20th December.
Tr real significance of the new social relations in Peking between the Court and the Chinese officials on the gue. side and the families of the Diplon.atic Body on the other, cannot be ncourately: gauged, for one's preformed pessimism or optimism will Golour every passing event. A serious, unbiassed examination of the development of social life in high circles at the capital of this Empire cannot but remind. one that the development has been forward rather than backward. To go no farther! back than 1858, the treaty. made with China by the United States,
officers should be designated to confer) while. stipulating that: high Chinese with the Minister of the United States, this remarkable clause on the duties of the Minister was inserted: "His visits shall not exceed one in each year, and he shall complete his business without unnecessary delay." Fortunately the treaty made by the British envoy insisted on residence in Peking, which farther warfare successfully confirmed. It is well known that the Tsungli Yamen was soon constituted, and that during all these years from 1860 to 1901, the' grent. favour of having such a wonderful Foreiga Office was meant by. the Chinese to imply that a limitation was placed on all other forms of inter-communication. The Yaméa- and the Yamen alone was) the, "open door" of official business and social fellowship. All business began to be fraught with annoyances, and all social festivities were limited to a wearisome and formal New Year's: dinner, at the Yamen. This relationship began with the entrance into political domination of the present impress Dowager. She held on- to the old ways till just prior to the initiation of the plan for getting rid of all foreigners. She received the diplomatic ladies int" the palace and feated them, and then she let locs-all the fiends on the whole legation quarter with its composite inhabitants.
Since the lawless doings which took place beneath and inside the Imperial Yellow Wall, the Empress Dowager has resumed her peaceful social amenities with consummate grasp' and skill. -She seems to have won over entirely all her guests. Smiles, 2° tear, a drooping of the head, a tender pat of her soft hand, her compliments, the elegance of the receptions, afew choice gifts, have all combined to cost into oblivion the year 1900. Whatever her sincerity or insincerity, and whatever -her aim, it is none the less a post desirable. innovation, that she, as practically the Sovereign of China, has " pulled down the bars" and let the outsiders in, The awful awe attached to the occupant of the Throne has been got rid of, a striking contrast to past disputes about the ceremonial of kowtow.
The Empress Dowager has "sec the bree." Princes, princesses, high mandarins and insignificant ones, have all been rushing forward this last year to entertain and see the greasy foreign diplonit, the victorious military officer, and any one else of any kind of distinction, while foreigners on their dip'omatic, missionary, or travelling sportsman, have caught the scent and rushed forthesame. The o'd Tsungli Yamen is no longer the only banqueting hat}. Prince Ching, Yung Lu, Hu Yi-fen, Wang Wen-ship, and many others have opened wide their doors, have spread the table with a good foreign dinner, have had the best of wines with full supply of wine-glasses, have toasted and been toasted, have chatted, and established undying friend ship with each and all. "Every foreign country is suc ely pronounced China's best friend Rvally, all this means a good deal though much of i: is langhab'e. We remember to have heard how Mr. von Brandt in the early eighties tried to open the doors of some of the homes of the big men of the Tsungli Yamen, by going in person to call, but was told: "Go to the Yamen." It remained for private persons to get the first entrance. But since the Court relumed, a complete chanye has taken place, and mutual visitation has becom? all the style. There is no longer espionnage in intercourse with foreigner: This mere change in Peking means much. Ib may not mean any real friendship, but it means that foreigners can be politely treated and chance to be heard. The particular good in any particular case depends on the purpose of the foreign parti ants, who may talk only small ta or will indulge in profitable conversation. It.is a matter of rejoicing that the barriers have been broken down between the East and the West in social intercourse, far beyond all past expectations. The only matter to bear in mind is that all th social relations, even under the ex: ample of the Empress Dowager, d+ not mean that either she or the officials themselves have any greater love for the foreigner as a class or as an individual. They have conclu that a good dinner and better wines are a delight to all except the missionaries, and they are willing to please them in this way.
What is probably of most valua is the effect on the social ideas of officials in the provinces, The missionaries have ben the first ones to experience the improvement in the relations of foreigners local officisis and the high provincial authon Whether the change is made with real friendly feelings or with intent to deceive, the result must be in the end a better understanding and perhaps more mutual respect.
In any case, both in Pal the provinces, one chang hi eff-c'ed, a ching" which many in the past have Donged rhed for, plomat, merch int, missionary shave' an-open door an the world of this paup!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.