the Moonlit Terrace Floral Pai-lou
to the Moon "Bowing" to the Moon The Poem
to the Moon The Burnt-Offering Return to the
Palace on the Moonlit Lake Continuation of the
Portrait Some Disadvantages of Too Much Pleasure
Hospitality of the Empress Dowager Chinese Con-
ventions and Traditions Wonderful Opportunities for
Picturesqueness in Painting the Empress Dowager
Restrictions Imposed by Chinese Tradition First
Exhibition of the "Sacred Picture "Description of
First Portrait of the Empress Dowager How I Should
Have Liked to Paint Her.
CHAPTER XIX. A GARDEN PARTY 165
Reception to the Diplomatic Corps and Ladies of the
Legation The Ceremony of Reception of the Ladies
The Empress Dowager's Cordiality Taking Tea in
the Audience Hall Luncheon in the Throne-room
Promenade on the Lake Visit to the Palace and Tem-
ple on the Island The Marble Boat Lack of Harmony
among the Guests at Garden Party Chinese Com-
ment on our Costumes and Appearance Dislike of
Blonde Hair.
CHAPTER XX. BEGINNING A SECOND POR-
TRAIT OP THE EMPRESS DOWAGER . . . 171
Putting the Characters Representing Her Majesty's
Titles and her Two Seals on the Portrait Beginning
the Small Portrait Toilette d'IntimitS "Hailo"and
"'Shadza " The Palace Painters Their Manner of
Working New Variety of Chrysanthemum The
xi
Contents
PAGE
" Peafowl Feather "The Audience Hall Pianos Her
Majesty's Ideas of Dancing.
CHAPTER XXI. A EUROPEAN CIRCUS AT THE
PALACE 178
The Posters Sites for the Eing The Turnip Field
Their Majesties Go in State across the Lake The
House-boats The Young Empress's State Boat The
Imperial Loges at the Circus Invited Officials
Bands of Music A Glimpse of the Manchu Princes
and Some High Officials The Son of the Imperial
Princess The Opera Glasses of Their Majesties
What Interested Them Most.
CHAPTER XXII. PALACE CUSTOMS . . . . . 185
Early Rising When the Empress Dowager Sleeps
Her Bedroom Irregular Hours except for the Au-
dienceDomestic Duties Her Favorite Game Her
Luck Her Meals Conventions Observed at the Em-
press Dowager's Table Her Dishes The Hour of the
Siesta Her Promenades The Days of the Theater
When Their Majesties Dine Together Rigorous Ob-
servance of Fasts at the Table of the Empress
Dowager Court Etiquette The Graceful Bow Rigid
Observance of Court Customs Her Majesty's Re-
proof of Too Indulgent Mother.
CHAPTER XXIII. HER MAJESTY'S ANXIETY
HER BIRTHDAY 194
Her Anxiety Exterior and Interior Troubles Prep-
arations for Her Majesty's Birthday Her Desire to
Have Everything as Simple as Possible and to Spare
Expense The Emperor's Wish to Celebrate with the
Usual Pomp, and Desire to Bestow a New Title upon
the Empress Dowager Difference of Her Majesty's
Interest in her Own and the Emperor's Birthday
When She Received the Congratulations Early Hour
of Congratulation The Interior of the Throne-room
and Decorations for the Birthday Winter Court Dress
of the Ladies The Empress Dowager's Fatigue.
CHAPTER XXIV. THE WINTER PALACE . . .200
The Empress Dowager's Love of the Summer Palace
Return, to Peking Young Empress and Ladies Pre-
xii
Contents
PAGE
cede and Receive Her on the Threshold of her Own
Throne-room City of Peking, the Palace within the
Forbidden City Its many Walls within Walls The
Guard Houses The Ceremony of Reception The
Throne-room of the Winter Palace The Interior
Dome Her Majesty's Sitting-room Private Chapel
Portraits of Queen Victoria The Three Great Halls
The Spirit-Stairway The Central Hall Presents
from European Royalties Where I was to Paint
The Emperor's Precincts Tradition at the Winter
Palace.
