The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-31

SOLITARY AS a GOD.
Ine Hard Lines Surrounding the Young
Emperor of China.


Emperor of China.
As yet the doiags of the Chinese
have no particular interest outside
their own country. The marriage of
the Emperor is a strong proof that
this is the case. An imperial alliance
OF the same kind in the West would
have sent futter through every court
in Europe. No Chancellor or Premier
will disturb himself about the rank or
the relations of the lady who becomes
the Empress of China. In the
Flowery Land itself the choos-
ing of an imperial bride has no
political interest; she comes from
no royal house; princely or even blue
blood is not necessary qualification.
She has to be selected from the Eight
Banners. a phrase which expresses
the Manchu army of Pekin. We should
call them the guards" for they are
the personal defenders of the Emperor
Up till lately the Emperor of China
only knew of the Western nations as
foreign DEVILS" and the small states
such as the Corea, which are in con-
tact with China--go under the name of
the misunderstanding nations Ambas-
sadOrs from these states present tribute
as feudatories. and in doing so appear
before the Emperor on their stomachs,
knocking their heads on the ground
a ceremony known as the "kow-
tow" The Son of Heaven could
not condescend to ask for companion
to the dragon Throne" from
any of the rulers of these insignificant
countries. 1t is the Dowager Empress
who chooses the lady who becomes
her successor. The Dowager Empress
in the present case is not the mother
of the Emperor; she is the mother of
the late Emperor Tung-chih. During
his minority she and the Empress of
Hien-fung acted as Regents; on Tung-
chih's death in 1875, when the present
Emperor, then mere child, was ap-
pointed to the throne, the two ladies
again took charge of the government
as Regents. In 1881 the other
Empress died. She was known as
the Eastern Empress" and the
western Empress" continued the re-
gency. On his marriage the Emperor
assumes full powers and the Regent
retires into private life.
The present Emperor was born in
1871; he is the son of Prince Chun,
one of the brothers of the Emperor
L, IL FL
to the late Emperor Tung- Chin, who
died in 1875. The latter died child
less, thus causing a break in the direct
succession of the TEACHING, or Great
Pure Dynasty" Tung-Chih left will
appointing the present Emperor to
succeed him on the throne. His name
before becoming Emperor was Tsai-
ten; but on becoming Emperor of
China new name is always as
summed, and the new ruler will be-
known as Kwang-su, which me;.us \
can Inheritance of Glory
Vast as may be the Empire
of China, many as may be the
millions he rules over, this young man
of eighteen must. at least for some
years to come, count for little in the
national policy. Documents will be
placed before him, and he with the
dragon PENCIL will sign them. AS
Emperor he becomes a priest and will
have now to Officiate in the imperial
temples, the great celebration being
that at the temple of Heaven. At the
COnfucial temple he has to address the
literati; and an important duty in
Chinese eyes is that of visiting the
tombs of the dynasty, where he offers
sacrifice and worships his ancestors.
These tombs are some distance to the
northwest of Pekin and have
to be visited once year by
the reigning Emperor. If an
Emperor of China should chance
to have natural abilities. he labors
under the greatest disadvantages in
their development. Every action of
his life is affected by the etiquette of
an elaborate ceremOnial; the two hun
dred volumes and the Officials who in
quire into Heaven" who interpret their
meaning must swaddle up his whole
existence as if he were mummy. He
has none of the ordinary intercourse
which other mOrtals have with their
fellow-creatures. All who approach
him have to do so knocking their
heads on the ground; ON his exalted
throne he is cut off from all those in
fuences which would and do improve
the heart and mind His position can
not be better expressed than by re-
peating what the Chinese themselves
say: ''He is as solitary as god."-
London News.