Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-10-03
AnImneriaI Romance.

line starting result OF Inc llCtlo ClOuu
that gathered in Corea eight or nine
weeks ago has been given in cable dis
patches. Previous to that China was
regarded as unconquerable, because of
her teeming population, numbering
hundreds of millions, and of the reck-
less disregard OF life, characteristic of
her fanatical soldiers. China has been
the land of mysteries, but is the land OF
mysteries no longer, thanks to the con-
Quering arms of Japan. Its immense
territory made it impossible for ordina-
ry Europeans to traverse it through
and through, and even had he the will
he had not the facilities or the privi-
leges to carry out his desire. China is
TO certain extent fairy-like land,
and strange, wonderful stories are told
of its people, its castles and its rulers.
And most mysterious of all has been
the life of the imperial ruler, whose
sway, apparently, is now at an end.
Even to his own people he was mys-
tery-almost a god. Nothing was ever
neslec ed to exalt him in the eyes of
the nation. He was clothed with a
unique and sacred character. He was
enveloped in a cloud that profane eyes
dared not seek to penetrate. He ate
alone, and the sacred dishes prepared
for him numbered eight. In the eyes
of his relatives, let alone his court.
iers, he was superior and
august parsonage, and they paid him
almost divine honors. His family only
knew him as he really was. Others
were compelled to PROSTATE themselves
before him, aye, on the very threshold
of the audience chamber. They crawl
ed like reptiles to the foot of the throne.
To commit the crime of high treason it
was not necessary merely to touch
him or offend him in any way it was
sufficient to see him without permis-
sion.
And now here comes the hated for
eigner dragging him down from his
high state, as if he were but common
mortal. How rude must be the shouts
of those abject slaves of his will who
held that he had sway over the winds
and tempests; that he could control
the elements, fertilize the earth, and
soften the hearts of men as easily as he
could cause head to be chopped off at
a sign.
And not alone was his person sacred,
but everything that belonged to him.
A mere bit of yellow stuff thrown over
a chair received the same homage as
himself. When in far distant provinces
one of his edicts arrived it was received
in the midst of genuflections, prayers
and clouds of fincenss. Everything he
made use of was of special signif-
canoe and adorable.
The present Emperor is the ninth
sovereign of the Using dynasty. He
succeeded to the throne in 1876, when the
Emperor Tung. Chi died without issue,
and was then only four years old. During
his minority, the eastern and western
Empresses Dowager administered the
affairs of the empire as regents. The
death of the Eastern Empress in 1881
left the other Empress sole regent
thereafter. The Emperor nominally
took the reins of the government in
March 1887, but did not assume full
control till two years later. He was
married in February, 1889.
There is a romance attached to his
marriage. He is said to be the hero of
love affair and the victim of an un-
happy marriage. The Empress Dow
ager was said to be at the bottom of the
trouble. The Chinese Book of Rites is
curious affair. 1t provides how the oc-
cupant of the Dragon Throne shall pro-
vide himself with consort. Accord
ing to custom the eligible daughters of
the great Manchu mobiles assemble at
the palace to have their respective mer-
its considered and passed upon. But
the youthful Emperor was already
smitten with the youthful charms of
the daughter of a Manchu military Off
Ger, and he expressed his intention to
share his throne with her. He also Sc
lected another fair damsel, whose beau
ty struck his youthful heart with ad-
miration, for his second wife, or, to use
the Biblical word, concubine.
But the wary old lady, who so long
and so ably welded the sceptre during
his minority, had no intention of allow
ing the young Emperor to follow his
bent in this matter, and had
already made q match for him
herself, by which the throne would
be shared by one of her own
family. 1hs lady whom she selected
was her own niece, Yeh-ehnala, the
daughter of the youngest brother ofthe
Empress Dowager. She was anything
but beauty from a Chinese or Manchu
point of view, and after great many
y'scenes" and violent alterations be-
tween the boy Emperor and the
Empress Dowager she proved her
authority by having the marriage with
her niece consummated. The Emperor
regarded both the Empress Consort and
her imperial aunt with an intense
hatred, which daily grew stronger. 1t
was this state of things which was at
the bottom of the trouble that daily
worked within the palace, while out
side the prospects of the reign of the
Emperor were imperiled, and the parti-
sans OF both sides were active among
the officials.
Nor would the gorgon of the Dragon
Throne allow its youthful OCCUPANT to
console himself by bringing the fair
Elvira into his harem, but selected two
strong minded damsels, also of the