Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-01-31
A Celestial Monarch.

The following is the Chinese ae-
count of the late interview between the
Emperor of China and the for
eign ENJOYS at Pekin:
'Since his Magesty's assumption
of power, rain and sunshine have
succeeded each other in due season,
and the public mind has been tran
gully at rest. As regards the audi
ence of the foreign ENJOYS, what
they wanted at first was to be car
ried in sedan chairs within the gate
OF the palace (T'ai-ho-Meu), and to
enter the reception hall wearing their
swords. They demanded that the
Emperor should descend from his
throne, and, with his own hands, re-
eeive their letters of credenee; but
upon this the Grand Secretary, Wen
hsiang, smashing his tea-eup into
fragments, sternly opposed the idea,
and thus it came to be sgleed that
the audience should take place at
the Tszu-kuang KoOn the 9th day of
the 9th month. The ceremonies
were rehearsed on the preceding day
at the Tsung-h- Y amen. This was
done in an informal way, amid chat
ting and laughter, and no particular
attention was paid 10 the matter.
On the day itself the entire brigade
of Guards was on duty at the west
park gate, in bright array and with
drawn swords. The French, Amsr-
lean, British, Russian, Prussian, and
Austrian representatives, all
twelve persons from six different
eountries-were all permitted to
wear their swords, and were intro
ueed by heads of departments from
the Tsung-li-Y Yamen within the gate
way of the park. As they passed
each entrance in succession the gate
was locked. On reaching the foot
of the dias, the high functionaries
of the. Tsung-i- Yamen led them mp
the steps. His Majesty having as
eended the throne, the envOys were
led to the space at its foot, when they
performed the ceremony of inelining
the body. they did not kneel. By
the side of the steps there was placed
a yellow table, and the ENJOYS stood
in rank to read out their credentials,
the British having the leading place.
When he had read a few sentences
he began to tremble from head To
foot and was incapable of complet-
ing the persual. The Emperor ssk-
ed, "Is the Prince of your country
well ?" But he could utter no reply,
The Emperor again asked, HYoq
have besought permission TO see me
time and time againI what is it you
have to ssy?" but again he was un-
able to make an answer. The next
proceeding was to hand in the ere
dentials, but in doing this he fell
down on the ground time after time,
and not a syllabe could he articulate.
Upon this Prince Kung laughed
loud at him before the entire court,
exclaiming, ''Chicken-featherl" and
gave orders to have him assisted
down the steps. He was unable to
move of his own accord, and sat
down on the door, perspiFing and
painting for breath, The whole
twelve shook their heads and whis-
pered together no one knows what,
When the time came for the assem-
bly, at the banquet, they still remain
ed incapable, and dispersed IN bar
ried confusion. Prince Kung said
to them: "You would not believe
that it is no light matter to come
face to face with his Majesty; but
what have you got to say about it to-
day? This is what we Chinese call
"Chicken feather" and it viii be 8
joke for the whole empirel" At the
time (of presentation the throne was
not more than a few PAGES OF, ana
yet, as (the envoys) themselves ae-
clare, they did not get sight OF tEe
celestial visage. Everybody say
there must have been some divine
apparition before their eyes t9esas,s
them to tremble end V FsFss ~
yuyRaS sEA"