The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-11
(EaZZ1H
PROGRESS AT PEHING.
The Young Emperor Not so Toploftlcsl a.
He Was.

How
The Chinese Emperor is slowly giving
way before the demands OF Western civil
lization. Time was when no European
was even admitted within the sacred
precincts OF the imperial palace. and
when every representative OF a foreign
power who gained an audience with the
Emperor was forced to kOwtOw like 3
native. The opium war broke up tha
kowtowing, but the absurd features ~
yelling the face Of the Emperor and cone
Quoting all conversation through a third
person in addition TO the official interpr--
ter have been recently abolished. Now
still another stone from the wall of cone
servatism has gone down. as the Emperor
last month admitted the new British
Minister, Mr.. OConor into his own pr.-
vate apartments. and permitted him to
enter and depart by the big official gate
To Americans this question on entrane.
by a certain gate may seem absurd. hut
in China. where rule and precedent ago
SO strictly observed, II is OF the highest
Importance. Before this audience given
TO the British Minister every one who
was received by the Emperor or ihe
Tsung-li-Yamen was compelled 10 enter
the palace grounds through the small e
door provided for petty Chinese officials
and palace attendants and he was Tee
ceived in the TIE Kuang 10, or COM
mon chamber in which the mandarins
and Governors OF provinces are receiyed
when they come UP TO the capital to pre-
sents gifts or make complaints or hush
up some prominent scandal.
This small chamber Is a finely fur
nlshed room, but the Chinese. who are
sticklers for etiquette beyond any other
al tuifh AfcHnNn
any official who cannot enter the imperial
palace in state by the main gate and
cannot obtain the honor OF private au-
dience with the Emperor. He f. said 20
lose face" when he relegated TO the
small door and the common reception
chamber.
1t is for this reason that tbs various
foreign Ministers to China have had 50
little influence in Oriental diplomacy
II they had insisted at the outset upon
a genuine reception. such as the Emperor
gives a high Chinese official, they would
have commanded far moro respect and
they would have been able 10 exercise
more influence over Chinese diplomacy
But the majority OF these men accepted
the position OF Minister to Picking for
what there was In it-gcod salary, fine
quarters, substantial perquisites. and
many handsome presents from the chi
nese Government So the matter has
run on from year to year.
Two years ago. when the Emperor
held a great festival to celebrate his ma
jority the foreign Ministers were remem-
bered with presents that cost many th0us.
ands OF dollars, but they did not secure
the reception honors which they coveted
and which the astute Vceroy. Ii Hung
Chang. had led them TO expect. They
were all dressed in uniform except Colo
mel DENLY. our Minister. and they made
brave show OF g,ittering decorations
and brilliant uniforms as they were
formed In line Just outside the palace
wall. Then the imperial Chamberlain
came forth, but instead OF leading them
through the great main gate he suddenly
turned and conducted the amazed diplo-
mats through the little common gate
into the old general reception hall, which
had been reprinted and made attractive
for the occasion. There their presents
were ranged beside their chairs and a
sunptuous dinner was served The
Emperor. when they filed I'm, was seated
at a small table on a raised dais. FUZZY
fifty feet away from this herd OF FOR
eigners. He maintained a position OF
extreme dignity. listened placidly 20 ths
high rhetorical address OF Congratulations
which was read by the Dean Of the diplc-
matte Corps, and then by a simple nod
Of the head give the sign 10 his cham
berlain TO read his response. one VINO
witnessed this ceremony said that the
Emperor bore a strong resemblance 10
wax figure, and that he showed no more
animation in countenance or gesture thaa
an automatic figure. AS soon as the
address was delivered a curtain was
dropped before the Emperor and ne re-
tired to his palace apartments. The YER
nacular papers dwelt on the great con-
descension which the Emperor had shown
I'm receiving the Ministers In person ana
In permitting them 20 gaze upon MS race,
but II is understood that the ficeFoy
IA rIdiculed the foreigners and declared
that they should have refused 20 % en-
tertained In a room made common by the
presence OF petty Chinese officials. nc
eaid the had lost face" and that u
would require some time TO repair tns
blunder. .h.
The old Viceroy was correct, Tor th'
yernacular Chinese, as well as the JaFs
nese papers. took up the matter ana rhAne
game OF the diplomats. Last year INC
Austro-H Hungarian Minister obtained II
ter much effort, an audience WIN ~
Enneror. but he was forced TO enter py
the little gate, the Chinese emblem o.
humiliation, and he never even sa" VIC
face OF the young potentate 70 whom %
presented long eulogy. sun. the'0 -,
Concentrations for such rebuns as nv
FOR the salaries OF al the Ministers ~
GOOD and their offices are mainly sie
cures-New York sun.