New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-07
SOME CURIOUS CHINESE CUSTOMS
WHAT THE REPORTED DEGRADATION OF ii HUNG
CHANG MAY POSSIBLY MEAN.

WHAT THE REPORTED DEGRADATION OF IL HUNG
CHANG MAY POSSIBLY MEAN.
Cottage City. Mass. Aug 6-s. L. Gracey who
recently United States Consul at Foochow
China. says OF the report that III Hung chang mas
been Invested OF the yellow Jacket:
l.. Hung Changes degradation may mean much
or 1t may mean nothing ami IT IL more than proDa-
mark n that it is the a ny Tca %5 he has
been deprived Of his yellow robe or button IL was
probably suggested or ~ b s h
Japan to on. because he did not nave
great number Of troops massed on the borders S o
Corea, sufficient to prevent any lnNadiIS Zoe from
entering the peninsula occupied by the Hermit
we b shov Was nons nT have for
It: This would seem strange TO the people OF the
sardcd as the the. Son Of Heaven and IS worshipped
accordingly. and being such a great neihS ne all,
cence sufficient TO foreknow and prepare for any
calamity, and consequently their scit-assunen re-
proach and disgrace II the ulknoTable is not known
by them and the unprcventabe. even Is not pre-
vented.
have known His Excellency II to take great
there had occurred great flood In the yellow
River district. and request the Emperor to punish
him accordingly. This IL common method OF
showing assumed humility when famine or peStl,
while | was In China | received most elaborate IN
vitations to attend the funeral of father Issue,
by his eldest son. which. in the usual language OF
the Celcstials reiterated his unhlia and undutlul
conduct as .he cause Of his fathers death, ana
stouty protesting his need OF punishment therefor
and calling down upon his head and those or ms
brothers the severest penalties. | have known
many high officials to recommend themselves iQr
punishment because of caamitics railing upon thclr
people
There Il a reason for all this scnsclcss rs I may
us 1t imprcsses the I"ople with respect Tor
those who rule over them. who are supposed %
know all things that might could would or should
occur. and plan for X as kind. laterniI PoVrrn,,
m,nt should. II is a part 90 thar E;,dt Pt''ltttl
system I'm which the rulers ar surpoSri I" 'N'ISlHr
ccaseless fafhcrly vigilance In the welfare OF u,I
people. who ar To guarded b. the said ruler WI
paternal watchfuln"ss and care.
II the degradation Of His EXcenency Ii mans
anything shOwng real dlsapfrpNh on the .plIt ol
the Board Of War. who would advise the Emperor
In such n case IL may be the pec" OF business
they have engaged I'm tor many a DAY h,'t'y II
T. = Chinnnan and has long been rogariei a. IN"
one man In the Empire VINO. II hc hhl thc HIhH 1"
do So could consolidate Chimes opp'S.ton - ,hf
present Tartar Government AMI overthrow IN" ~
nasty He has been caJoleI ana natt"rcl by '3
Government Tor many years. ana tcafrn ny t"eui
as we'll and II made angry by personal Insult you'd
nj this uncture lead successful revolt i'u' ma
Il IS merely look pllgin' appears from ne
accompanylng statement that larger power" ana az
immensely increased army ar" placed NJ MS HsfostI
and direction This is probably only one Of the
strange phases OF Chinese customs.