Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-04
THE EMPEROR OF CHINA.
A Rich AND Luxurious HOme-
The YORag uOnaFeh's Educa-
ton.

The ruler Of the $50, 100000 Of which
the Chinese nation probably consists
is now within Eve years Of his major
ity. and is an occupant, while yet =
minor, of the same apartments in
which lived the Emperor who pre-
ceded him on the Dragon throne.
There, says the North China Herald,
he eats with gold tipped chopsticks Of
ivory. There he sleeps on large
Ningpo bedstead, richly carved and
ornamented with ivory and gold, the
same on which the noble minded EN-
perors Kang Hsi and Chen Lung
used to reeline after the days fatigue
last century and the century before.
Like one of those living Buddhas who
may be seen in a lamasery on the
Mongolian plateau, he is knelt to by
all his attendants and honored as
god. There is this difference, that
the respect felt for him is more pro-
found than for them. The seclusion
in which he is kept alss is far more
complete. The building in which
the Emperor resides is called Yang
HsiA lien, and is little to the west Of
the CHEN Ching Meu in the middle
Of the palace. AT the back Of the cen
trail gate. on the south side, is the
great reception hall. When Minis
tiers Of State and others enter for an
audience, at four, FIVE or six 10 the
morning, according to custom, they
have to go on foot to the center OF the
palace over a mile il they enter by the
east or west gate, and when they get on
in years they can appreciate the En-
peror's favor, which then by decree
allows them to be borne il chair ins
stead Of walking.
SEVEN MAGNIFICENT COMPARTMENTS
Theroems of the Emperor consist
of seven compartments. They are pro-
vided with the divan or k'sng, the
peculiar institution OF North China.
The hangs are covered with red felt Of
native manufacture, and the floor
with European carpets. The cush-
ions ali have embroidered on them
the dragon and the phenix. Pretty
things scattered through the rooms
are endless in variety, and are changed
10 accordance with any wish express
ed by the Emperor. The rooms are in
all thirty yards long by from eight to
nine yards deep, and are divided into
three separate apartments, the throne
room being the middle one. Folding
doors ten feet in height open into each
Of these apartment to the north and
south in the center OF each. The up
per part OF these doors is 10 open work
in which various auspiciols chsrac-
ters and flowers are carved. At the
baek paper is pasted to admit light TO
the rooms. The front is ornamented
with gliding, sculpture and varnish Of
various colors These doors remain
open even in winter, because during
that season thick embroidered cur
tain or damask is hung in the door
way which by its own weight keeps its
place close to the door posts and pre-
vents cold air from entering. In sum
mer this is replaced by a curtain ad-
hitting the breeze on account of it
being made Of very thin strips Of BAN
boo. The silk thread used in sewing
the strips Of bamboo together are OF
various colOrs, and passing through
the whole texture Of the curtain from
the top to the bottom are very agreea-
bic to the eye. These summer aud
winter curtains are rolled up to give
air to the rooms when required. Exit
and entrance are effected on each side
Of these curtains by side doors
Along the whole front of thirty
yards there is a covered flight o.
steps fifteen feet wide. The roof over
this rests on two rows Of pillars. The
pillars shine with fresh vermilion
both within the rooms aud on the
steps outside, aud are decorated with
sculptured work, partly gilt anC
partly vanished. The Hoppe, who
lately returned from Canton, gave the
Emperor present valued at $1,000. L
consisted OF chandeliers holding 50(
wax candles each. His Majesty hal
also some electrical machines ant
numberless foreign curiosities.
HIS MOTHER AND HIS STUDIES
The Emperor was vaccinated wher
an infant before his high destiny wa
thought Of; otherwise it would havt
been difficult to vaccinate him, for, hi
person being sacred when Emperor
no lancet can touch him. His mother
the Princess Of Ch'un. who is siste
Of the Empress of the West, will b.
raised to the rank Of Empress Dow
ager when he is sixteen. and bis fathe
will also be made Tai Shang Huaug
At least this is to be expected b,
precedent, so that after three years w
shall again have two Expresses Dow
ageT, but in this case they will be sis
tiers. The Princess. his mother, goei
in to see him once month, AM
kneels when she first speaks to him
but rises aiterwar9. His father doe
so. too. The Emperor studies Chimes
daily for an hour and a half, AM
hanchu also for an hour and a halt
He spends two hours 10 archery an,
riding, aud in winter amuses himsel
with sledging. He has a little brothe
Of five, whom il may be hoped tn
mother takes with her W en- she zoe
TO the palace. The teachers who 10
struct him kneel to him on entering
but afterward sit. The Emperor hS
eight eunuchs who constantly atten,
him, besides an indefinite number 70
special occasions. He has his meal
alone, and the eight eunuchs wal
round him, restraining him if he take
too much Of any one thing. Hi
school room is at the back Of tn
Yang Hsin Tien alreldy described
and the hall for conference each morn
ing with Ministers is a little to th
east
A War Relic.