CHAPTER XXV. PEKING BEGINNING THE POR-
TRAIT FOR ST. Louis 21)
Legation Quarter Morning Ride to the Palace Splen-
did Walls of the Palace and City The Streets in the
Forbidden City A Funeral The Mongolians Beg-
gars at the Gate Unsatisfactoriness of Studio at
Winter Palace Her Majesty Orders It Remodeled
Beginning Portrait for St. Louis Imperial Parapher-
nalia and Insignia of Royalty Importance of Pro-
priety The Throne Her Majesty's Costume for the
Portrait Pearl Mantle First Sketch Stretchingthe
Great Canvas.
CHAPTER XXVI. SOME SOCIAL CUSTOMS . . . 219
Manchu Ladies of the Palace Presentation, on Their
Marriage, of Manchu Noblewomen Bridal Costume
Sedan Chairs By Whom Bride is Presented The
Young Empress's Graciousness A Daughter in a
Manchu Family Comparison of Manchu and Amer-
ican Girl The Unmarried Daughter of the Manchus
Her Position in the Family Social Qualities The
Manchu Men Sports Costume Young Dandies-
Concubinage Early Marriages of Men Secondary
Wives The Family Secondary Wives of an Em-
perorTheir Rank Position in the Palace Title.
CHAPTER XXVII. PRESENT-GIVING 230
The Palace as the Heart of Empire Occasions on
which Presents are Given (Private, Official, and Fes-
tivals) Style of Presents Given by the Empress
Dowager Presents to the Ladies of Legation Birth-
day Presents Some Presents Received by Me from
Her Majesty,
xiii
Contents
PAGE
CHAPTER XXVIII. SOME WINTER DAYS AT THE
PALACE . 237
The Portrait for America Details and Accessories of
the Same Days at the Palace The Meals in Winter
Winter Evenings Learning Chinese Occupations
of the Ladies The Young Empress's Birthday
Days of Mourning at the Palace Anniversary of
Death of the Emperor Tung-Chih The Empress
Dowager's Sorrow.
CHAPTER XXIX. RELIGIOUS RITES 245
The Three Great Religions The Temple of Heaven
The Emperor as High Priest Preparations for the
Sacrifice to Heaven Buddhism and Taoism Confu-
cius Origin of Chinese Religious Ceremonies Vital-
ity of China as a Nation Its Amalgamation of Con-
quering Races The Manchus Some Nature Worship
The Festival of the Awakening of Spring at the
Palace Guardians of the Cocoons.
CHAPTER XXX. HER MAJESTY THE EMPRESS
DOWAGER 253
Her Family Presentation at Court Fifth Wife of the
Emperor Hsien-Feng Favorite of Empress Mother and
First Wife Birth of a Son Death of Emperor Hsien-
Feng Empress of Western Palace Co-Regents for
Young Emperor Tung-Chih Friendliness of the Two
Co-Regents State of China at Beginning of Regency
Intrigue The Anti-foreign Princes Prince Kung
First Political Act of Young Empress of Western Pal-
ace Supportof the Princes of theBlood The Emperor
Tung-Chih Begins to Reign Death of Tung-Chih Re-
sumption of the Regency by the Empress Dowager
Minority of Kwang-Hsu Death of Empress of East-
ern Palace Policy of Empress Dowager The Em-
seror Kwang-Hsu Begins to Reign His Policy The
7ar with Japan Change of Policy by the Emperor
The Progress Party The Ultra-Conservatives Return
from Retirement of the Empress Dowager The Em-
peror's Edict So-called Coup d'Etat Rout of Prog-
ress Party Punishment of Ringleaders Effect on the
Emperor Reign of Emperor " Assisted " by Empress
Dowager The Secret Society of the Boxers Its
Growth Boxers in the Capital Boxers among the
xiv
Contents
PAGE
Princes of the Blood The Outbreak in Peking-
Reported Cause of Outbreak The Emperor and Em-
press Dowager's Attempt to Check Movement The Im-
perial Military Forces Position of Legation Quarter
in Peking British Legation Eeturn of Their Maj-
esties to Peking Edicts Issued Arrival of Allies
in Peking Flight of Her Majesty and the Court
The Route to Singan-Fu Hardships Endured
Incidents.
CHAPTER XXXI. HER MAJESTY THE EMPRESS
DOWAGER (Continued) 270
Her Charities Incident of the Boxer Rising Widows'
Petition to the Empress Dowager Her Majesty's
Action thereon Her Extravagance Extravagance in
the Palace Efforts of Past Emperors for Economy
Cost of Food in the Palace Her Majesty's Personal
Extravagance Her Jewels Wardrobe Examples of
Her Economy Her Patriotism Scheme of Taxation
Her Penetration Her Judgment Her Prejudices-
Sarcasm Her Determination Tact Social Instinct
Reception of Young German Prince.
