The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-29
PROGRESS AT PEKING.
III YOUNG EMPEROR NOT so TOP
LOETICAL As LIE WAS.

The New British Azinister Eaters the Palace
by the Rig Of1cial Gate Instead OF the
Little One. Thereby saving HIS "Face."
SHANGHAI. Dec. 21.-The Chinese Emperor is
slowly giving way before the demands OF
Western civilization. Time was when no
European was even admitted within the
sacred precincts Of the imperial palace. and
whom every representative OF q foreign power
who gained an audience with the Emperor
was forced to kowtow like q native. The
opium war broke up the kowtowing. but the
absurd features OF yelling the face Of the EN-
peror and conducting all conversation through
o third person in addition to the official inter-
prefer have been recently abolished. Now still
another stone from the wall OF conservatism
has gone down. as the Emperor last month
admitted the new British Minister. Mr..
O'Conor. into his own private apartments. and
permitted him to enter and depart By the big
official gate.
To Americans this question on entrance By
q certain gate may seem absurd. but in China.
where rule and precedent are 30 strictly OBJ
served. It Is Of the highest importance. Before
this audience given to the British Minister
every one who was received BY the Emperor
or the Tsung IL Yamen was compelled to enter
the palace grounds through the smaller door
provided for petty Chinese officials and PALACE
attendants and he was received in the TIE
Kuane Ko. or common chamber in which the
1saSsd TSsn and sh sSv 'so%s n =, 'sc shs ssp rSs TO to
present gifts or make complaints or hush up
some prominent scandal
room. but the Chinese, who are sticklers for
etiquette beyond any other nation. always look
inter s disd imper aSpP Pa! lazy IN o'n stato 81 EH sh ea MANN
sS 9sS : Ss WI e n 3 F zs}sssssa i 81 IL l. al: :%s f i Isss
ut Il is SIC for ef this feas seai that the 'S Various foreign
in Oriental diplomacy. II they had Insisted at
the outset upon q, genuine reception. such
81 ef,c tsH t EE%R scaid f fSss e to e nisG ,s Gh! msss
respect n and they nsys would ova haze Ssi Sssn S SSls to sx-
the position OF Minister to Peking Tor what
there was In it-good salary. fine quarters.
presents from the Chinese Government. So
the matter has run on from year to year,
great rTo t ssaiss as e c SsSp ssi his sn msiSIit s:' fhs g
ents that cost many thousands Of dollars. but
Viceroy, Ii Hung Chang. had led them to eI-
e SsSs. Col dh Sen Ts.s our a! M fpfsssa and IN u thes made a,
. brave show Of glittering decorations and
R 3Sss oass SHife shs ss a. they xs Esrs a iSsn sse ii l!as
rial Chamberlain came forth. but instead Of
leading theI through the great main gate ne
suddenly t,Gined and conducted the amazed
the old general reception hall. which had been
repainted and made attractive for the occasion.
There their presents were ranged beside their
chairs and O sumptuous dinner was served.
The Emperor. when they filed IN. was seated att
small table on Q raised dais. fully fifty feet away
from this herd Of foreigners. He maintained
2 position Of extreme dignity. listened placidly
tion which was read by the Dean Of the Diplo-
mattc Corps. and then BY Q simple nod Of the
head gave the sign to his Chamberlain to read
his response. One who witnessed this cere-
mony said that the Emperor bore Q strong
resemblance to q wa1 figure; and that he
the address was delivered q curtain was
dropped before the Emperor and he retired to
his palace apartments. Theyernacular papers
awelt on the great condescension which the
his face. but II is understood that the Viceroy
II ridiculed the foreigners and declared that
they should have refused to be entertained in
q room made common by the presence Of
petty chinese officials. he said they had lost
face" Hnd that 1t would require some time to
The old Viceroy was correct. for the vernacu-
lar Chinese. as we'll as the Japanese papers.
took up the matter and made game Of the
diplomats. Last year the Austro-H Hungarian
Minister obtained. after much effort. an audi
ence with the Emperor. but he was forced to
face Of the young potentate to whom he pre-
sented q long eulogy. Still. there are compen-
~sRtions for such rebufs as this. forthe salaries
OF all the Ministers are good. and their Offices
are mainly sinecures.