During his lifetime he enjoyed the royal favor of Queen Victoria, who conferred a knighthood upon him.

After his death his biography was published and read by thousands.

All this is quite contrary to the spirit of the Chinese who, no matter how clever a man may be as an actor, can never forget that he is a pretender and that the cleverer he is the greater care exists for guarding one's self against his tricks.
Actresses are no less respected and honored in the West, whereas in China there are positively no respectable women on the stage.

Yet in the West it is a common occurrence to hear of marriages of actresses to bankers, merchants, and millionaires.

Even ballet-girls have become duchesses by marriage.