PREFACE

VX /'HEN I went out to China to edit the H onzkons
Daily Press the Boxer troubles were just ap -
proaching their acutest point. It was customary then
f or foreign journalists and other residents on the
China coast to speak of the Empress Dowager as a
bloodthirsty old harridan, a murderous-hearted hag ,
and the li ke. I well remember the outcry aroused by
an American missionary (whose name, however, I
forget) when, soon after the return of the Chinese
Court to Peking, he ventured to couple her name
with those of the recently dead Queen Victoria and
of Queen Elizabeth of England, speaking of them as
the three most remarkable women who had occupied
thrones. In those days it was more usual to compare
Her Imperial Majesty with Jezebel, Messalina, and
such pleasing characters,^ and the missionary's bold
innovation was greatly resented. And when ladies
from the Legations and other foreign households in
Peking were seen accepting invitations to call at the
Palace, with their little sons and daughters, there was
much fiery indignation expressed, especially as they
did not refuse presents from "hands stained with the
blood of European children."

1 See R. X 1 0.'



viii PREFACE

Times have changed since then. We have read in
recent years many whole-hearted eulogies of the old
Empress Dowager, both before and after her death
two years ago. For some reason which I cannot
profess to explain, it is from American pens that the
warmest praise has come. Yet it cannot be denied
that there has been a general revulsion of feeling
among Europeans as well. Those who have com-
mitted themselves most deeply in writing against the
late Dowager have no doubt retained their prejudices.
