Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-02
A Chinese Emperor's Life.
Studying With Eight Whipping-Boys and Sleeping Watched by Twenty four Handmafds On and Under the Beds

SS1Cn w wn1ppskag-zSOY6 and Sleeping Watched by Twenty He'd.
 From the Hong Kong Daily Pressl The sons of the Manchu Emperors (hwang- tsZ) undergo from their tenderest youth sys-
 tenn of the strictest education. Rising at about
 o'clock in the morning, they first take their
 lesson in Chinese literature, under the super
 intendence of the only tutor who has the title
 of shih-fu or master" The tutor rises from
 his chair as soon as the imperial pupils enter
 and receives from the latter courtesy (ta-ch
 ien) which is then returned in the same form
 The tutor takes his seat of honor and when
 the lesson is learned the pupil brings up his
 book, deposits it before his teacher and TO-
 turns to his seat to repeat the task by heart.
 If the lesson is not learned, the tutor requests
 eunuch in attendance to bring the ferule
 (c'ing pan) and makes show of administer
 ing correction. But each imperial pupil is &C.,
 companied by eight fellow students (pwan-
 tub, known in the Menchu language as ha-
 ha-chu, who study the same books as their young masters. When 1t becomes necessary to admonsh the latter more seriously the ha-
 ha- chu are beaten with the feruIe vicariousIv:
 but when the imperial pupil acquits himself
 well they are, one the other hand commended
 or rewarded. A recalci.rant and obstinate
 prince is as the last resort actually himself
 fogged, though probably only nominally, by
 the teacher; or taken before his Emperor,
 who directs eunuch to pinch his cheeks
 (ch'ih pa jov.) The late Emperor Tung Chin
 was frequently tweaked in this way by order of the expresses.
 The Chinese lesson occupies two hours;
 after this come the Manchu and Mongel les
 sons in composition, given by the teachers who
 enjoy the less honorable title of se-fu, and
 who are obliged to meet their pupil at the
 door aud make the first obeisance. Then
 come lessons in various spoken languages,
 Manchu, Mongul, T'angat and in local Chi
 nese dialect. After these come courses of in-
 structions in foot and horse archery (ma-pu-
 chien,) athletics, fencing, putting the stone
 etc., (kung- g-tau-shih,) under the guidance of @
 class of instructors called an ta The whole of the young princes day is taken up with mental or hysical exercises, and they retire
 to rest ct very early hour. At suitable in tervals their meals are weighed out for them,
 and on no account are they allowed to indulge
 in the pleasures of the table. At the age of fifteen they must marry.
 The Emperor sleeps with eight handmaids
 (c'ang-tsai) sitting upon his bed, and 16 oth- CTS (ta-ying) underneath the bed, all of them
 girls from the imperial household (nei-wu-fu.)
 Their function is to keep watch over his maj esty, and they are not allowed to sneeze, cough, spit, or utter any sound. The move ments of the Emperor after awaking in the morning are signalized by a clapping of hands on the part of the eunuch on guard. Once a year-on New Years day-the Emperor and
 Empress preside at grand banquet, the Elm press sitting on the Emperor's left hand. This is the only occasion during the year on which the Emperor cGn see his wives together and compare their respective merits. The Elm press presents articles of food (k'e-shih) to the eunuchs, who receive it from her Majesty on their knees, and the Emperor performs the
 same politeness to tho women. The Emperor
 is spoken of and to as wangchang-'Majesty' by all but members of the inner banners who use the term s'chu-tsz" ''dominus" The Emperor, Empress and concubines are all called by the eunuchs 'fo.ye" or "chu.tsz,"
 that is ''Buddha, or ''dominus, and the i'm perial princes ssye'-the latter term equiva- lent to "Sire." They are spoken of sako.' | The three inner gates of the imperial apart ments are never enterred even by eunuchs, and, of men, only eunuchs are allowed to pass the fifth gate, which is watched by corps of imperial guards (shi-wei, wno are authorized | to strike the shins of even the highest officer who may approach without giving the word.) If an inmate of the female apartments wishes to purchase anything or to communicate with the outer world, she must send handmaid to ] sound the iron plate (tien,) or the clspper (bangtsz,) ) with which the harem is provided, on which the head eunuch approaches to en- quire who is in want of assistance. Having learned who calls, he dispatches the under eunuch specially attached to this department, who addresses the handmaid and takes her orders, either verbally or on slip of paper. The cabinet ministers (chun-chi) rise every morning at 2 present themselves at court at 3 g. m., and are then received in audience. Their meals are served up gratis from the Emperor's pantry, and the whole day is spent
 at the palace until p. m. on ''of" days, and till D. m. on days when there is military business to discuss. Thus the only time they can call their own is from, say, D. m. to a. m. If indisposed, of course they may obtain leave of absence, which must frequently be great boon. The chun-chi never return the calls of any but the most distinguished pro- vircial officers, and even then this is done the way from the palace.