and the continuation of the dynasty of her people. We have seen
how the enemies of her country fell before her sword. Dangerous
statesmen fell before her pen, and if they were fortunate enough
to rise again with all their honour it was to be divested of all
their former power. Every obstacle in her path was overcome
either by diplomacy or by force.

The Empress Dowager has no double in Chinese history, if indeed
in the history of the world. She not only guided the ship of
state during the last half century, but she guided it well, and
put into operation all the greatest reforms that have ever been
thought of by Chinese statesmen. Compared with her own people,
she stands head and shoulders above any other woman of the Mongol
race. And what shall we say of her compared with the great women
of other races? In strength of character and ability she will
certainly not suffer in any comparison that can be made. We
cannot, therefore, help admiring that young girl, who formerly
ran errands for her mother who, being made the concubine of an
emperor, became the mother of an emperor, the wife of an emperor,
the maker of an emperor, the dethroner of an emperor, and the
ruler of China for nearly half a century--all this in a land
where woman has no standing or power. Is it too much to say that
she was the greatest woman of the last half century?


VII

Kuang Hsu--His Self-Development