Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-03-12
The Home Life Of the Chinese Royal
Family,

The sons of the Manchu Emporors undergo
from their tcndercst youth q system of the
strictest education. Rising at about 3 o'clock
in the morning, they first take their lesson in
Chinese literature, under the superintendehce
of the only tutor who has the title of shih-fu
or "master." The tutor rises from his chair
as soon as the Imperial pupil enters, and re-
ccivcs from the latter a curtesy which is then
returned in the same form. The tutor takes
the seat of honor, and when the lesson is
learned the pupil brings up his book, depos
its it before his teacher, and returns to his
seat to repeat the task by heart. If the les
son is not learned, the tutor requests n euuuch
in attendance to bring the ferule and makes
show of administering correction. But
each Imperial pupil is accompanied by eight
fellow-students, known in the Manchu Ian
guage as ha-ha-chu, who study the same
books rs their young master. When it be-
comes necessary to admonish the latter more
seriously, the ha-ha-chu are beaten with the
fcrule vicariously; but when the Imperial
pupil acquts himself well, they are on the
other hand, commended or rewarded.
A rccalcitraut and obstinate prince is as a
last resort actually himself logged though
probably only nomially, by the teacher; or
taken before the Emperor, who directs a
eunuch to pinch his cheeks. The late En-
peror Tung-chih was frequently tweakod in
Nllh way bl bTutl VI tut I4Lh BitS1t1s hc
Chinese lesson occupies two hours after this
come the Manchu and Mongol lessons in COM
position, given by teachers who enjoy the
less honorable title of sc-fu, and who are
obliged to meet their pupil at the door and
make the first obeisance Then come les
sons in various spoken languages, Manchu
Mongol, Tangut andhorse archery, athletics,
fencing, putting the stone, etc, under the
guidance Of 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 at very early hour. At
suitable intervals 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. One
year before q wife is selected for the hcir-ap-
parent, he is provided with a handmaid taken
from the families of the inner banners of the
Imperial household who must be one year
older than himself, and prepare him for a
husbands duties. On his accession this hand
maid receives the title of fei, which is given
to her alone among those inmates of the
harem who are selected from the inner ban
ners. No one but the Empress is allowed TO
pass the night with the Emperor The En-
pcror sleeps with eight handmnids sitting
upon his bed, and sixteen others underneath
the bed all Of them girls from 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 signalzed by clapping of
hands ou the part of the euuuch on guard.
Once year-on New Years Day-the
Emperor and Empress preside at a grand ban
| quet the Empress sitting on the Emperor s
! left hand This is the only occasion during
the year on which the Emperor can see his
wives together, and compare their respective
merits. The Empress presents articles of
| food to the eunuchs, who receive it from her
| Majesty on their knees, and the Emperor per
| forms the same politeness to the women.
! The Emperor is spoken of and to as hwaug-
shang "Majesty'-by all but members OF
! the inner banners, who use the term ''chu-
tsz'-' 'dominus." The Emperor Empress,
and coucubines are all called by the eunuchs
! "fo-ye," or "chu-tsz,' j. c. "Buddha,' on
"dominus," and the Imperial Princess ''ye'
the latter term equivalent to Sire" They
are spoken of as "ako." The three inneI
| gates of the Imperial apartments are never
entered even by eunuchs, and, of men, only
eunuchs are allowed to pass the fifth gate,
which is watched by q corps of Imperial
| guards, who Grc authorized to strike the slins
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 commun
icate with the outer world, she must send d
haudmaid to sound the iron plate, or the clap.
| per, with which the harem is provided, on
which the head cunuchs approaches to in.
| quire who is in want of assistance. Having
learned who calls, he dispatches the under
ounuch specially attached to this department
who addresses the haudmaid and takes hel
orders, either verbally or on slip of paper
The Cabinet Ministers rise every morning al