Beijing Letters - Especially About Empress Dowager Cixi and Chinese Women

Author: Sarah Conger (USA)
Publisher:
Publish Date: July 1, 2006
Features:
November 5th. U.S. Navy Captain Dutton led 18 Navy soldiers and the Green Gun, accompanied by Chinese officials, through the streets and alleys of the capital city, arriving at the U.S. Embassy compound. To accomplish this special mission, the Navy soldiers were carefully selected. Not only were they handsome, but more importantly, for us, they were like family from our homeland! The Navy soldiers stayed in four rooms at the embassy, while the commander had an office in the office building. In fact, the various buildings within the embassy were very close together, but no matter what, this winter would only be spent here.
November 8th. The Navy soldiers worked day and night, tirelessly protecting us, skillfully completing all tasks. They were disciplined and obedient, which deeply impressed me. Someone came up with the idea of taking a group photo of the soldiers from eight different countries protecting the embassy. So, they all gathered at the British Embassy. The U.S. Navy soldiers went there with the Stars and Stripes, while the soldiers from other countries did not. Soldiers from eight different countries marked their positions, with the U.S. soldiers standing in the middle. Do you see the person waving the flag in the photo? After the photo was taken, that U.S. officer said, "No one present opposed carrying the flags, and of course, I wouldn’t object either. If the soldiers were not allowed to carry flags, it would be very hurtful to them."
Think about it—have you ever seen a photo like this? Soldiers from eight different countries standing shoulder to shoulder on foreign soil in friendship. So, take a good look at this photo, really look at it!
Today, the Emperor and Empress Dowager met with the Japanese envoy to deliver the national letter.
November 24th. This was our Thanksgiving while in China. In the past, Americans in Beijing would always celebrate this national holiday at the U.S. Embassy. All American missionaries and some other Americans were invited to the embassy to celebrate with the ambassador and his family. At 11 a.m., about 70 people sang hymns together and listened to Rev. Hai Lan of the Methodist Church deliver a patriotic sermon. Although Rev. Hai Lan had been in China for 30 years and had worked diligently all along, he still loved his country as always, remained closely connected with his American compatriots, and continued to care about American domestic affairs.
At 1 p.m., 56 Americans had a Thanksgiving lunch at our home. Our room was decorated exceptionally beautifully for Thanksgiving, with bonsai, potted flowers, and vases welcoming guests from all sides. Several large American flags stood out prominently among all the decorations. Back in the U.S., we loved the flag, and abroad, we regarded it as sacred. A Stars and Stripes flag was hung at the main gate of the embassy, fluttering in the wind all day long, as if declaring to the world that it symbolized protection, peace, and goodwill. We sent blessings to our loved ones across the ocean, to our president, and to our country; we sang hymns and patriotic songs, and the love lingered in the air for a long time. It would soon take flight on wings of love, embarking on a long journey to reach its destination.
Out of respect for this American holiday, all the other embassies followed the custom of raising their flags that day, letting them flutter in the wind until the sun set.
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