The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-03


be seen in a lamasery on the Mongolian
plateau, he is knet to by all his attendants
and honored as god. There is this differ
ence that the respect felt for HIM is
more profound than for them. The Sc
clusion in which he is kept also is far
more complete. The building in which
the Emperor resides is called Yang
Hsin Tien, and is a little to the west of the
Ch'ien Ching Meu, in the middle of the
palace. At the back of the central gate, on
the south sde is the great reception hall.
When ministers of state and others enter for
an audience, at 4, or o'clock in the morn
ing, according to custom, they have to go on
foot to the center OF the palace over half
mile if they enter by the east or west gate,
and when they get on in years they can ap
preciate the Emperors favor, which then, by
Decree allows them to be borne in chair
instead of walking.
The rooms of the Emperor consist of seven
compartments. They are provided with
the dlvan or kang tine peculiar institu-
tion of North China. The k'angs are covered
with red felt of native manufacture, and the
floor with European carpets. The cushions
all have embroidered on them the dragon
and the phoenix. Pretty things scattered
through the rooms are endless in variety,
and are changed in accordance with any wish
expressed by the Emperor. The rooms are
In all thirty yards long by from eight to nine
yards deep, and are divided into three separ-
middle one. Folding doors ten feet in height
open into each of these apartments to the
north and south in the center of each. The
upper part of these doors is all open work, in
which various auspicious characters and
flowers are carved At the back 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 curtain of
damask is hung in the doorway, which, by
its weight, keeps its place close to the
door posts and prevents cold air
from entering. In summer this
is replaced by curtain admitting the breeze
on account of its being made of very thin
strips OF bamboo. The silk threads 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 agreeable to the eye.
These summer and 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 covered
flight of steps fifteen feet wide. The roof
over this rests on two rows of pillars. The
pillars shine with fresh vermilion, both
within the rooms and on the steps outside,
and are decorated with sculptured work,
partly gilt and partly varnlshed. The Hoppe,
who lately returned from Canton. gave the
Emperor present valued at $S 000 1t con-
sisted of chandeliers holding 500 wax can
dies each. His Majesty has also some cleo
trical machines and numberess foreign curl
ositles.
The Emperor was vaccinated when an in
FAINT, before his high destiny was thought of,
other Use it would have been difficult to vac
clnate him, for, his person being sacred when
Emperor no lancet can touch him. His
mother, the Princess of Ch'un, who is a sister
of the Empress of the West, will be raised to
the rank Of Empress dowager when be is six
teen, and his father will also be made Tai
Shang Huang. AT least this is to be expect
ed by precedent, so that after three years we
shall again have two empresses dowager but
in this case they will be sisters. The Princess
his mother, goes in to see HIM once month,
and kneels when she first speaks to
him, but rises afterward His father
does so too The Emperor studies Chi
nese daily for an hour and half, and Man
chu also for an hour and half He spends
two hours in archery and riding, and in
winter amuses himself with sledging. He
has little brother OF fve whom it may be
hoped the mother takes with her when she
goes to the palace. The teachers who instruct
him kneel to him on entering, but afterward
sit. The Emperor has eight eunnchs who
constantly attend him, besides an indefinite
number for special occasions. He has his
meals alone, and the eight eunuchs wait
round him, restraining him if he takes too
much of any one thing. His school-room is
at the back of the Yang Hsn Tien already
described, and the hall for conference each
morning with ministers is little to the east,