Indeed she prides herself upon the fact that at a glance she can
read the character of every one that appears before her."

After the ladies had taken their position in order of their rank,
the doyen presented their good wishes to Her Majesty, which was
replied to by a few gracious words from the throne. Each lady's
name was then announced and as she was formally presented she
ascended the dais, and as she courtesied, the Empress Dowager
extended her hand which she took, and then passed to the left to
be introduced in a similar way to the Emperor.

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