A FEMALE BLUEBEARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2401, 16 January 1909, Page 10 (Supplement)

A FEMALE BLUEBEARD.

SIDELIGHTS ON CHINA’S LATE DOWAGER. EMPRESS. One of the most remarkable women who have ever lived was surely the Dowager-Empress of China, whose death followed so closely upon that of her nephew, tho Emperor, who was a mere tool in her hands. The first woman who in m in-ridden China rose by her own unaided efforts to the highest place in the State, and for several decades governed tlio country with wisdom and energy, maintained her authority by fair means and 'foul, defeated European force and subterfuge by supernatural cunning, will be known to history .as Tsu-tsi, the daughter of -impecunious hucksters. One side of her personality lias not received such widespread attention. The Dowager-Empress, from her earliest days until she was well over sixty, was a born flirt, and loved to excite the .passions of men. iShe was, indeed, a female Bluebeard. If ambition was the mainspring of this lady’s public acts and power the only god she worshipped, die was not Jo any means insensible to other emotions, and her cult had room for lesser idols. So long as her late protector was living she was as faithful to him as a model wife. But her fidelity was common prudence land love of life Once she had tho reins of government in her own hand-;, she fell that her baser appetites were no longer restrained by motives of prudence, a.inf her code of morals knew none other. Tn judging a woman like Tsu-td it would lie unfair to employ European si. mda ids of conduct. Jrtill, even in heathen ethics there are degrees and limits, Miicl the Chinese parvenue outran thorn all. She was wont to select her favorites from among the crowds of students who Hocked to Pekin from ad corners of the vast empire to pass flic four examinations which should throw open to them the portals of fortune and furor, but which for these chosen ones opened only the gate- of death. She treated a-i these ieuipor■ary husbands as Blue beard dealt with his wives. As soon as .-he was tired of olio, he passed vrom the presence of his Imperial mistress into the bands of the executioner, and was at once succeeded by another. Lave with her was but a “sighing of hearts and filling up of graves.” She played with human happiness and human life as a naughty chilcl with her pretty toys. Her love was as fierce and as cruel as her hate, and brought certain death to all its objects. The paramours and the enemies of this Chinese Empress died in untold numbers, “un respited, unnitied, mi reprieved."