The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-17
FROM ORIENTAL CL|MES.
China's Emperor Offers His Annual
Sacrifice to the Temple
Of Heaven.
Some Remarkable Natural Phe.
nomena In the Land of
the Mongols.
Applications for Marriages of Japanese and
foreiEners-An Infant Prodigy the
Victim Of Superstition.

Vlctlm OF Superstition.
SAN FRANo1sco, March 16.-[ Especial. T.
Advices BY Pacific mail steamer from Yoko-
mama and Hong Kong say: The emperor
of1China has offered his annual sacriice to
the Temple of Heaven. Three days before
the event an imperial edict was promul-
gated appointing princes and ministers to
participate in the sacrifice, and to fast.
The emperor started from the Chung Is en-
palace, in the Photographers, and stepped
into his chair which was carried by sixteen
guardsmen dressed in red satin uniforms.
Passing through the Teh-chong, Si-yuen,
Si-wha and Hi-ho gates the imperial pro-
cession arrived at Wu-men (the main gate) J..
Here crowd of princes and ministers in
full court costumes, who were not to accom-
pany the emperor, knelt to receive him;
and afterwards the procession passed on
to the Temple of Heaven. First came a
guard of soldiers armed with swords and
whips, and then the bannermen. Behind
these rode the captain and officers
OF the imperial guard to the number Of two
hundred or more. Immediately following
was an enormous elephant carrying the
sacred vase, surrounded by spearmsn, bow
men and swordsmen. Three large banners
with troop of cavalry equipped with
swords. bows and arrows appeared next,
and then walking in measured pace were
eight splendid and tine-looking horses
decked with gold saddles, jade stirrups,
and yellow silken rens, q groom holding
each by the bride. Following these were
golden incense burners smoking with fra
GRANGE. The imperial chair was then seen,
preceded by large umbrella of yellow
satin embroidered with nino dragons sport
ing in the clouds, the umbrella having a
curved handle. On each side of the chair
several ministers wearing buttons of pre-
cious stones, embroidered garments, and
swords, rode on horseback. The
streets were lined with troops. Five camps
of soldiers, comprising Bannermen, M on
temple Of heaven. When the emperor ] az are
rived he entered the palace of fasting.
changed his dress and dined, and passed
the night. At daybreak the next morning,
the emperor rode in an uncovered chair
Carried by eight men to the saorifcial
grounds. After the usual ceremonies he
offered incense at the palace OF the seasons.
Then he put on the dragon robsand made
the return journey. He entered the Tsing-
yang gate, burnt incense to the god of war.
and reached the palace gardens by way of
TEACHING gate. He then offered congratu-
latlons to the empress dowager.
returned traveller from kuangsi Prov
1nce in Northern China, tells of a strange
fish found in the Kweiling river of that
province. The fish is black in color, has
four feet and walks like quadruped. The
natives call it Il dog fish from its similarity
60 that animal. When quiet reigns late at
In 10 nSnIc SNtt% IS pk~~ \
climbs to the top of trees in search of birds
and eggs. which seem to be its favorite
food. 1t is said thass the fish also inhales
the rays of the moon. and regulates and
trains its breathing powers 80 that its agili-
ty ana cunning excel anything in the air,
necessary to keep very quiet, spread a net
ander the tree upwhich the fish has climbed |
and when it descends fold over the net;
no bullet or arrow |
or line and hook will take It.
As the natives believe it an infallible
cure in consumption or other diseases of
general debility, 1t is much sought for.
certain Canton merchant bought few to
present to his friends; while the servant
was ca a.rying them he accidentlv fell and |
nad his finger badly bitten. A short time
afterwards the servant sto.e from his master
md ran away. Then the natives claim the
ish possessed prophetic knowledge of
oy biting the servant.
There is big lake in the Linchuen dis
,rict of Foochow, China, about thirty Ii in
During the winter the farm
,rs, by the aid of rude and primitive ma
,hinery, pump out its water to irrigate
when the water was rather low, were fish
ng on the lake and saw through the clear
water huge animal resembling an OK in
very particular. except that the head
lad no horns. The news of the discovery
'f this strange beast caused great commo-
ion. and with much difficulty and excite
nent it was finally caught. Its hairs. or
'ristles. were hard and thick, and it
Weighed several hundred oatties. The most
earned of the village patriarchs failed to
the animal by its proper name.
A curious phenomena occurred in New
Zealand recently. During heavy squall
here fell n shower of small red worms of
bright color, varying in size from an inch
o an inch and a-half in length. Vessels,
uch as milk dishes, were filled to depth
II from one to three inches, and the worms
ny nearly an inch thick upon the grass
they were, however, soon dried up by the
eat OF the sun.
The number of cases of application for
marriage from foreigners ana Japanese last
ear amounted to eight. Divided accord
ng to nationality they were as follows:
Inc Englishman and one Swiss married
apanese women. Another Englishman has
eceived consent to marry Japanese wo-
1an. but the marriage has not yet been effect
d. Another Englishman has become a I
apanese subject and member Of his 1
'ife's household. An application to marry ,
II American has been made by Japanese {
oman, but as yet permission has not been
ranted. Two women have asked for PER- s
lission to marry Cinnamon, but as vet =
ave not received permission. Another re-
uest of the same kind was made by jap
nese woman, but was subsequently with
rawn.
In the suburbs of the Singwei district in d
China, q child was born who |
auld call Papa" and Mamma" as soon
) 1t saw light. The villagers considered
nything out of the common would bode
o good to the family and advised the q
arents to do away with the child. The d
nsband and wife were ignorant and hard y
earted enough to follow the suggestion. '
youth coming to Shanghai to learn the !
ade in fancy goods store was attracted q
Y some gambling that was going on in the 4
shop. Two days later he bor- i
wed one thousand cash from friend, en- a
red into the game and lost every cent. He :
anged himself during the night.
II IL reported of Sir Edwin Arnold, that
a dinner at the Rokumeikan. in Toxic,
fore his departure for EnglRnd, he ac-
red the japanese not to 90 aeekinu after r
her religions, aH in Buddhism thev hnd n a