The good wife rules a paper board for chess; The children beat a fish-hook out of wire; My ailments call for physic more or less, What else should this poor frame of mine require? --"Tu Fu," Translated. XVII THE CHINESE LADIES--THEIR ILLS[4] [4] Taken from Mrs. Headland's note-book. One day a eunuch dashed into the back gate of our compound in Peking, rode up to the door of the library, dismounted from his horse, and handed a letter in a red envelope to the house servant who met him on the steps. "What is the matter?" asked the boy. "The Princess is ill," replied the servant. "What Princess?" further inquired the boy. "Our Princess," was the reply. "Oh, you are from the palace near the west gate?" "Yes," and the boy and the servant continued their conversation until the former had learned all that the letter contained, whereupon he brought me the message. I opened the letter, written in the Chinese ideographs, and called the messenger in. "Is the Princess very ill?" I inquired. "Not very," he answered, "but she has been indisposed for several days." "When does she want me to go?" I inquired, for I had long ago learned that a few inquiries often brought out interesting and valuable information. "At once," he answered; "the cart will be here in a few minutes." By the time I had made ready my medical outfit the cart had arrived. It was very much like a great Saratoga trunk on two wheels. It was without seat and without springs, but filled with thick cushions, and as I had learned to sit tailor fashion it was not entirely uncomfortable to ride in. It had gauze curtains in summer, and was lined with quilted silk or fur in winter, and was a comfortable conveyance. When I reached the palace I was met by the head eunuch, who conducted me at once to the apartments of the Princess. Her reception room was handsomely furnished with rich, carved, teak-wood furniture after the Manchu fashion, with one or two large, comfortable, leather-covered easy chairs of foreign make. Clocks sat upon the tables and window-sills, and fine Swiss watches hung on the walls. Beautiful jade and other rich Chinese ornaments were arranged in a tasteful way about the room. On the wall hung a picture painted by the Empress Dowager, a gift to the Prince on his birthday. After a moment's waiting the Princess appeared attended by her women and slave girls. "I beg your pardon for not having my hair properly dressed," she said, as she took my hands in hers, the custom of these Manchu princesses and even the Empress Dowager herself, in greeting foreign ladies. "I welcome you back to Peking after your summer vacation." When the usual salutations had been passed she told me her trouble and I gave her the proper medicine, with minute instructions as to how to take it, which I also repeated to her women.