The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-07-04

The State Funeral Of the Late Tung Chih.
Emperor Of China

The State Funeral Of the Late Tuns Chih.
Emperor Of China
From the Celestial Empire.l
The remains of the late Emperor OF
China, T'ung Chin, and the late EN-
press, have been conveyed to their final
resting place mt the Eastern Tombs-a
distance of about $40 Ii from Pekin.
Our correspondent saw the procession
pass by peeping through hole about
the size of half crown cut in curtain,
no foreigner being permitted to witness
the proceedings. He says: when L
first arrived long string of slovenly-
looking baggage wagons were jolting
heavily along the road. They came
trailing after one another in most adj
mired disorder; now two together, now
two or three in a line, and now a long
break, after which solitary cart would
drag itself into view Meanwhile, a
coolie stood in the road and busted
himself, as best he might, in keeping
the thoroughfare in order. Ever and
anon a horseman in long and flowing
red robe and yellowtufted cap would
pass across the field of vision, riding an
ill-groomed pony. These men form the
Lwan-yi Wei, or Guard of State; and
had they ridden III compact phalanx
they would have presented handsome
and striking appearance. But there was
no attempt at riding in ranks. Soon
there appeared group of Manchu
archers, armed with huge bows and
well-filled qnivers. But there was no
uniformity of color in their dress, any
more than order in their mode of prog
ress. One man would be dressed in
brown or purple; another in blue, hand
somely embroidered; third, perhaps,
in brilliant silver gray, looking from a
distance almost white; and they all
trotted, or cantered, or struggled along,
according to the pace each man pre-
ferred. Then came another detachment
of the Guard of State; and then het-
erogeneous collection of mandarins,
gorgeous in every variety of tint, and
button, and peacock's feather, ambling
martially along on their scraggy, ill-kept
ponies.
At last the appearance every now and
then of yellow coverings and badges
announced the near approach of the I'M
perial party. Suddenly it burst into
view. First came a brilliant staff of
Princes, mobiles aud high officers of
state, respondent in yellow silk tunics,
scarlet girdles and cleaning silks, rid
ing gayly along, and forming guard of
honor to the three imperial chairs. The
order of procession from this point was
as follows: The Emperor, borne by
eight coolies. Her Imperial Majesty
Tsze-an Tuan-yu K'ang-yi Chao-yu
Chuang-king Huang Tai Hou, Empress
of the East, commonly called the EN-
press Dowager; her Imperial Majesty
Tsze-chi Tuan-yew K'ang- ching Chao-
hob Chuang-ching Huang Tai Hou,
Empress of the West, commonly called
the Empress Mother; the Princes and
Princesses of the imperial family, rid
ing in yellow wooden carts; retainers,
ictors, apparitors, soldiers. etc.
The Empress es sat bolt upright, look
ing straight before them. They are
middle-aged, well preserved women,
with hard, stolid faces, and an ex-
preston which suggests the idea of cold
rightly of purpose. The principal feat
ures of the little Emperor's face are
somewhat projecting forehead and
pointed chin. He was dressed in
somber color, as half-mourning for the
late Emperor, who had adopted him as
his younger brother. Prince Kung oo-
cupied one of the yellow covered carts.
The imperial family are privileged to
ride in carts the wheels of which are set
far back, the object of this peculiar con-
struction being to modify the jolting.
It is a characteristic fact that no one
under the rank of Prince of the blood
is permitted to enjoy this alienation.
The 21st day of the moon-otherwise
the 18th of April-was selected by the
Astronomical Bureau as being particu-
larly suspicious for the commencement
of the journey. In plain fact, however,
it was fearful day-one of the very
worst sort. There was strong wind
blowing, and the sand storm which
arose was such as to make the whole at