The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-22
MERCHANT AND " IF Z.
TBy o Korean artist.

ing the space which the life bestowed titles
Of the deceased would occupy. Next came
five paianguins made Of light native
wood and more or less artistically hand
painted, in which were stored the most
priced possessions of the dead queen and
which were to be deposited in her tomb.
Then followed a large litter containing
food for the deceased during her voyage
across the misty border and ID more struc-
lures in the form of ordinary chairs OF To-
comotion upon which were painted the
Llany and varied titles of the dead woman.
The chair lately used by the queen was
jealousy escorted by a body of guards
from the palace, who were dressed In q
uniform of white, topped off with curious
ly shaped shaggy hats, also Of snowy
whiteness. Besides the ordinary attend
ants each of the preceding groups was
escorted by officials Of the mandarin class,
clad in either court dress or mourning, as
their particular duty or relationship di
rected and exacted The palace musicians
followed, clad In their peculiar crimson
and ysllowish robes, not playing the wild
sounding hair raising melodies Of every
day, but in grim, significant silence they
marched. After them were 200 men from
GU6 Iitlitld, DC3i3hS iiUtfc hh4c
which, waving gently IN the breeze lent
a very picturesque air to that section OF
the procession. Next was noticed Q gi-
gantic red umbrella insignia of rank)
and q rather smaller one of black silk,
each guarded by a body Of mandarins,
while Immediately after came a collection
of gilt and wooden emblens representing
the gifts which were supposed to be show
cred on the deceased after her arrival in
hea.en. The chair in which the soul Of
the dead queen was carried was borne by
some 40 coolies and was the most striking
feature in the great show. In shspe 1t
resembled miniature temple richly orna-
mented in gaudy paneling and draped
with green and black silk in alternate
squares.
To Brighten Evil Spirits.
Four men seated in carts drawn by cool
les preceded this, wearing hideous black
masks, who grinned and glared on the
crowd as they passed. Their mission was
to scare away any evil spirits that may
have been lurking in the neighborhood of
the royal soul, but considering that a
sham bier had been sent over the road
previously for the purpose of deceiving
them it may be considered that they were
q supertiuity. After this marched the eL
regent, whose high rank and many vir
tues We're heralded abroad. Preceding his
white covered chair was his white silk
umbrella, held aloft, and Immediately in
his rear came two huge modelled horses
drawn in carts, and behind them again
came four real horses, with all the trap
pings of state and war that could be
crowded on them. Two of these again
were white and two pieba!d. At intervals
along the whole line Of the procession
were carried banners Of the guilds of the
capital Many of them were of the most
beautiful workmanship. They varied in
shape as in shade, but the whole made a
living picture of rich coloring and indie
scribable beauty, while the picturesque
garb of the bearers added charm TO the
strange scene.
The great coffin In which lay the body
of the dead queen was over 6 feet long
and II broad and most artistically orna-
mented. 1t rested on q framework con-
structed Of massive beams IS feet long
and intersected by heavy rafters. The
weight of the whole may be imagined
from the fact that 500 men were required
to partly carry and partly drag the I'M
wieldy thing along. The tablet chair of
the deceased followed and was almost as
heavy. 1t was built in palanquin shape,
and accompanying it were a host Of bell
ringers. On the tablets were written oil
the virtues the deceased had displayed, as
was also her family history. Toward the
end of the cortege came groups of manda-
rims, palace guards, executioners armed
with mimic swords and finally three grand
councillors of state, accompanied By their
bodyguaros and a somewhat rabblelike
company of soldiers. The procession,
though supposed to be one of dignifed
and sorrowtul mourning, was turned into
a merry holiday.
Governmental Examinations.