The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-06-11 00:00:00

CHINESE COURT MOURNING.

Che-'An, or Tz'ou.an, the Empress-mother and first
Co-Regent of China during the minority of the present
Emperor, Kuang-su, has lately died at Pekin. She
was the wife of Hsien-feng, who reigned from 1850 to
1861, and was also one of the two Co-Regent's during
the long minority of the late Emperor roung-chih.
She was an able woman, with a firm will and great
decision of character, and she conducted the govern-
ment with great prudence during her long adminis-
tration.
The Berlin papers give interesting details of the
ceremonial observed at the Embassy in the German
capital in honour of her memory. It is much less a
"mourning," in our sense of the word, than a demon-
stration of reverence for her spirit, which, as in the
days of Roman Imperialism, is assumed to have only
quitted this world in order to put on divine attributes.
The principal reception•room is transformed into a
species of temple, where there is nothing mournful,
but the uncurtamed windows admit the light freely.
The fire-place is draped in white; above it is a lofty
tablet bearing the name and titles of the deceased.
This place is symbolically regarded as the present seat
of the departed spirit, and is venerated accordingly.
Every morning about half-past nine, and every even-
ing about six, all the members of the Chinese Em-
bassy, with their families and their Chinese servants,
assemble here, and, having arranged themselves
in a line one after the other according to rank,
they throw themselves on their knees before this
supposed shrine, and then fling themselves three
times prostrate on the ground, taking care that
the forehead al ways touches the floor. This
ceremonial is repeated morning and evening three
times, with a short interval between each. During the
first 27 days white garments only are worn, and during
the next 100 days black, or at least dark-coloured gar-
ments. For the remainder of the 27 months of mourning,
except on official occasions when grand uniforms
have to be worn, a latitude is permitted as to colour,
provided, however, that bright are not used. At home,
the Chinese are forbidden the use of rasor or scissors
for the first 127 days; but it is understood that this
abstinence is not enforced upon the Celestials sojourn-
ing among the outer barbarians. The same rules as
to colour, &c., are followed by women; during the first
27 days they are rot allowed to wear any ornaments,
and for the next 100 days they may use them only
very sparingly.

THE EARL OF DENBIGH ON
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

The foundation-stones of new schools for poor chil-
dren, adjoining the Monastery of St. Francis,
Chester, were laid by the Earl of Denbigh and Master
Tophan, St. Asaph, on Monday.—Lord Denbigh
said he considered the work they were doing
a social work. The welfare of England depended
on the right bringing-up of the children, whatever
religion they professed. It was a great mistake
and one he had often combated, to think that educa-
tion could be given without religion. It was quite
impossible there could be anything which could be
called education without religion. There might be
instruction, but if the intellect was awakened without
the conscience being at the same time enlightened,
dangerous individuals were produced who committed
crime and who recognised no law but their own pas-
sions. Whatever a man's religion, let him be edu-
cated in that religion rather than in none at all. "

NEXT TO MAN.—A story is told of a teacher who
was talking to her scholars regarding the ordir of
higher beings. It was a very profitable subject, and
one in which they took an uncommon interest. ,She
told them the angels came first in perfection, and
when she asked who came next, and was readily an-
swered by one boy, "Man," she felt encouraged to
a3k, "What came next to man ? "—And here a little
shaver, who was evidently smarting under defeat in
the preceding question, immediately distanced all
competitors by promptly shouting
.out, "His under-
shirt, Milian