A TALE OF OLD CHINA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 276, 16 August 1920, Page 4

A TALE OF OLD CHINA

THE LATE EMPRESS AND HER WAY§. When Mr. and Mrs. T. Shriller Weston, of Wellington, were staying at Peking a few weeks ago they ventured out into the country to pny a visit to a very fine palace, which was open for the inspection of tourists. It was related of this palace that it was erected by the late Dowager Empress of China with money which was set aside for a Chinesa navy, and it was the lack of a navy that made China 60 helpless in her last war with Japan. Indeed, the erection of this palace with misippropriated money was onei of the causes of the big revolution which overthrew the Mancliu dynasty. While visitidg the edifice Mr. Weston spoke to one of the custodians, an old man who was a servant of tbe Empress in the days of tlioi monarchy. In the course of conversation the old servitor told how highly-placed officials, when they went to call on Her Majesty, always contrived to have their trousers well padded, as almost without exception thev were well beaten before being allowed!'to depart. The servant said that only one official—a general in Wo army—escaped such punishment. Iw was actually feared by the Empress, and realising his power and her nnscrupulousness, he would never cat or drink within' the palace.