The sun., 1889-11-10
CHINESE COURT CUSTOMS.
The Little Princes Trained Constantly
How tho Harem Is Managed.


How the Harem Is Managed.
Kwang-Su, the Chinese Emperor who
assembled the throne March last was just II
years old on July 23. Nevertheless he proba-
bly, has rs much miscellaneous learning in his
head as any three European princes, who. ut his
age. are usually digging deep after Greek and
Latin roots or hammering away at elementary
problems In parliamentary government and
finance. The young Chinese Emperor's pre-
cociousness is duo for the most part to the
thoroughness and strictness OF his very early
training, for in China little princes are COM
PEELED to cram their small noddles full OF all
sorts Of knowledge during the years which
American boys always devote to marbles. scrub,
and holey- bowley. They rise at o'clock in the
morning to take lessons In Chinese literature.
The teacher who gives them this lesson bears
the title "shifu." and is a very big man. 80 big
In fact that the princes upon entering their
recitation room must bow to him first. AS
soon as o prince has learned his lesson he
places his book before the teacher. sets down
before him. ana repeats without interruption
all he remembers OF what he has been been
studying. II the teacher finds that the prince
does not remember enough he sends a eunuch
out for whip and makes q great show OF pre-
pairing to whip some one. The whip when it
comes however, falls not upon the shoulders
OF the prince but upon the shoulders OF eight
other little Cinnamon called "ha-ha-tschu."
who accompany the prince to his school daily
and recite the same lessons as he. Through
these ha-ha-tschu the prince is thrashed or
praised according to his deserts. Should
vlcarious fogginRs not induce a prince
to stow away the requisite amount
Of Chinese learning he would be taken
before the Emperor. who would COM
mand q eunuch to pinch the young lazyboness
cheeks: The Chinese lesson lasts two hours.
which are superintended BY another teacher
Still another teacher instructs the princes In
several Asiatic languages and Chinese dialects.
After school hours the princes shoot with tho
bow, on foot and on horseback. fence. run and
jump. under the superlntendence of special
with the performance Of prescribed mental aud
physical exercises. At fixed hours their food
II Dor poIEtioned out to them. None Of them Is al;
how much he may eat. They are always tucked
away In bed with the hens. so that they may be
ready read ior tne O'clock dose OF chinese lltera-
At the beginning OF his fourteenth year the
Training for his marriage. which takes place
In his fifteenth year. The young woman who |
teaches him al about the duties Of married
perial official household. and must be Just one
year older than he; After the Prince has be- |
the honor Bile title OF Sill" which she alone |
OF al mem oers OF the harem is allowed to bear.
ThS daily srS hour Of his n Chi
the Emperor box OF little white tickets each |
Emperor draws a ticket, hit or miss. and gives |
II to the eunuch, who Immediately orders the |
She is conveyed thither in litter by four SER |
wants. She always takes a golden wash basin |
with her, She is carried back to her quarters |
Emperor. Twenty four female servants pass
the night IN the sleeping chamber OF the En-
keeping sharp watch Of the imperial couple. |
They are not allowed to sneezo. cough, speak, |
ar couns sWaF ba mhen th the
twenty four female servants announce the |
fact to the eunnch on guard.who proclaims the
Most men are not allowed, to pass the most
remote OF the five doors, which lead to the inn
unt nnder orders to oppose with drawn swords the
entrance OF all men even the highest imperlal
even, eunuchs are allowed to pass the three In
ner doors. II a lady Of the court wishes to buy
outside world, she tells n maid servant all
about IT, The maid servant then goes, a safe
mons to her the eunnch in chief BY striking a
gong or turning a clapper" After learning
What What the court lady wishes, the ennueh Ii
eunueh who secures the desired article or in
Once year, on New Years Day. the Emperor
banquet. The Empress then sits at her hus-
bands left. This is the only occasion In the
whole year when the emperor has all his quasi
wiyes together and under the eyes OF his real
wife. The Emperor himself hands the viGnds
to the eunuchs who receive them kneeIing.
. Kwaug-l schan," that is Majesty" The
members Of the household, however, use
merely the title "Chu-tsz." that Is Dominus'
pr g Lord, The eunuchs usually address the
Emperor. EMPRESS. and court ladies as "Fo-
that is B9Gdnh and royal prince as
The Cabinet Ministers at tho Chinese Court
don't have 80 much fun as their lord. They
have to get up at 2 o'clock every morning TO
present themselves at court one hour later.
they receive their meals. free OF charge. In the
Emperor's dining room. They pass the whole
lay in the imperial palace up TO O'Clock. and
when military affairs are under discussion. up
10 9 O'Clock In the afternoon. Only when seri-
Ously Ill can Minister excuse himself from
The laborious duties OF his offlce.
Tale of n War Horas.