Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-03-22
AN EMPEROR'S WIVES.
The Boy Ruler OF China Now Has
Three. but He May Have Six
Hundred.
Being Only lS Years OF Age His
Consorts Are at Present Picked
Out for Him.
But When He Gets to Be 80 He Can Select
His Snnnses 10 Please HIMSELF

ago informed u.s. says the New York Sun,
that the emperor Of China had been proyid-
ed with what seems to Americans 10 be UNI
bounded domesticity, to-wit One ccnsort,
Yeh no ma la daughter of Deputy Lieut.
Gen Knei Hslang; one secondary consort OF
the first rank, Ta-ta-la, daughter OF Chang
Hsii, some time vice president OF an imperial
board; and one concubine Of the second
rank, also named Ia Ia la, and also daughter
Of Chang Hsii.
1t is nearly fifteen year, since the present
emperor of China, TsateeR, succeeded to the
throne. He was then only baby. He Will
come into possession Of his royal domestic
household ON his 18th birthday. He is not
tho son Of the last emperor, but is one OF the
numerous princes of the realm from whom
any one might have beeR selected as the
head OF the Chinese religious systT and
nominaily of the empire. The lat emperor
was a cousin of the present incumbent he
died Of smallpox and the empress soon FOL
lowed him. The father of the present en-
percr was Ch'un, seventh son OF the Emper-
or Taskwung, who died in lSJ9 Chinese
diplomacy full of intrigue aud civil service
reform ideas, is responsible for the choice of
Tsateon, for on account of his extreme
youth the powers that were at the time be-
lieved that they could retain control of tire
government longer in that way than by cleo
ting an slstcr prince. China, in spite Of many
ideas 10 the contrary, is somewhat democrat
ic as regards the succession of emperors to
the throne. 1t would take thousands Of
words 10 explain the intricate workings of
tho Chinese system. There are a good many
members Of the imperial household in China.
and thcre is no parliamentary body to ap-
proprale funds for their support The re-
suit is rather naked, and ii is well nigh
hopeless TO attempt TO unravel the thread OF
their relations 10 themselves and to the com
nonwealth. The interesting fact remains,
which may be explained, that Tsateen, hav-
ing arrived at his majority, so TO speak, has
entered upon responsible career, and may
find himself in the course of thirty years
the father OF family that Will strain his
imperial purse 10 supply with rice and birds
nests.
Three wives may be very we'll for lad Of
Is, but they are not marker 10 what q
grown man must have especially an en-
peror; but the ruler's life n so enshrouded
with mysticism and intrigue that none but
the highest officials Of the state have any
correct idea of what il is like. Theoretically
he Is invisible. Certainly he is the son Of
Chinese point of view. AS such he is held
in tho highest esteem by the populace, but
his temporal power is remarkably slight.
One OF the most patient students of Chi
nose affairs is II. B. Mcdowell, now of this
city. He said recently:
LAS the essential element Of all Chinese
lifo is religion, IL is probable that the en-
peror's career is governed by much the same
rules that apply 10 other men in China Of
high rank. The history of previous en-
. -. )
Chinaman energies from boyhood or infancy,
as in our customs a man attalns his majority
at II, though the parallel is not exact For
the Chinese system is closely analogous TO
the ancient Roman progression of the irdi-
vdual. At Is young Roman became
'adoloscens.' AT 20 the Chlnaman advances
another step and becomes juvcntus' accord
ing TO the Roman standard. From that
time on his standing in the community I'M
proves with every decade. AT 30 he is mar
riageabie, or, more plainly, he ought 10 be
married, and after tnat time he selects his
wives to please himself. When he is 40 he
is capable Of holding public Office and at 80
he can advance stop in his official position.
So again at % tho dignity Of his relation
increases.
"A lad Of 1s ia provided with domestic
help mates by his father. From now until
the emperor is 30 his wives and cOncubines
will be selected for him. After that he may
choose and bargain for himself. The three
domestic sympathiZers with whom he has
already been provided represent the nuce
of his future harem, and the contamination
may be any number which he chooses TO
support The imperial harem of China is
the largest in the world. The sultans will
not compare with IL. Many Chinese en-
perors have had as many as 800 wives. Out
OF all these however, there is but one genu-
inc wife in our understanding OF the term.
She is the first, or in this instance Yeh no
ala. Normally her tirst-born son will
succeed 10 the throne, though events may 80
happen that according to Chinese policy
some other Of the emperor's offspring will
be selected. The one real wife is at the
head Of the household. Besides her there
may be any number of secondary wives,
equally legitimate, but Of lower rank. The
concubines correspond nearly TO the mis-
tTesses of Europeans. but their offspring are
not socially so degraded IA they would be
according to our civilization"
what are the relations OF the emperor 3
children TO the community or to the statein
ITO understand that you must remember
that the father, until his death, is the abso-
lutte head and ruler Of the family. The
Chinese father is responsible for the support
OF all his children. No exception of this
rule is made in favor of the emperor. Of
course he secures funds for his household
by taxation, but the Chinese taxation is a
system Of squeezing. The mandarin
squeezes the people Of his providence and
the emperor squeezes the mandarins If the
Book OF Rites according 10 which all
Chinese conduct is regulated, did not COM
mand such exactions the emperor with his
numerous family might find himself sadly
pushed TO meet his expenses, for he is no
absolute monarch, as most people suppose.
In fact, he has less political power and in
fnence than Queen Victoria. His sacred
position IA he chief OF the Chinese religious
system enables him TO eXtor. money for the
maintenance Of his large household His
children are in some senses unfortunate
There is no recognized place for them in
the state, and though they are highly re-
spected because of their blood they can
command no income and in themselves have
no influence Every one Of them, however,
to the son of the last concubine, is a most
eligible parti, matrimouially considered
and great many of them are disposed of
conveniently by marrying a heavily dow
cred daughter of an ambitious or unluclSy
family. If a man has large number Of
daughters ii is unauspicious, and an alliance
with person of royal blood will break the
luck. Other sons Of the emperor are highly
educated and put through the famous ex-
aminations until they become lterat Of the
highest rank That makes them eligible
for state positions, and thereafter they have
no great difficulties with life. The literary
examinations are supposed TO be strictly
impartial, and in general they probably are,
but 1t is nevertheless odd that sons Of en-
perOrs almost uniformly pass with the very