The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-25
A CHINESE EMPEROR's LIFE.
Studying With Eight Whippiug-Boys aud
Sleeping Watched by Twenty-four
landmarks on and I'm
der the Bed. $685..

| Tho Hong Kong Daily Peaa gives the fol
| lowing account of the education OF the sons
| of the Chinese EmperOra, and OF some OF the
domestic arrangements Of the royal family:
| "rhe sora of the Manchu Emperors under
| go from their teudorost youth II system Of
| the strictest education. Rising at about
| O'Clock In the morning, they first take thelt
| lesson In Chinese literature, under the super
| intendence Of tho only tutor who has the
| title OF ahtll- IN or master. The tutor rises
| from his chair as soon IA the imperial pupils
enter and receives from the latter u courtesy,
which Ia then returned IN tho same form.
The tutor takes the seat of honor, aud when
the lesson Is learned the pupil brings up his
book, deposits IL before his teacher and re-
turns tn his scat to repeat the tack
by heart. II the lesson is not learned
the tutor requests enunch In attend
ance to bring the ferule (eh'ing pam and
makes show of admtDls' ering
correction. But each Imperial pupil is &C.
companied .by eight fellow students. known
In the Mauchu language as ha ha-chu. who
study the same books ~ their young master.
When II becomes necessary to aimpniah the
latter moreserously the ha- ha chu are beaten
with the ferule vicaiiOusly, but when tho im-
perial pupil aeguits himself we'll shey are, on
the other hand commended or rewarded.
rpcacitrant and Ohstnata prince Is rs the last
resort actually himself logged. though prob
ably only nominaly, by the teacher. or taken
before the Emperor, who directs u eunuch 10
pinch his cheeks. The late Emperor Tnng-
Chih was frequently GWsaked In this way Ivy
order OF the Empresses. Tho Chlnese les
son occupies two hours; after this come
the Manchu and Mongo lessons In compost
ton given by the teachers who enjoy the
less honorable title of sGfu, and who are
obliged TO meet their pupil at the door aud
make the first obesance. Then come the les
sons In various spoken languages, Manchu.
MOngol, Fangat aud In local Chinese dialects
After these come courses ofiustruCtiOn In foot
aud horse archery. athletics fencng, putting
the stone etc. under the guidance oil q class
of instructors called anita. The whole OF the
young princes day Is taken up with mental
or physical exercises. and they retire to rest
Mt a very early hour. At suitable intervals
their meals are weighed out for them, and on
no account are they allowed to indulge ia the
pleasures of the table Az the age Of fifteen
they must marry The Emperor sleeps with
eight landmarks sitting upon his bed and six
teen others underneath the bed, all Of them
girls from the imperial household. Their func-
ton IL to keep watch over his Majesty, and they
are not allowed to sneezA, cough, spit or utter
any sound. The movements OF the Emperor
after awakng In tho morning arc siRunzed
by capping OF hands on the part Of the
eunuCh on guard. Once q year-on New
Years Day-the Emperor and Empress pre-
side Mt grand banquet, the Empress sitting
on the Emperors left hand. This Is the only
occasion during the year on which the Empe-
ror can SEQ his wives together and compare
their respective merits. The Empress pre-
sents articles Of food to the eunuchs who re-
ceve 1t from Her Majesty on their knees, and
tho Emperor performs the same politeness to
the women.