After country music star John King graced our campus last week, I decided to take a look into Hillsdale’s history with celebrities. As I began to search The Collegian archives, I was expecting to find political pundits, businessmen, or possibly a certain Wheel of Fortune host.
What I was definitely not expecting to find: a princess.
Yes, a real, live princess visited Hillsdale College in 1930 (and according to my research, this falls into the time period when princesses actually still had the power to rule the world!)
On Jan. 23, 1930, The Collegian read, “Her Imperial Highness, Princess Der Ling of the Manchu Court of the Late Empress Dowager Tzu Hsi of China will visit Hillsdale college campus February 12, 1930.”
A Feb. 7 1930 Collegian article clarifies the purpose of her visit, saying “Princess Der Ling will give a lecture in the College Church at 9, at which time she will, in the costume of her native court, present a picture of modern life in China through the medium of her address.”
How did Hillsdale land a guest lecture by a Chinese princess?
A Feb. 21, 1930 article explains, “Princess Der Ling has lived in America for some time, and was able to see that enough was not known of the life of the people in China, so she resolved to make a trip through the United States and do what she could to inform America of the country.”
According to The Collegian, Princess Der Ling was fit for this job because of her unique upbringing.
On Feb. 7, 1930 The Collegian read, “Princess Der Ling was born in Tienesin, China, the daughter of Lord Yu Keng. Her father was a Manchu of the first rank and his forearms came to China with the first Manchu emperor.”
The article continues, “During the youth of the Manchu princess her father was Chinese Minister to Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain and France. Consequently her education was unusually cosmopolitan, and she is intimately acquainted with several languages.”
Collegian authors reported that in addition to typical elementary school subjects, the princess studied flower decoration and music as well as Japanese, English and French.
According to the author of a Feb. 7, 1930 Collegian article, studying abroad not only aided the princess’ studies but also ensured her safety.
The article read, “Fortunately for the entire family they were in France at the time of the Boxer uprising in 1900, and undoubtedly in China would have lost their lives.”
This is quite a cavalier way of phrasing such a serious topic.
I guess differing religious beliefs only held the princess back so far, because, according to the Jan. 23, 1930 issue of The Collegian, “After returning from France, Der Ling and her sister were ordered to the Manchu court by her Majesty, Tzu Hsi, the late great Empress Dowager, to who Der Ling became First Lady-in-Waiting, and favorite.”
The article continued, “She maintains that she attained this enviable, or unenviable, depending upon the viewpoint, position because she could not realize that solemnity and dignity should be the keynote at court— and there giggled at the most inopportune times.”
My takeaway from this is that employers do not care about manners and hand out promotions to the class clowns, which is weird because employees have yet to award my awkward laughing.
While on Hillsdale’s campus, the princess visited various sorority houses and women’s groups. The Feb. 21, 1930 issue of The Collegian printed, “Last Thursday, February 13, a luncheon in honor of Princess Der Ling was held at the Kappa Kappa Gamma House. Approximately sixty people were seated at the tables which were adorned with gay centerpieces of yellow tulips and daffodils while tiny placards were at each plate.”
I am a big fan of how the author spent more time describing the decorations than the actual event. That is actually an old journalism trick reporters use when they lack facts: distract the reader with detailed descriptions of nonessential matters so they will forget that they learned nothing about the incident.
Following these social obligations, the princess addressed the student body and visitors of the college.
The Feb. 21, 1930 issue of The Collegian reads, “The Princess told of many unique customs of the Chinese. The Empress never walked up a hill, but was carried by means of a Unit who held her by the arms, and pushed with a pillow.”
If only the empress came to Hillsdale a few weeks ago when the treacherous journey up the hill involved traversing what appeared to be an inclined ice rink.
The article concluded, “Her lecture was very interesting and was enjoyed immensely by everyone who heard it.”
Well if Hillsdale could get a princess in 1930 there is no reason we can’t bring one to the current campus. Here’s to convincing Kate Middleton to visit us next.
