New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-31
BEFORE THE SON OF HEAVEN
FOREIGN MINISTER'S IN AUDIENCE Al ihI
FOOT OF THE DRAGON THRONE
Shanghai. March 90.

oro y, tho most sensational events that mas
oocrrred in China in recent years, which is OF
reot interest TO the outside world, as well MS 10
the Celestial Empire was the audience eIai'e"
"a the foreign Ministers by the Emperor at Penn Oh
March g. The greatest possible pubic CURIOSITY was
felt. and was freely manifested in the occurrence
Tens of thousands of inqusitive Chinese crowoou
along the roads TO see the foreign devils so
70 visit the "son of Heaven 1t must be con-
fessed that the comments of the multitude, "hch
were very freely and vigorously expressed. were
by no means complimentary to the Foreign
devils" in question. There were, indeed, not a
few threats and menaces, while the picturesque
curses Of the Chinese literally filled the air. The
objects Of these attentions did not understand
the language in which they were uttered, how
ever. and therefore probably were none the
worse off. .
At exactly 10 o'clock that morning all the Siin-
Isfrs and their suites simultaneously set out rom
their respective legations. They travelled III
green sedan chairs each chair being borne by Iour
servants four other servants attending as rehei
corps Each Minister was also attended Dy FOUR
mounted servants and two mounted Chinese ON
GERS who acted in the capacity of guards ana
guides Thus the unique procession made its way
TO the Western Garden of the Imperial Capltal,
the mob of sightseers attending 1t to the very
rate Beyond the gates and the high walls OF
the garden the popuace could not go. but une
foreign Ministers went thither for the first ume'
1t was brilliant and sunny morning, ana one
scene as the cavalcade wound along the paths
Of the garden was one Of strange and singular
beauty The palace where the audience tooK
place stands on the very brink OF the Nldoie
Lake. and is respondent with bright yellow tiles
and snowy marble.
On entering the first gate Of the garden the
procession was received by the high officials OF the
Tsung-h Yomen and by large body of Tartar cav
airy Then they travelled over smooth, Tile
paved road lined with the choicest troops OF the
Chinese army. to another gate about hundred
yards distant Here itheSe WAS an elaborate
ceremony of reception. vast number OF nowery
Chinese compliments being exchanged. and then
the Ministers aliehted from their palanouins at
beautiful marble bridge which spans narrow arm
Of the lake. They were then escorted to a small
temple. known as the Sbih Wing Kung. in which
tbe Fmperor I'm dry weather prays for ram
This temple is a singularly beautiful building,
surrounded by o dense grove of gigantic ems and
willows.
Whatever had been the reluctance Of the Chi-
nese 10 grant the foreign devils entrance into
the Sacred City. when once they were WITHIN lts
walls they treated them with no lack Of courtesy.
All the Chinese and Tartar officials and servants
were almost obseGuious in their polite attentions
They Gathered by thousands about the visitors
when they were led into the temple, but only q
few high officers accompanied them within thao
building Apart from the official greetings and
reples death-like stiffness prevailed throughout
the entire city. The city. as is well known. IS
Inhabited by the Emperor about five hundred
women. and some four thousand male servants
Scarcely one CT ali these had ever before seen
foreign visitor, or indeed a visitor of any KIND
At this little temple the Ministers remained more
than IN hour They were RECALLED with an elab
crate banquet. including much champagne and
excellent cigars. The room in which they were
received was handsomely carpeted and furnished
in the most approved European style. and the ap-
pearance of this purely European room in the heart
of the Imperial City was decidedly novel and
startling. Bit on leaving the temple to proceed
70 the hall of audience another equally strange
sight met the eyes of the visitors This was MOTH
ing less than a wgauge railroad running
along the bank Of the lake and furnished with
small train of cars. This was present from
firm of French railroad builders to the Emperor
His Majesty. it is said, often rides upon 1t, but
will never use the locomotive engine preferrlng
70 have his car dragged along the track by
gang of servants
At last the company reached the gate OF the
Emperor's pavilion. 1t eighteen years since
any foreigner had set foot within those sacred
nrecincts They were not admitted immediately
but were kept waiting for about half an hour
in four handsome and spacious tents which had
been erected for their use just outside the doors
Then they were summoned to the Imperial pres
ence one by one The first Minister honored
was Herr Won Brandt, the German envoy Next
come the American Minister, Colonel DENLY after
hin, the British Minister Sir John Walsham: then
the Japanese Minister. Mr. Otori: then the Italian
Minister Chevaer Panza, and finally the MIN
ster of the Netherlands, Mr.. Ferguson. Each MIN
ister was accompanied by his interpreter ana
was escorted by two high officers of the Isung-A
Yamen The interviews very short; hardly
long enough, said one irreverent envoy to another
70 make it worth while to 60 through all the
fuss and bother.
The Emperor received them seated on throne
on a raised platform at the end Of the hail. In
front of him was a table, and at each side an
ornamental stand. Behind the throne WAS
huge slab of black marble bearing. In chinese
characters the names of 200 or more distinguished
officers of the of 1880 and 1875 Al one
side of the throne stood Prince Pao-Wang, grand
son of the famous General SalKoLin-Sin. VINO
was killed in 1865, and at the other side Prince
Ko. the Grand Chamberlain Of the Court Inc
floor of the audience chamber was covered WIN
rather cheap-looking Brussels carpet, and the
room was thronged with military officers OF high
rank who stood as silent and motionless as statues
with their eyes fixed immovably upon the noor
At the foot Of the throne knelt Prince Cnlng'
who introduced each of the Ministers by name
to the Emperor.
The young Emperor was plainly attired IN
puce oolored silken robe, with golden dragon
embroidered on the breast. He bore no sceptre
or other emblem of authority, and instead OF
crown he had on his head an ordinary Chlnese
felt hat surmounted BY button of crimson SILK
His pale face bore an air of refinement and dig,
nifty. but showed none of the force and lire Oh
his martial ancestors 1t was mild, kind and sad
| There WAS perhaps a touch Of nervousness and