With the Empress Dowager of China

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]

TO SIR ROBERT HART

To whose helpful encouragement I owe so much, I affectionately dedicate this account of my experiences at the Court of the country he has so long and faithfully served.

KATHARINE A. CARL. =New York, May=, 1905.

Contents

PAGE

CHAPTER I. 3 MY PRESENTATION AND FIRST DAY AT THE CHINESE COURT Drive Out to the Summer Palace--Presentation--Beginning the Portrait--Luncheon--The Palace Theater--My Pavilion within the Precincts.

CHAPTER II. 18 PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF HER MAJESTY--A CHINESE REPAST-- BOATING Second Sitting--The Siesta--Her Majesty’s Barge--A Promenade on the Lake.

CHAPTER III. 27 THE PALACE OF THE EMPEROR’S FATHER 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. 34 HER MAJESTY’S THRONE-ROOM Clocks--Third Sitting--A Promenade in the Gardens--The Orchard--The Empress Dowager’s Love of Flowers--Customs as to Fruits and Flowers.

CHAPTER V. 42 THE YOUNG EMPRESS AND LADIES OF THE COURT The Young Empress--The Secondary Wife--The Princesses-- Children by Adoption--Chinese Widows--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. 50 CONTINUATION OF THE PORTRAIT 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 Empress Dowager’s Gift of “Me-lah.”

CHAPTER VII. 57 FESTIVITIES AT COURT The Celebration of His Majesty’s Birthday--Invitation from the Empress Dowager to be Present--Birthday Plays--The Imperial Actors--Birthday Decorations of the Palace Courts and Buildings--Presents--First Gala Performance--Luncheon in the Court of the Theater--The Mat-sheds at the Palace-- Visitors--Chinese Courtesy--The Imperial Theater at Summer Palace--Actresses--Customs of Manchu Women.

CHAPTER VIII. 64 HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR Beginning of his Reign--The Name of an Emperor--The Manchu Dynasty--Personality of the Emperor--Appearance--His Orientalism--His Dreams of Progress--His Edicts--Despatches-- The Emperor’s Palace and Attendants--His Studies and Talents-- Early Rising--His Meals--Conventionalities Observed--Dislike of Public Functions.

CHAPTER IX. 73 THE EMPEROR’S BIRTHDAY Morning Salutations--His Majesty’s Throne-room--The Imperial Pearl-Buttons Denoting Rank of Officials--Manchu Buttons-- “Lever” of the Empress Dowager--Court Costume--Young Empress in Court Attire--Going in State to Audience Hall--Official Congratulation by High Officials and Princes--The Young Empress’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 Theater--Imperial Congratulatory Poem--Splendid Costumes--Luncheon in the Court of the Theater--Children 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.