The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-07-19
LOoTRG A PALACE.
The Plumber Taken from the EN-
perer Of China at Pekin.

Adjoining these temples of joss
houses were the apartments of the
emperor and his suite. They we're
equally magnificent in architecture,
DuG better for loo ing from the rare
ana costly devices on everything in
the way OF furniture. Solid gold
ana silver and precious stones of
every hue glistened on the arms
and backs Of chairs and lounges,
ana pictures and vases. Jude and
agate were dispensed profusely
around In the shape of knobs for
door handles and on vases, etc. l
remarked that all the furniture
was of European manufacture and
afterward studded with these
precious stones and metals
One apartment our fellows
called "the watchmaker's,' .
1t being entirely devoted to clocks
and watches, which were, in a aim,
liar manner with the furniture, all.
covered with pearls and other
stones. The clocks and watches
were principally of American maui
ufacture, bat the vases, perfecr beau
ties, were for the most part Of brass
and blue enamel-"the lost art
and nowhere to be found except in
the possession Of the emperor. It
vas all very easy to pocket a w tch,
or chopstick, or IN agate cup, or
nugget of gold or silver; yes, even
the Josses were some of them small
enough to be carried by our soldiers,
some OF these joases were very val
liable, being solid gold inlaid with
precious stones), but when it came
to vases and jade>stone carvings it
was q horse of another color, and
our men really did not know their
value, but there were others around
who took advantage of the occasion.
Some large mercantile houses had
their agents along, evidently ex>
pecting something of the sort, and
when they came scross a soldier
Juggling away at a large vase or
jade, why, they simply bought 1t
from him on the spot by giving him
a note of hand on their firm, to be
paid at sight; and l may here say, in
this respec' that every note so given
was in every instance promptly
met on presentation a'terward.
Every hing was in such reckless
profusion th>t the eye was dazzled
Snd one cou d not make I'D his mind
what to seize en-, dropping one thing
to take up another which he
thought was of more value than the
last. The Emperor of the French
(the late Napole on lid had splen~
did collection, the majority of which
he got as present from Gen. Mon
tauoan commander Of the French
forces in China, aud her majesty
Queen Victoria and his royal high
ness the Prince of Wales have each
collections which can always be
seen at Windsor G ,stle and Marl-
borough House. One Of the most
beautiful specimens of jade that ]
saw there belonged to Major
Probyn, V. c., commanding the
First Sikh irregular cavalry pro
byn's horse) 1t was a baton about
two feet long aud of jade. stone,
with a solid gold handle, studded
with precious stones. If L remem.
Der right, he sent it home as 6
present to her majesty. A corporal
of the 18th rifles found pearl neck
lace, which he took home to Lon,
don, and, I believe, sold it there fol-
e75O. Everyone had something OF
| other which afterward brought
money If he chose to sell. Oicourse
in many instances, presents were
made of this loot, as in my own case
had boxes made and hired Pekir
coolies to carry them to the Taku
forts, had them put on mansof.
war in which 1 had a cousin fra
lieutenant, who took them to Eng
land for ne. had q very fine col
lection composed of "vases, jade
agate and josses," with ivory an(
| gold chop sticks, nuggets Of gold anG
gems Of various descriptions, with
silk and crepe in galore; but tn,
best in my collection was, I think, 6
nine-story pagoda made of 'the los
art" It was of bronze, with blu,
enamel run in. 1 sent all of these
to my fathers house in Ireland
where they are highly prized. --Tht
I'm ted Seroice.