CHAPTER XXXII. THE CHINESE NEW YEAR . 279
Greatest Festival of the Year Decorations of the Pal-
aceImitation Money New Year's Presents Work
on Portrait Some Changes Removal of the Court to
Sea Palace My Studio at Sea Palace New Year's
Audience of Ladies of the Legation Congratulations
Lantern Festival The Illuminated Procession
The Double Dragon The Flaming Pearl Fireworks
in the Palace Day Rockets Old Customs as to the
Fireworks in the Palace Grounds.
CHAPTER XXXIII. CONTINUATION OF THE ST.
Louis PORTRAIT 287
Propitious Date for Finishing it Changing Orna-
ments Frame for Portrait Spring Days Her
Majesty's Walks Inspecting the New Buildings
The Jinrikisha The Miniature Railway Her
Majesty's Automobiles Kite Flying His Majesty
the Emperor Plows and Sows the Seed of a Furrow.
XV
Contents
PAGE
CHAPTER XXXIV. FINISHING AND SENDING OFF
THE PORTRAIT 294
Nineteenth Day of April Invitations to Ladies of the
Legation to see the Portrait Visit of the Ladies to
the Palace The Portrait Princes and Nobles see
the " Sacred Picture" Attempt to Photograph Por-
trait taken to Wai-Wu-Pu Visit of Corps Diplo-
matique Packing the Portrait Special Eailway
built from Foreign Office to Railway Station De-
parture of Picture En route Tientsin Shanghai
Embarkation for San Francisco Reception by Prince
Pu L'un and Imperial Commission at St. Louis Un-
veiling the Portrait Placing the Portrait in the Gal-
lery of Fine Arts Arrival at Washington Pres-
entation to the Government.
CHAPTER XXXV. RETURN TO THE SUMMER
PALACE 300
Return to the Summer Palace The Palace of the
Emperor's Father in Spring The Grounds of the
Summer Palace The Studio At Work Again The
Theater His Majesty's Theater Program Work of
the Vermilion Pencil His Majesty's Interest in the
Russo-Japanese War Spring Garden Party to the
Ladies of the Legation Another large Portrait of
Her Majesty Showing it to the Ladies Her Maj-
esty's Desire for Highly Finished Detail Her De-
light in her New Hobby Final Days.
XVI
List of Illustrations
Portrait of the Empress Dowager Frontispiece
FACING PAOB
The Empress and the Ladies of the Court in the Imperial
Barge 24
Princesses of the Court 40
The Young Empress Ye-Ho-Na-Lah 44
At the American Legation, Peking 88
Chinese Architecture 104
On the Road from Peking to the Summer Palace .... 112
The Empress Dowager Writing a " Great Character " . . 136
The Empress Dowager in the Gardens of the Summer Palace 140
The Official Audience of Their Majesties 146
Old Euins in the Summer Palace 152
The Secondary Wife of the Emperor 168
Pailou in the Grounds of the Summer Palace on the
Shore of the Lake 176
Princesses of the Court 188
Court in the Winter Palace "Her Majesty Comes" . . . 204
xvii
List of Illustrations
FACING PAGE
Confucian Temple "Spirit Stairway" in Central Flight
of Steps 208
Prince Ching 216
The Author in Chinese Costume 234
Temple of Heaven Peking 246
Altar to the Invisible Deity 250
Slave Girls . 280
The Portrait of the Empress Dowager in its Frame . . . 304
XVtlt
INTRODUCTORY
IN April, 1903, while I was visiting in Shanghai, I
received a letter from Mrs. Conger, wife of the
Minister of the United States to Peking, in which she
said there was a question of Her Majesty the Empress
Dowager's having her portrait painted, and asking me
if such a thing should be arranged would I be willing
to come to Peking and undertake it. Mrs. Conger
hoped, if the project should materialize, that Her
Majesty might later consent to send the portrait to
the Exposition at St. Louis. She thought such a por-
trait would be of great interest to the American peo-
ple and might prove an attractive feature to the
Exposition, in which she and Mr. Conger were, natur-
ally, much interested. She also felt, as she had had an
opportunity of seeing a good deal of the Empress
Dowager, that if the world could see a true likeness of
her, it might modify the generally accepted idea
which prevailed as to Her Majesty's character.
