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It was thus she began her reforms in the customs of the court,
which up to this time had kept her ever behind the screen,
compelled to wield the sceptre from her place of concealment,
equally shut out from the eyes of the world and blind to the
needs of her people. Up to her time the people and the nation
were the slaves of age-old customs, but before the power of her
personality rites and ceremonies became the servants of the
people. In the words of the poet she seemed to feel that
"Rules
Are well; but never fear to break
The scaffolding of other souls;
It was not meant for thee to mount,
Though it may serve thee."
Without taking away from the Emperor the credit of introducing
the railroad, the telegraph, the telephone, the new system of
education, and many other reforms, we must still admit that it
was the personality, power and statesmanship of the Empress
Dowager that brought about the realization of his dreams. The
movement towards female education as described in another chapter
must ever be placed to the credit of this great woman. From the
time she came from behind the screen, and allowed her portrait to
be painted, the freedom of woman was assured.
One day when calling at the American legation I was shown two
large photographs of Her Majesty. One some three feet square was
to be sent to President Roosevelt, the other was a gift to Major
Conger
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