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