Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-07-08
: 4 CHINESE NOVELTY.
THE EMPEROR PERSONALLY RE-
CEWES FOREIGNERS.

The 5th of March proved typical Peking
early spring day with clear blue sky
bright sun and crisp, keen air. About lO
O'Clock, as had been agreed with the yamen,
the ministers and their suites set out AS
each legation followed at short distances
the others on their way down, the whole
formed a mass Of thirty-one sedan chairs
| that carried the members of the diplomatic
body, attended by four mounted servants
| in full dress, from each legation, as well as
! one or two mounted Chinese officers sent
to guide each representative to the Flu Hua
Men Tor Gate of Flowery Prosperity, where
the ministers of the Tsung-li Yamen were
to receive them.
! In all the total of the cortege was about
sixty mounted men and over 200 chair
bearers. Crowds of Chinese collected along
the route to watch this novel pageant pass;
the dark green chairs, with the silver
knohes on the roofs glistening In the sun,
the glimpses of the plumed hats and brill
.hnt uniforms of the ENJOYS and their
suites, and the crowds of horsemen accom-
panying the line, appearing to them sol
emn and remarkable spectacle.
| About II o'clock the Flu Hua Men was
reached, outside of which double line of
soldiers kept the road The chairs pro
]
of the palace grounds, about hundred
yards off where the ENJOYS alighted and
were received by the ministers and secre-
taries of the Tsung-li Yamen.
ROUTE OF THE PROCESSION.
After the exchange of greetings the party
were conducted through the gate, when
the marble bridge was seen about 200 yards
ahead This bridge divides the northern
from the middle division of the lake which
runs north and south through the palace
grounds. On its eastern bank, within a
high wall, was the Forbidden City, only
the roofs of the buildings and the Coal
hill being visible from the Flu Hua Men.
The paved road followed by the ministers
after entering the gate ran about fifty
yards southwark along the western bank
pf the middle lake toward the TIE Kuang
Ko (which is near the water) then turned
off to the right to the Shih Wing Kung,
one of the temples where in summer the
emperor prays for rain. The view from this
small temple is picturesque, the grounds
being full of old trees which give the gar
dens monastic appearance.
Both sides of the path were lined by sol
diers and military officials in full uniform,
who remained silent and stationary as the
ENJOYS passed When, however, the lat
! ter had entered an inner room of the Shih
! Ying Kung, where refreshments had been
/ prepared, the little court of the temple be-
came packed with palace and other un-
/ derlings in official hats, who evinced dog
! ged curiosity at the spectacle of the for
1igners, but remained fairly quiet and did
not venture within the door.
THE HALL
In a few minutes Prince Ching arrived,
and the party remained smoking, chatting
and tasting the delicacies on the table for
about an hour The room had been adorned
with foreign carpet, and was warm and
comfortable, while the prince and minis
tiers were in their most affabe vein.
Finally a move was made to the bank OF
the lake. Along it runs broad cemented
road, on which is laid a narrow guage line
of rail on which, pushed by men, not
drawn by steam power, the emperor some
times takes an airing
The TIE Kuang Ko Tor Shining Purple
HalD is a pavlionlike hall, facing south
and standing perhaps fifty yards back from
the lake The style of its architecture and
ornament is the same as that of Chinese
temples generally, a bright yellow tiled
roof with wooden caves gorgeously carved
and painted in red, yellow and green.
The whole height of the building i!
about fifty feet. Three flights Of whit
stone steps, with carved stone balustrades
lead up to a large terrace in front of the hal
doors, of which there are five on thr south
ern face of the hall The middle door anC
middle steps being reserved for the EN-
peror's use, the ENJOYS passed up the east
ern flight of steps and entered the door t
the right hand of the central one.
Four tents, elegantly provided witt
stoves, carpets tables and chairs, had beel
erected under the eastern side of the hall
Here the ministers and their staff awaite
the summons to the imperial presence.
THE CEREMONY.
The ceremony was as follows Accordin
to the agreement the ministers entered an
stepped forward to between the drago
pillars two pillars at about six feet fror
the platform ON which the emperor sat
making on their way the three obeisance
usually made at a court in the presence {
the sovereign. Prince Ching, kneeling b
the side of the emperor, then introduce
the minister by name, the latter thereupo
| reading an address, which was repeated
Chinese by his interpreter.
On its conclusion the minister advance
with his letter Of credence to the foot
the estrada, where he found himself at
distance of eight feet from the empero
when Prince Ching, descending the sic
steps, took the letters of credence from Il
minister, reascended the estrada, and ma
ing deep bow laid them on a table INN
=. diatey in front of his majesty, who bow
in acknowledgment. Thereupon the mi
lister bowed and retired to his former POI
ton.
The emperor then addressed reply
Prince Ching, who listened kneeling, al
then the prince, descending the steps wi
m his arms spread ont like wings, accordii
p" to classic Confucian style, repeated it alo'
to the interpreter, who in turn translat
-. 1t to the minister
His majesty then bowed to dismiss
audience, whereupon the minister retire
bowling as before Chinese Times.
y, A. Miiiionth of an Atmosphere.