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Show I AT THE CHINESE COURT. with tha Kniprfhf Dowagoi B) Katharine Katha-rine A. Carl. Royal octavo, 306 page lUpstratloht from rhuti'Rrnpha nnd from Sketches by iho Author The Century Co., publishers, NtV York The nuihor of this work has had opportunities op-portunities to ohserve lll Empress Dow-Sfcer Dow-Sfcer of China the real ruler of the nation na-tion such or no one from the "outside" ever before enjoyed Miss CrtI Is a portrait por-trait painter he was visiting In Shanghai Shang-hai In April, W when, through the influence in-fluence of Mrs. Conger, wife of the 1 idled idl-ed States Minister, she wan Invited to isel tip' Erhpross Dowager ami begin vv..rk on a portrait of her The one short sitting first granted led to m painting of four portraits and to Miss Carl's becom-lnn becom-lnn a guest at the Chinese court for Steven months, a guest who the Dow- nger Kntprena dSlly and sharer! In ever)' festival liiid function of the court That shf made good use of her unique tngf besides painting jilotures of the IJmpress that are already historic, to K.iln ample nnd fttlthful material for thl volume. Is evident This wrirk glxes the I'-adrr the first life, pictures of the tlSSgeS and ceremonials at the Chinese court the first accurate and satisfactory Information Infor-mation touching the persons! appearance .ind characteristics of the Kmpres DOW-Mg DOW-Mg r. of the Emperor, and the ladles of the court, of the summer anil winter pal- 1 sees, and the manner of life therein, and of many soch customs and religious lites, while she tells all about the paintings paint-ings of the St. Louis portrait and of tho three other portraits now In China. The teader of "With the Empress Dowager" may well echo with Miss Carl: I founfl her Majeslv l- far the raort fascinating fas-cinating perSOtiallty It ha nvr been my good f. rtnne to BtUdy nt iu-h rle range Mv sojourn at the palgass Of lifr Imperial Majestv the BmptSM DOWSSSI Of China, mv association with hen If and the ladle of her court, I shall alu" remember as one nf the nost rharrtilng rTwilenre of my life. The Illustration.", of course, add much to the book. They nrc hoth from photographs photo-graphs and from sketches made by Mls Carl, oketches which make one feel well acquainted with the wonderful Tze-Shi and her court. |