Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1890-10-02
EMPEROR AMONG sseeARs.
An Adventure of the Young Chinese Ruler
Among Hi Poor Subjects.

An Adventure of the Young Chinese Ruler
Among Hi1 Poor Subjects.
The young emperor of China had
narrow escape from a thorough
trouncing, if not worse, at the hands
of party of beggars in his capital. 1t
is favorite pastime of the young en-
peror to wander in ordinary Chinese
clothes through the streets of Peking,
to lounge around the corners, and
drink his tea in the most crowded res.
taurants, in order that he may learn
what his subjects may think of him
and his government. He runs no risk
of having his identity discovered while
thus doing the town. for in Picking
the art of photography is not prac-
ticed and consequently the people at
large have no idea Of the personal sp-
pearance of their sovereign.
The emperor had gone but short
distance from his palace on ono of
these trips of investigation, late i'll the
afternoon, when he saw Chinese beg
gar picking the pocket of a respectable
merchant. The emperor promptly
caught the beggar by the back Of his
blouse, cutfed his ears and forced him
to return to the merchant tbs stuff
stolen from his pocket Now, this per
Torrance of the emperor was much
more remarkable in Picking than it
would have been in any other big city
of the world, for in Peking beggars
and pickpockets are protected by a
kind of unwritten law Beggary is
recognized as a perfectly legitimate
employment, and the beggars consti
tute guild which has for its prime
object the mutual protection of all
members of the craft. Any one who
interferes with a beggar in the prosecu-
ton IF his employment exposes him
self to the vengeance of the guild.
This vengeance generally takes the
rough and ready form of the fiogging
of the interloper at the hands of as
many beggars as the beggar who has
been interfered with can Immediately
summon to his assistance.
Of course the young Emperor knew
nothing about this abuse, which OBJ
tanned many decades ago in his big
capital. After cutting the beggar's
ears he went his way quite unappre-
hensive, and brought up in restau-
rant but few rods from the scene of
the row. He had hardly taken the
first sip of his cup Of tea when every
one in the restaurant was startled by
wild hullabaloo. The landlord went
to the door, He found fifty beggars
before his house, under the leadership
Of the fellow whose ears the emperor
had boxed. They ordered the land
lord to hand over Immediately to
them the young man who had offended
against all the unwritten laws and pre-
cedents of the Picking guild of beggarS,
The landlord recognized their demand
as perfectly legitimate, and hurried to
Guell the disturbance by delivering up
the offender.
The young emperor, however, OBJ
Jected very strenuously to being deliv-
cred up, and while making his re-
monstrances spoke such supreme Chi
nese that the landlord perceived he had
to do with the son of some big wig.
As special favor, therefore, he Of
Tered to parley with the band of beg
CARS till their intended victim could
summon some of his friends to his as
sistance
The emperor gladly accepted the
suggestion. He dispatched messen-
ger at once to the governor of the pal
ace, commanding him to hurry to the
spot with two companies Of soldiers.
The governor and the soldiers came, |
rescued the emperor and logged the
fifty beggars off to Jail. The Landlord
got $3.50 for his consideration. The
leader of the beggars and three of his
comrades who helped to demand the
emperor from the landlord were exc,
cuted the next day. The rest of the
rioters were imprisoned for terms be.
tween five and ten years each. The
emperor has given orders to the Pc
king officials that the authorized sys-
tenn of begging must go.-Exchange.