Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-02-02
The Rome Life Of tho Chinese ROYAL
Family.

Inc SoDs or tho MRnChu emperOrs undergo
from thoir tendcrost youth a system of tht
str c:cst education. Rising at about O'Clock II
tho morning, they first take their lession 10 Chi
ncso literature, under the superintendent, g
the only tutor who has tho title of shh-fu Of
master. - The tutor risos from his chair q!
soon aa the imperial pupil enters, and receives
from the latter cur sly, which is then returned
10 the same form The tutor takes tho scat of
honor, and when tho lesson is learned tho pupil
brings up his book, deposits it before bis tcGch
er. and returns to his scat 10 repeat tho task by
hoart. Ii the lesslon is not learned, the tutor
requests eunuch in attendance to bliog the
terule, aud makes show of administering c,r.
rcctlon. But each imperial pupil is accom-
panied by eight fellow students. known in the
Manchu language es ha-ha' 'chu, who study the
same books as their Young MASTER Whom it
becomes necessary to admonish the latter moro
seriously the ha ha chu are beaten with the feruIe
vic 'rously; but when the imperial pupil ac
quits himself well, they are, 90 tho other hand,
commended or rewarded.
a rc.cltla.t aud obstinate rriLc. is as
las: resort actually himself ilJggcd, though
probably only nominally, by the teacher;
or taken before tho Emperor, who directs a
eunuch to pitch his oht cka. Tho late EN-
peior lung ohih was frcquonty lweakod
10 this wsy by order of the Empresses.
The chinese IoSsion occupies t9o hours
after this coues tho Naucbu and Mon
eol lessons 10 composition, given by teachers
who q JOY the less honorable title Of Sc fu, and
who are Obliged TO meet their pupil at the
door AID make the first obeisancc. Thcu como
less 1ra 10 various spoken lanpu :ecs, Ma1chu,
Mougrl, TaDgut aud horse archery. athletics,
tcncIng, ruttng tho stone, ctc., updcr the
guidance of GLASS Of instructors called au Ia.
Tno whole OF the young prices day is taken
up with mental or physical exercises, aCd they
retire t. r. s. at vtry early hour. At suitable
Intervals their meals are Weighed cut TO them,
and On nc tc,0unt are they niloHcd TO indulge
10 tho PLEASURES OF tho fable. AT tho age OF
httccn they must marry. OJe Year beiorc o
wife is atl etcG for tho heir apparent, hU is pro
sid d with handnail taken from tho families
OF the ioner bahnors of the imperial household
who must be- one year older than hmaclf and
prtp,ro him Tor a husbands duties. On his
accession this hbndmaid receives the title of fsi,
which Is gwen 10 her alone among those iL-
mates OF tho harem who are selected from the
rup"r banners. No one but the Empress is
allowed 10 rass the night with the Emperor.
The fimptror s'etps with eight handmaids
,liinL upon his bed, and keen others under
acath tho tci, ell Of them girls from nci WI iu
fh,ir iui ct0n il TO keep watch ever his ma esly,
aid they are nGt allowed 20 suCtZ., cough, spit,
or utter MY sound. The movements of the
Eu poror alter awaking in the morning arc Zig
nal z,d by capping Of hands on t! pnIt Of ,he
ennuch on guard.
Once a yoar- or New Years dhy-tho cm.
poror and cmpr 81 prcsido at a great banquet.
the empress sitting on the empercr's left hand.
This is tho only occasion during tho year 90
which tho cmpcrDr can sec his wives together,
and compare their rcspt cvo moiits. The cm-
pres presents articles Of food to the cunuchs who
receive It from their majesty Oh their knees. and
the emperor performs the same Eolitercss &c
to the woman. The emperor is spoken Of and
to as h~aDg shang-"mr lsty'-by oil men but
members Of the inner barn,rs, who use tho
term ''ohu.tsz dominu4" The emperor,
empress, and oonoubincs arc al! called by tho
eunrchs "fOyc. or 'chu tsz," i. O.. "Buhdhu," I"
the latter term equivalent to sire" They are
spoken Of as "oko." The thrco inner gates Of
tho imperial apartments are never obtclcl even
by ounGchs. and. OF men, cn'y cuuuchs, arc al
lowed to pass tho ffth gate, which is watched
by corps Of imperial guards, who aro author
lied to strike the sbius OF even the highest
officer who may approach without giving tho
word
If au inmate ofthc female apartments wishes
to purchase anything, or TO communicate with
the outer world. she must send hapdmaid to
sound the iron plate. or the clapper, with which
tho harcm is provided, on which tho head
euGuch approaches to inquire who is 10 want OF
assistance. Having learned who calls, be dis
patches tho under eunuch specially attached to
this department., who addresses tho bandmaid
| and takes her orders, either verbally or on q
slip Of paper. The cabinet minister's ris, every
| morning at 2 0. M, present themselves at court
at g. H., aud are then received in audietc,.
Their meals pro served grstis from tho ON
peror's pantry. and the whole day is spent al
the palace until Q. N. on off days, and till
p. IN. on days when there is military bushes:
to discuss. Thus tho only time they can cal
| their own is from, say 5 p. m. to 2 a. m. 1t in-
disposed, of COURSE they may obtain leave of alb
soucc, which must frequently be great boon.
The chun. Obi never return the calls of any but
the most distinguished provincial officers, and