, 1872-11-25

these fasoinations lie the principal obstacles to
the Emperors OF China pursuing career OF USE
fulness and honor; especially when, as in the
present instance, the occup1et ct the throne is
but boy.
As there was no court newBmen present On
the 18th Of October to chronicle all that Was
done and said within the Palace, and as . Rltu-
sls arc silent as to any special form OF eere-
mony on the occasion Of IN imperial wedding,
We must take it for granted that no more intri-
cate service was performed than that required
to.unite Square Chang with q Miss Lew. But
with regard to the constitution Of the imperial
household the aforementioned " Rituals give
us fuller information. The number OF the wives
series in geometrioa1 progression, with three as
its common ratio. Thus, by law-for the hit
ualB" have the force Of 1aw-tho Empe-
ror is compelled to take unto himself,
besides the Empress, threo ladies' as
already been selected for his Imperial Majesty
nine Of the second degree, twenty-seven Of the
third degree, and nine times nine. concnb1nes.
With equal precision the various duties OF these
ladies' are nlinute1y laid down, and not much
appears to be allowed to the Emperor after his
marriage than in the original selection OF the
members, Of his household. For instance, no
matter on what terms.he may happen to be with
the Empress, he is obliged, in eomplia4pce with
e ahcent sad theory By Co.. saa
HA40
men OF China, to seek her society nlone, at the
recurrence OF every full moon, and only then
As the moons wax and wane, rules equally
stringent meet him at every turn, and unless lie
be strong enough to throw aside his Ritualistic
trammels, he must submit to . life OF dull
routine. But while the '' Rituals " present such
an abject picture of the Imperial life, they pro-
vide abundant and varied occupation for the
inmates Of the harem. The numerous sacri-
fees, rites and duties connected with the inter-
rFf ff1cY
political intriguing, leave the Empress and the
three principal pelites .Jenlmes little time in
which to be idle. To each Of the nine petites
je'anaes Of the second rank is told OIL 'ssquad
Of nine Of the eighty-one concubines, for in
struction in all the arts and accomplishments
which adorn female life in China in sacri-
fcia1 and religious rites they take part, and
they attend on the Empress when she re-
ceives visitors. To dntiea Of tho same kind
is added, in the case Of the rank below theBe5
the superintendent OF the women servants
Of the palace. From each Of the eighty-one
concubines is annually expected q certain
amount Of plain and embroidered work. On the
occasion Of the funeral Of the Empress, they
hold the wings which decorate the coffin, and On
PALACE it falls to their lot to wash the head Of
the corpse. One more thing is required Of them,
compared with which every other duty appears "a
light as air; to their tact and persuasive powers
is intrusted fhe responsibility Of suppressing the
hold consisting OF hundred and twenty ladies
and one lord.
OF the personal character Of the young En-
peror little or nothing is known outside the yell
1oW-tiled walls Of the Palace. He is said to be
childiah In his tastes and amusements, and it
this be true, surrounded as he is by all that is
calculated to foster id1eness and gensuality, the
prospect Of the future before him is not encour-
aging. The stuff Of which the Emperors who
founded and established the present dynasty
3.o--o 4t,1
urgent necessity. for constant and vigorous ac-
ton. Il is difficult to recognize in the last occu
pant Of the throne,--who, before be was 30,
died, it may fairly be said, OF g too yielding
obedience to the "Ritual8, "a descendant Of
ruled the millions Of China for sixty years, and,
dying, left monuments OF their literary and ad-
ministrative ability which Will last as long as
China remains an Empire and its language en-
dnres to ve1 the intelligence OF those Bho at
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