The Newtown bee., 1880-03-03
A CHINESE EmpERoR,s LIFE,
Studying with Eight Whipping Boys and Sleeping Watched by Twenty-four HandmuidS.

Studying with Eight yvhipping- Boys an |.
 Sleeping Watched by Twenty-four Handmaids.
 The sons of the Manchu. emperors l (hwangt undergo from their tender est youth system of the strictest edu cation. Rising ab. about three o'clock in the morning, they first take their lesson in Chinese literature under the superin- tendence of the only tutor who has the title of shih-fu or master" The tutor rises from his chair as soon as the inn perial pupils enter, and receives from the latter courtesy (ta-ch'ienl. which is | then returned in the same form. The l tutor takes the seat of hor or and when the lesson is learned the pupil brings up | his book, deposits it before his teacher, and returns 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 (ch'ing pan), and makes a show of administering corree- tion. But each imperial pupil is accom- panied by eight ellow-students (pwan- | tub), known in the Manchu language as ha-ha-chu, who study the same books as their young master. When it be- comes necessary to admonish the latter more seriously, the ha-ha-cnu are beaten with the ferule vicariously; but when the imperial pupil acquits himself well they are, on the other hand commended or rewarded. A recalcitraut and ob- stinate prince is as the last resort ac- tually himself fiogged, though probably only nominally, by the teacher; or taken before the emperor, who directs eunuch to pinch his cheeks (ch'ih pa jou). The late emperor Tungschih was frequently tweaked in this way by one ofthe expresses.
 
 hours; after this come the Manchu and Mongol lessons in composition, given by the teachers who enjoy the less honorable title of se-fu, and who are obliged to meet the pupil at the door and make the first obeisance. Then come lessons in various spoken Ian guages, Manchu, Mongol, Tangat, and in local Chinese dialects. After these come courses of instruction in foot and horse archery (ma-pu-chien), athletics, fencing, putting the stone, etc. (kung- of instructors called an-ta. The whole of the young princes day is taken I'D 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 pleas ures of the table. At the age of if teen they must marry.
 The emperor sleeps with eight hand maids (ch'ang- tsaD sitting upon his bed, and sixteen others (ta-ying) underneath the bed, all of them girls from the inn perial household (nei-wu-fu). Their function is to keep watch over his ma jesty, and they are not allowed to sneeze, cough, spit or utter any sound. The movements of the emperor after awak- ing in the morning are signalized by clapping of hands on the part of the eunuch on guard. Once @a year-on New Years day-the emperor and em- press preside at a grand banquet, the empress sitting at 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 articles of food (k'e-shih) to the eunuchs, who receive it from her ma jesty on their knees. and the emperor performs the same politeness to the women. The emperor is spoken of and to as hwang-chang-' majesty'-by all but members of the inner banners, who use the term "chu-tsz "--dominus The emperor, empress and concubines are all called by the eunuchs "for-ye," or "chu-tsz," that is, Buddha," or dominus," and the imperial princes
 
 sire" They are spoken of as ako'
 The three Inner l.l gates of the iplpfRrel e,1nuchs, and of men only eunuchs are | allowed to pass the fifth gate, which IS watched by corps of imperial guards (shi-wei), who 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 com municate with the outer world, she must send handmaid to sound the iron plate (tien), or the clapper (bang-tsz), with which the harem IS provided, on which the head eunuch approaches to inquire who is iii 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-chD rise every morning at o'clock, present themselves at court at 3 o'clock A. 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 o'clock P M on "off" days, and until o'clock F. M. on days when there is military business to discuss. Thus the only time they can call their own is from, say o'clock P M. to 9 o'clock A. NJ. If indisposed, ot course they may obtain leave of absence, which most frequently is a great boon. The chun-chi never return the calls ot any but the most distinguished pro yincial officers, and even then this IS done on the way from the palace.-