The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1890-10-11
fPEkiNG MENDlcANTs.

Fifty Of Them Come Within Ona =,
NB~-a Trouncing Their Emperor.
"a few weeks ago the Young Emner
OF China had narrow escape from a
thorough trouncing, if not worse, at the
hands OF a party Of beggars in his capi-
tai. 1t is favorite pastime of the
young Emperor to wander in ordinary
Chinese clothes through the streets Of
Peking, to lounge around tho corners
and to drink his tea in the most crowded
restaurants, in order that he NAV learn
what his subjects think of him and his
Government. He runs no risk of bav.
ing his identity discovered while he is
thus doing the town, for in Peking tho
art OF photography is not practlced, and
consequently the people at large have
no idea of the personal appsyaance "
their sovereign. sS
The Emperor had got but a short dis
tance from his palace on one OF these
trips of investigation late in the after
noon OF last December 2s, whom he saw
aChinese beggar picking the pocket of
respectable merchant. The Emperor
promptly caught the beggar by the back
OF his blouse, cuffed his ears and forced
him to return to the merchant the stuff
stolen from his pocket. Now this per-
formance OF tho Emperor was much
more remarkable in Peking than it
would have been in any other big citv
OF the world, for in Peking beggars and
pickpockets are protected by kind of
unwritten law. Beggary is recognized
asa perfectly legitimate employment
and the beggars constitute guild
which has for its prime object the mu-
tual protection OF all members of the
craft. Any one who inter feres with a
beggar in the prosecution Of his en-
ployment exposes himself 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 assist
ance.
of course the young Emperor knew
nothing about this abuse, which OBJ
tanned many decades ago in his big cap
ital. After cutting the beggar's ears he
went HE way quite unapprehensive.
knd brought up in restaurant but
nw rods from the scene of the row. He
had hardly taken the first sip Of his
cup OF tea when every one in the restau-
rant 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 landlor to hand over
Immediately to them the young man
who had offended against all the un-
written laws and precedents Of the
Feking guild of beggars. The landlord
recognized their demand as perfectly
legitimate, and hurried to quell the
disturbance by delivering up the Of
fender. The young Emperor, however,
objected very strenuously to being de-
hNered up, and while making his re-
monstrances spoke such superfine
Chinese that the landlord perceived he
had to do with the son OF some big-wig.
As special favor, therefore, he offered
10 parley with the band of beggars till
their intended victim could summon
someof his friends to his assistance.
~ The Emperor gladly accepted the sug-
gestion He dispatched messenger at
once 70 the Governor Of the palace COM
manding him to hurry to the spot with
Two companies Of soldiers. The Gov
ernor and the soldiers came, rescued
their Emperor, and lugged the fifty
Deggars of to jail. The landlord got
$soo Tor his consideration. The leader
or the heggars and three of his COM
iirades, who helped him demand the EN-
;peror from the landlord, were executed
'lne next day. The rest Of the rioters
were Imprisoned for terms between five
ana ten years each. The Emperor has
gwen ordersto the Peking officials that
me authorized system of begging must
Eo'-N Y. SUP.