The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-03
If THE JAps TAKE PEklNa.
Tho Chinese Emperor Must Hang Himself
Among His Anccstors' Tombs,


Among His Anccstors' Tombs.
The members of the diplomatic corps
and others familiar with conditions and
customs in China are fond of specu-
lating just now upon the possibilities
that may follow the capture of Pelsing
by the Japanese army, says the Wash
ington Post. 1t is assumed that tho
young emperor of China will observe
the traditions of his race in case he is
overcome by so dircful catastrophe rs
the capture of his capital, and hang
himself among the tombs of his ances-
tors, and should that occur there Is no
one to succeed him. He has no chill
dren,. and the most sacred of the ira
ditions that concern the royal family
requires that the emperor shall have
ancestors whom he may worship, and
from whose spirit he may receive in
spiration and guidance In the admins
tration of the government. Last fall o
gentleman of this city accompanied ono
of the most learned members of the
Chinese legation to the soldiers Gem
etery ut Arlington, and while thew
were wandering under the beautiful
oaks the latter pointed out several
proper locations for burial. He ex-
planned thnt any man who should bury
his ancestors In certain place, which
he pointed out, would certainly enioy
great wealth, would prosper in bust
ness and accumulate money rapidly.
Another location was favorable for
the burial of the ancestors of
one who aspires to political in
huence. The advantageous con-
ditions of each site were ex-
planned according to the mys-
tical superstitions of the race, and
the Chinaman expressed his amazement
that Americans should be so Indifferent
to them. In China, if an ambitious pol
itician does not advance as rapidly us
he desires, he attributes his failure to
the dissatisfaction of his ancestors with
the site selected for their burial, and
removes their bones with great cere-
mony to another which he considers
more favorable. If he does not then
succeed he moves them elsewhere, and
keeps on doing so until he enjoys bet
ter luck or gives up in despair.
The ignorance of the emperor of
China concerning the disasters that
have overtalen his armies and his fleets
is believed to be decided advantage
TO the Japanese, for no one dare tell
him the whole truth concerning their
continual and frequent defeats. No
body, not even the prime minister, can
approach the emperor except upon his
knees; nor can anyone talk to him ex-
cept while lying PROSTATE, with his
forehead pressed against the rugs upon
the floor Of the platform that sur
rounds the throne. Such q posture is
not conducive to fluent communication,
and, as it is part Of the religion of the
Chinese to consider the emperor ON
nipotent and invincible, it requires
moro than human courage TO inform
him to the contrary. 1t is custom also
for the emperor to hold those who up
psonch him responsible for the tidiags
they bring, and reward or punish them
accordingly. Ii Hung Chang was de-
prived of his yellow jacket, his peacock
feathers and his golden rose for inform
ing his sovereign that the armies of
China were not in n condition to resist
the advances of their enemy, and the
man who notifies the emperor that the
japanese are at the gates Of Picking
will certainly lose his head