The herald., 1894-11-02
THE GREAT FESTIVAL OF CHINA.
The Empress Dowager's Birth
day to Be Celebrated.
Enormous Sums of Money to Be Law
ishsy Expended.
The Old Lady Desired, However, to
Donate the Entire Fund Toward
Defraying War Expenses
Against Japan.

On Wednesday next the greatest festi-
val of the century and possibly OF the
world will be celebrated at Pekin in
honor of the 6let birthday OF the en-
press dowaeer OF China. 1t will con-
tinue about month and will cost the
almond-eyed citizens of the celestial en-
pire at least 100000, 900.
The empress dowagsr, who appears to
have more to say regarding the guidance
Of the empire'sI Idestinies than the en-
peror himself. would like to have the
money provided for the fete handed over
to the war fund. This does her credit,
but if her wish is to be complied with
the western heather have not yet been
informed.
The last rejoicing Of this character oc-
cured two centuries ago, when the Co.
lestiale celebrated the birthday Of Chen
Lung. The official records say that
about $50 600, 900 was spent in the cap,
ital and $50, 100000 in the various pro-
vinces of the empire. The general pro-
gramme was framed and elaborated by
the tsung Ii ysmen, or imperial cabinet,
last year, and directions and explana-
tions were sent to high officials through
out the land.
The festival will be held in Pekin, but
q memorial service of some sort will be
held in every city and town. To show
her appreciation of the literati OF the
land, she has decided that special and
extradinary examinations be hold OF the
countless army of students. The ex-
pense attendant on this has been esti.
mated at $42,000,000. This enormous
sum will be consumed in arranging for
examination halls, paying the examin.
era and clerks, transportation. lodging
and boarding the students. rewarding
the successful and sending them to their
homes.
The sum Of $50. 900 has been given to
each of the 20 provinces of China as q
fund for the poor, crippled and aged.
For the local celebration at Pekin an
appropriation OF $8,000.000 has been
made from the imperial treasury. To
this sum the 20 provinces have contrib
uted sums ranging from $35. 900 to $780,
600 each. In addition is subscription
from all the officials of the empire,
which now exceeds $1,000 900. The
receipts will be larger than the original
estimate of 100000, 900 for Pekin alone.
Much OF the land and many Of the build.
AAko W DO u1oQ UolOuk w tAO kOVoAA-
ment. Other buildings were to have
been erected by provincial governments
and cities, officials and tributary states.
Considering that the purchasing power
OF money in the east is about 10 times
as great as with the weatern nations,
it may be imagined that if the enormous
sums of money are expended wisely
Pekin will present a picture of gorgeous
| coloring and pictureequeness outlying
anything previously known.
And all this ia to be done in honor Of
the dowager empress, who, by the way,
is not the emperor's mother, but only
his aunt. She was once treated as an
article Of merchandise. having been sold
by her parents to a mandarin, and by
him was permitted to enter the civil
service examination required OF candi-
dates for the position of the emperor's
concubine, when she carried off high
honors and rose to the highest position
OF influence, which she still maintains.
Should she have surrendered the fund
provided for her fste in the critical
emergency that has overcome her coun-
try. it will contribute to her popularity
and make her a more important figure
in the affairs OF the Chinese empire, as
Ii Hung Chang has long been, and de-
spite adverse reports, still continues to
be.