The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-05-16
BEFORE THE CHINESE
First Formal Reception ., .,

FIRST FORMAL Reception =,
lomntic Corps by III. y. 'hsoip.
... From the Chicago Roy. s'snt'e.
After the present Emns.sscecd
the throne of China his go Tr.ss sscsa.d
ed the point and agreed - mat ylsl.
diplomatic corps in the sam ~ fesiys &
they are received by tba ~. amer u,
Europe. The first ceremor, s,os.ersgns I
which took place on Marcs VI us kin
event in Chinese history ~ :, NJ sas /,
of the several legation. tne maben
Hua' or East Flower gate Of tbs ~. p
CITY, at ten O'Clock on thai ~ mo-, rs9dea
sedan chairs. each escorted bv ~, snolnis IA |
ed officers of the imperial rrs '"o nsnt.
were there met by the nss -S'e% hey
Tsung Ii Yamen, who conGna,,ss oiihs
the Shih Yung Kung, the 80, heato
great river god, when thew ~ o. es
tea and sweetmeats. An HON - = oHssi
were escorted TO the Tsn ra .-pr u
or reception hall, a handson. ls 4
profusely decorated with yji5ss u4ldiil
lngs and ornamented with CAV Wy. I'VE
The nail is approached by eight s sSioiS
steps, which lead to a broad MAJ rs, l-tas
race. Around this terrace is a hai ls.s e
supported by pillars of marble I r,,.sls
and beautifully engraved p1's" WA
The Emperor arrived abop, -.
time in his chair, which was cove "a, an
side and in with yellow silk. tba 80 y. ~ y
Sutton on top being gold. lnsts.s- ~.
silver, and the ends Of the bss-ssnse@ "
being deliberately carved and c ING us
gilded dragons. The dean AZ Ks Il sia
matte corps, escorted by merobs,e ~
Foreign Office, was conductaJ +. " ne
hall, the sides OF the approscs my ihs
steps, the steps Themselves, and and ~ y Ae
race pelns crowded with eunucbs =: =
ployed in the palace, and civil s1S n
itary officers whose rank did mi ~ -! ~
them TO enter the presence Of ~ ~ ~
peror. Each member Of the jInio.a-!l5 e
corps was given a separate au5is5-..A Y
the Emperor, who was seated -, - Y
marble throne. As they cros.s sEsa !,
| threshold they bowed, advanced IT,
four PAGES and bowed again. tbar y
vanced to point between The twa5 az =
pillars, where third stop and bow ".
made. There a foreign CARPET go
the floor of the platform, which vss ~ ~
three feet high. Three flights N - -.
assembled TO the platform, ons = "
middle and on4 at each end, :
The ambassadors and ministers 81.
ped about twelve feet from the Frn5s.-I..
where they made their speeches Tsss
were translated by an lnterpretar Il.
Chinese. They then advanced and b. +.
ed letters OF credenca tc Prince ~,
who had been standing on the left Il +.
Emperor. Taking the papers, he sssssI
ed the steps, approached the table ia h,
of the Emperor, and laid them up;s
not kneeling until he had deposited Il,
The Emperor replied to the spaerb..
the Manchu dialect after the Diplomats
had returned to their places betEesT !,
dragon pillars, his remarks being mn
lated into Chinese by Prince Ching .
tence by sentence. The exit from 4
hall was made by walking backz,r
with bows at three places.
The sides of the audience hadd were O
cred with inscriptions and rare NJ
| ings of enormous size. The ceiling 7
| one-half feet in size, divided by hsa
rafters. The supporting columns vefs
red lacquer, covered with figures Of 4
dragons.
on the right of The Emperor 81,
Prince Pc. on his left Prince Ko, andp.
him Prince Ching. The room was Nv
on either side by two rows OF high 3
GERS of the imperial guards and cha
berlains, many being princes and duE
of the imperial family. No arms VI
visible except the swords worn by
Emperor and the princes. The imps,
escort, bearing long red lacquered spa
with silver points and long tiger B
could be seen just outside the dOe
They presented a picturesque app
ance. On either side Of the Emps
was a straight stem six feet high )
porting at the top what appeared to
painted limitations Of peacock tails spr
out, the feathers indicating rank
China.
Lengthy inscriptions, in Manchu '
engraved upon a marble plinth back
the throne. Six immense Incense DO
of old cloisonne, each guarded by
immense cloisonne dragon Of great va
were placed around the platform, "
from the ceiling were suspended ei
cloisonne lamps made during the
Kuang dynasty. On the table in q
of the Emperor, which was covered 7
yellow satin embroidered with figure
dragons, was placed the pipe Of
Majesty, piece of carved Jade and
the handle formed by the body and
of dragon, It's mouth as the tob'
bowl.
Within the pink walls that surrcul
the forbidden city are several ten
and forty or more palaces and o
buildings, which are occupied as
dences by the Emperor's immediate
tendants and officers of the guard. I
are all of one story and OF uni!
architecture, differing only in dimens!
Their exteriors are painted that peeI
white which Europeans have never
able to initiate, and rooted with tie
imperial yellow. The Flu Hua, or
Flower gate, is reached from the Ia
city by passing over marble bn
handsomely decorated and bearing
eral tablets with inscriptions that Bet
long life. prosperity, happiness and
blessings. Immediately before the
are the western gardens, handsol
laid out in the highest taste and
in landscape architecture, and surro
ing a lake that covers several acres.
nearest temple is dedicated TO me
river god, and there the Emperor Q
sacrifices to appease that disorderly
who is responsible for the floods v
so frequently devastate the lowianl
Northern China.
About the grounds are stationed !
sands OF imperial guards, who are
tinguished by their yellow TUNES
violet cloaks. They have series ol
forms, which are changed at inter
by the Emperor's orders.