I answered Mrs. Conger's letter, saying I should be
delighted to undertake the work, should it be decided
upon, and I awaited further developments. The idea
of sitting for her portrait met with Her Majesty's
approval, and she said she would arrange an Audience
and set a day for beginning. But the "mills of"
xix
Introductory
Chinese Officialdom "grind slowly," and not until
July did Mrs. Conger receive an official notification
from the Wai-Wu-Pu (Chinese Foreign Office) request-
ing "Her Excellency Mrs. Conger to present the
American artist, Miss Carl, to Her Imperial Majesty
on the fifth day of August, for the purpose of paint-
ing a portrait of Her Majesty." Mrs. Conger imme-
diately informed me of the reception of this docu-
ment, and I left Shanghai for Peking on the 29th of
July. I was cordially received, on my arrival in Pe-
king, by Mr. and Mrs. Conger at the American Lega-
tion, and on the fifth of August was presented by
Mrs. Conger to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager
at the Summer Palace in private Audience.
As it was a great innovation in Chinese customs and
a breaking away from long-established tradition for an
Imperial portrait to be painted, there was no precedent
to follow and all arrangements were of the vaguest
kind ; and when I went into the Palace for my first
Audience, I did not know whether I would have one
sitting or ten, and no one else seemed to have any
more definite information. All was uncertainty.
Everything depended upon Her Majesty's inclination,
and future developments must be awaited. I felt
that I was really going into the Palace on trial and
that my reception and the work depended upon the
fantasy and whims of a great Personage from whom,
according to current reports, I had but little to ex-
pect. On the day of my first Audience, I was told at
the Foreign Office that Her Majesty was to give me
but one sitting, hence it was not in a very tranquil
state of mind that I went up to be presented to the
xx
Introductory
Great Empress Dowager, Tze-Shi ! But all this was
changed when I saw her. She received me kindly,
was very gracious. A Palace was set aside for me,
and every facility afforded me for my work : during
my sojourn at the Chinese Court I painted not only
the portrait for the Exposition at St. Louis, but three
others of Her Majesty.
Unique as my experiences at the different Palaces
of Their Celestial Majesties were, I concluded, after
I had lived at Court for a few months, I would never
make these experiences public. The Empress Dowa-
ger received me in so friendly a manner, I met with
such consideration at her hands and such unfailing
courtesy from all with whom I came in contact, I felt
I should requite this kindness by an equal consider-
ation, and that it was my duty to respect Chinese
prejudices and conform to their ideas of " Propriety "
by refraining from any relation of my charming
experiences.
After I returned to America, I was constantly see-
ing in newspapers (and hearing of) statements ascribed
to me which I never made. Her Majesty was repre-
sented as having stood over me in threatening atti-
tudes, forcing me to represent her as a young and
beautiful woman ! It was reported that she refused
to give me any compensation for the portraits, and a
number of other statements, equally false, were daily
appearing in the papers. The London " Times," in
speaking of the Empress Dowager, said: "Some one
has said ' she has the soul of a tiger in the body of a
woman,' and Miss Carl found the old lady shrewd and
tempestuous." The latter statement, which I never
xxi
Introductory
made, seemed to me enough to have on my shoulders,
but the article was copied in American papers and I
Was put down as the author of the first, as well as of
the second statement. The power of the Press has
become such that it cannot be ignored. It is of no
avail to say nothing in such a case as mine ; when you
do this, words are put into your mouth and sentiments
ascribed to you at the will of the newsmongers. If
a correction be made, it never seems to get the same
circulation or publicity as the first statement. These
erroneous statements continue to appear, and I have
finally decided that, in justice to my August Patroness
as well as to my humbler self, it is incumbent upon
me to correct them, and it seems to me the only
proper way to do so is to write a full and true relation
of my life at the Palace and my experiences while
painting the portraits of Her Majesty the Empress
Dowager.
I know I publish this account at the risk of offend-
ing the sensibilities of my Chinese friends, for many
of them will never know what called it forth. I know
that by so doing I may change any favorable opinion
they may have formed as to my good-breeding and
discretion. I was on sufficiently intimate terms with
Her Majesty and the Ladies of the Court to know that
this account will be looked upon by them as an " in-
discretion," to say the least of it.
In this story of my life at the Palace, I must natu-