New-York tribune., 1880-01-18
THE HOME LIFE of THE CHIyEsR
ROYAL FAMILY.
HOW THE PRINCES ARE EDUCATED.
from The U0nq Kong Daity Pyess
q. ..o..... - tbo Iap.ku EpaHarnru nnIo,

from The U0nG Kong Dday Press
The sous of the Manchu Emperors undergo from
their tenderest youth a system of the srictest edu-
cation Rising at about 3 o'clock IN the morning,
they first take their lesson IN Chinese literature.
under the superintendence Of the only tutor who
has the title of shh-fu or master" The tutor rises
from bIs char the Imperial pupil enters.
and receives from the latter curtsey which rs then
returned the FORM The tutor takes the seat Of
honor aud when the lesson II learned the pupil brings
up his book deposits II before his teacher. and re-
turns 10 his seat to reDCaf the task by heart II tho
lesson is not learned the tuiOr requests eunuch in
attendance tO bring the ferule and makes show a
administering correction. But each Imperial pnpl
il accompanied by eight fellOw-students, known In
the Manchu language as ha-ha-chu. who study the
same books as their young master. When IL be-
comes necessary to admOnIsh the latter more serl-
ousv, the haha-chu are beaten with the feIule W.
cauOusly; but when the Imperial punil acquits
himself well. they are on the other hand CON-
mended or rewarded.
recalcIrant and obstinate prince is as n last re-
sort actually himself hogged. though ohably only
nOmlnally by the teacher or taken DiOre the En-
perOr. who directs euDuch 10 plncn ms checks
The late Emperor pung-chlh was frequently
tweaked IN this way by order OF the Empresses. The
Chinese lesson occupies two hours after this come
the Mancm and MOngol lessons in composition.
gwen by teachers who enjoy the less honorable tlo
of se-tu, and who obliged 90 meet their pupil at
the door and make the iirst obeisance Then come
lessons IN various spoken languages, Manchu, Mon
gol angut and horse arr hery. athle les. fencing
putting the stone etc under the guidance of class
of instructors called anita he whole OF the young
princes day l. taken MP with menial or physical ex-
ercsos amt they retire to rest AT very early hour.
A. suitable intervals their meals are weighed out
Tor them and on no account are they allowed To IN
dulge IN the pleasures OF the liable. At the age Of
fl cen they must marry. bne year before wife ~
selected for the helTappafen he Is provided with
handmald taken from the families OF the inner ban
neTs of the Imperial household. who must be one
year older than himself. and prepare him for hus-
bands duties. On his accession this handmaid re-
ceIyes the title of fei which II gwen TO ner alone
among hose inmates OF the harem who are selected
from the inner banners No one but the Empress -
allowed 10 pass the night with the Emperor The
EmDarOr slegDs with eight lnudma DIS sitting
his bed, aud sixteen Others underneath the bed, all
Of them girls from ne-wr-iu. Their function II 10
keep watch over his Majesty, and they are not
allowed t. sneeze cough, spt. or utter any sound.
Tie movements Of the Emperor after awaking IN
the morning are signalized by clappng OF hands
on the part of the eunuch on guard.
Once u year-On New Years Day-the Emperor
and Empress preside at a grand banquet, the En-
press sitting on the Emperors left hand, THIS Is tle
only occasion during the year on which the Emperor
can his wives together, and compare their ~
spectve merits The Empress presents articles OF
food to the eunuehs who receive II from her Majesty
Oh their knees, and the Emperor performs the same
pOlieness 10 the women. he Emperor Is spoken OF
and to as hwaDg-shang-" Majesty by ali but
members of the inner banners, who use the tenn
chu-tszr-" domnus" The Emperor Empress,
and concubines are all called by the eunuchs " fO-
ye," or ehu-tsz." /. c. " Buhdha," or domnus,"
equivalent 10 Sire" They are spoken of as " ako"
The three inner gates of the Imperial apartments
are never entered even by euuuchs, aud, Of men,
only cunucns are allowed to pass tue 18th gate.
which Is watched by a corps of Imperial guards,
who are authorized to strike the shins Of even tho
highest officer who may approach without giving
the word.
If an inmate of the female apartments wishes 20
purchase anything or TO communicate with th-
outer world, she mnst send handmaid TO s9undthe
iron plate or the clapper, with which the haTem -
provided. OH which the head-eunucb approaches to
quire who is in want OF assistance Having learned
who calls he dispatches the under-eunuch specially
attached 10 tins department, who addresses the
handmaid and takes her orders, either verbally or
on a slip of paper. The Cabinet Ministers every
morning at a. m. present themselves at Court az
3 ~ H.. and are then received Ia audience. Their
meals are served up gratis from the Emper0rs pan
try, and the whole day Is spent at the palace untli
p. ~. on of days, aud till @ p. IN. on days when
there military business to discuss Thus the only
time they call their own is from. say, .. M. 20
= q. m. IL Indisposed. of course they may obtain
leave Of absence. which must frequently be a great
boon. The chun-chl never return the calls Of any
but the mos distinguished provincial officers, aud
even then this ID done the way FROM the palace.