ets, into which she thrust her hands as though it were
extremely cold. She wore a cap of the same material. Her Majesty asked
if I had noticed this lady with the clothes made out of "rice bags," and
wasn't it rather unusual to be presented at Court in such a dress. Her
Majesty wanted to know who she was and where she came from. I replied
that she certainly did not belong to any of the Legations as I was
acquainted with everybody there. Her Majesty said that whoever she was
she certainly was not accustomed to moving in decent society as she
(Her Majesty) was quite certain that it was not the thing to appear at a
European Court in such a costume. "I can tell in a moment," Her Majesty
added, "whether any of these people are desirous of showing proper
respect to me, or whether they consider that I am not entitled to it.
These foreigners seem to have the idea that the Chinese are ignorant and
that therefore they need not be so particular as in European Society. I
think it would be best to let it be understood for the future what dress
should be worn at the different Court Functions, and at the same time
use a certain amount of discretion in issuing invitations. In that way I
can also keep the missionary element out, as well as other undesirables.
I like to meet any distinguished foreigners who may be visiting in
China, but I do not want any common people at my Court." I suggested
that the Japanese custom could be followed, viz.: to issue proper
invitation cards, stipulating at the foot the dress to be worn on each
particular occasion. Her Majesty thought this would meet the case and it
was decided to introduce a similar rule in China.

Whenever the weather permitted, Her Majesty would pass quite a lot of
her time in the open air watching the eunuchs at work in the gardens.
During the early Spring the lotus plants were transplanted and she would
take keen interest in this work. All the old roots had to be cut away
and the new bulbs planted in fresh soil. Although the lotus grew in the
shallowest part of the lake (the West side) it was necessary for the
eunuchs to wade into the water sometimes up to their waists in order to
weed out the old plants and set the young ones. Her Majesty would
sit for hours on her favorite bridge (The Jade Girdle Bridge) and
superintend the eunuchs at their work, suggesting from time to time as
to how the bulbs were to be planted. This work generally took three or
four days, and the Court ladies in