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.'
"The Empress Dowager took the hands of this lady in both her own,
and as the tears stood in her eyes, she said:
" 'I deeply regret all that occurred during those troublous
times. The Boxers for a time overpowered the government, and even
brought their guns in and placed them on the walls of the palace.
Such a thing shall never occur again.'
"The table was covered with brilliantly coloured oilcloth, and
was without tablecloth or napkins properly so called, but we used
as napkins square, coloured bits of calico about the size of a
large bandana handkerchief. There were no flowers, the table
decorations consisting of large stands of cakes and fruit. I
speak of this because it was all changed at future audiences,
when the table was spread with snow-white cloths, and smiled with
its load of most gorgeous flowers. Especially was this true after
the luncheons given to the princesses and ladies of the court by
Mrs. Conger at the American legation, showing that the eyes of
these ladies were open to receive whatever suggestions might come
to them even in so small a matter as the spreading and decoration
of a table. The banquets thereafter were made up of alternating
courses of Chinese and foreign food.
"With but one exception, the Empress Dowager thereafter never
appeared at table with her guests. But at the close of the formal
audiences, after descending from the throne, and speaking to
those whom she had formerly met, she requested her guests to
enter the banquet hall and enjoy the feast with the princesses,
saying that the customs of her country forbade their being seated
or partaking of food if she were present
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