The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-23
SC PING; OR. THE SPHINX OF
PEKIN.

pc PING; OR, THE SPHINX OF
PEKIN.
'ny centuries ago, when all countries and
2tes, except China, we're yet young, there
he'd in that wonderful empire sovereign
sce and temper a Tartar, who ruled his
Ee with a rod OF iron his name was Ching
Great and absolute monarch as he was,
ts not, however, entirely supreme in his
fe, for one, female, ruled him lady who,
more than her father, inherited all the attri-
OF the Tartar race, rut of such a surprising
miraculous beauy, that to see even her
~ was TO become cnamored. or course she
Hhny suitors at the time of the opening of
pc, when she had just turned sixteen; bu.
pust know that from her earliest girlhood
IAd had suitors, and nearly every sovereign
y known world had made proposals of mar
and laid his own particular net to catch
aighty prize who was being dandled in her
s arms.
first proposal made to the Princess in per-
Whose name was Chang Pang, was at the age
Rrteen, by young Emperor of India-an
1ce which would have been agreeable to both
fs. 1t is said that on this occasion her heart
|tlightly touched with the blind gods dart,
she young emperor was apparently prosper
"a his suit, when chance-also, believe, a
goddess-threw in her way Confucius's
fise on Early Marriages" after perusing
she broke off the match, and the young
tfor his neck, by casting himself in despair
Yong from the summit of the palace walls
u never heard whether this incident caused
by uueasiness, for she never lost her health,
be continued, as before, the reigning beauty
10 Eastern world.
ffrom that time forth she rejected all suitors.
Dad, as was believed, taken a VOW of celiDacy'
a great sorrow OF her father the emperor,
Pc intense disgust of the court ladies', who
4ealous OF her charms, and wished to see her
&ed and, so to speak, "dOne for" Sutors
fsme in shoals. but she rejected them all,
.pd resolution not to change her maiden
~, and, ayerse to husbands, resolved to hus-
Per affections Many thought her crazcd !; bu.
4 her father, who was ever impressing upDR
3he importance TO his own empire of her
Nage with some great potentate.
Sng Pang, beautiful as she was was of a
'Aud cruel disposition, and cared no more
that her father said than the idle wind but
fiy, at which time she was about seventeen
OF age, becoming harassed by continual
StationS, she hit upon q scheme to relieve
3f from her suitors. 1t was this She
psed three conuRdrums, which l will tell
freseRtly, and promised to marry the man
Rhould succeed in guessing them, annexug,
|penalty, death to the rash man who should
|fo and fail in the attempt. To this artful
D, the emperor, in weak moment, con-
" |; and the horrible consequence of this
tiayelian scheme / am going 10 relate TO you.
Spay be expected, as was the case, that this
Ia nh Ffal. LII.
Number OF suitors rapidly, but not TO so
Van extent as Chang Pang had expected,
WAS her transcendent beauty, and SO great
&cuniary value of the prize to the successful
Er. The proclamation, Of which | have a
Mn Chinese in my pocket, given TO me by
Use antiquarian is as follows -
h by THE EMPERoR--f PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, divers princes and other persons of
pie rank have demanded in marriage the
i0f our well-beloved daughter and heiress,
fg Pang, but none of them have engaged the
4ons Of our aforesaid daughter; and
Vas, il is hereby proclaimed and declared
Veyery person or persons who might, would,
~, or could, at present or in future, be desi-
Vof demanding in marriage the aforesaid
lhter, that in the event of such person or
US satisfactorily answering these riddles,
snas, cOnundrums, charades, or other divert
sLestions to be propounded, or otherwise laid
- ihem, by our aforesaid daughter, that per-
ihall forthwith receive, take, or otherwise
.ihe possessed OF our aforesaid daughters
} In marriage, and be made 90. heir of this
10 estial Empire of all the Chinas but, and
iie other hand, ii such person or persons fail
We or Otherwise answer the aforesaid divert
1 Iestions, they shall be Immediately hanged
h neck until they die or otherwise expire,
'heir goods chattels, or other personal and
property, If there be any, be forfeited 70 our
Fial EXchequer. Given at our Court of
~ WHAT lAPBRAToR."
out this period there arrived in Pekin a
man, 20 all outward appearance mean and
and by trade Photographic artist, an art
h many centuries ag-, and much practised
Z early period OF the Chinese Empire, though
lost, and lately rediscoyered. | may as
}ell you at once he was son aud heir tj,the
Nror OF Thibet, Just then dispossessed by a
\ Of baTbarians led by an unscTupulOus
ier. This young man (whO was at present
most strictly anonymous iHcogaito, but of
y name we do not scruple 20 betray as much
letters Ching Png) took up his abode at a
ShOtel In Pekin, 10 which wers attached large
ms, great resort Of the nobility for opium
bhccO.
Iesing the proclamation, which was dis
Il In the gardens, he az once made lp his
lto become suitor to the Princess, but re-
! also TO maintain a strict iHc0gHito. He
formidable rival in the Prime Minister of
~song Pong, a man whose sensual, uuscru-
> character and stupid administration had
4 him the hatred and contempt of every
:. Chinese "a rdrd Gris, indeed, in China, but
Ntter) The two rivals me. az the public
Ms The minister was seated az a table,
ne opium and tobacco from q jewelled
m, and 20 all appearance in q state Of COM
lie ease, when his eyes happened 10 light on
-dTes, ed and unshaYen stranger. The sight
moment disturbed him, and he swallowed
hful OF smoke, which brought on terrible
coughing.
} ill.dressed stranger remarked that he
10 have a wretched cough, by way of
.ncing a conversation. Upon which the
ter was pleased 10 inquire who he was, for
D as something in the bearing of tho stranger
pltrayed the nobleness of his birth. The
X seemed scarcely satisfied with the reply
was Photographic artist, and being again
with coughing frOwned severely on him,
iter five minutes more smoking, laying
tis hoOkab, and taking from his side some
d tables, said 10 the stranger, who was
a scaniy meal of radishes and water -
ing man, / would have had you punished
Srancy, but knowing that this morning she
on me"
ng P-ng, his mouth full of radishes, said,
ne Who is she p ina tone quite void of
ity.
minister, apparently rather puzzled what
* or the stranger, proceeded TO read aloud
stranger having retired into the house-the
fng, which have translated, and endea-