The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-08
THE IMPERIAL HAREM.

Copyright, 1896, S. S. Mcclure Coz
Lorenzi f. Fisher has seen much or
this world. He has experienced strange
adventures in two hemisDheres; has
completely circIed the globe twice; has
spent twenty years in Asia, and While
in China was appointed imperial pho
tographer to the emperor. He knows Ii
Hung Chang well, and claims to have
been the first to take d photograph OF
the oriental diplomat. When boy MI
Fisher was on a vessel captured by the
sea scourge Alabama, and with others
was landed on a barren section Oh the
coast Of Brazil. AS a. professional Pno-
tographer he has explored the four cor
ners of the globe for pictures OF SIranSe
places and scenes; and his acquaihl-
ance of men of affairs while in emma
: makes him an authority on Things ce
lestial. He is now back TO the nome Oh
his boyhood IL Camden, n. j., ana mas
consented to an interview. The Hollow
ing adventure, which he described 10
the writer, he considers the most
unique if not the most dangerous, ne
ever experienced.
After a few rem. arks concerning life
in the f1owery kingdom, Mr.. Fisler be-
gan: ssPeking, China, ike ancient Gaul,
is divided into three parts. The hrst,
or outside circle, embraces modern re-
king proper The second circle en-
braces the ancient Tartar city. me
third circle is right in the center ana
encloses the Kin Ching, or prohibited
city of the emperor. In this city Withln
a city, he dwells with his court
Nothing N the world is more re-
ligiously secluded than this imperial
court of Picking. Even consuls and MN
listers from foreign lands accredited to
the Chinese capital are never permitted
to pass the massive walls guarded by
Tartar soldiers. Up to the uhc Oh
which | speak no foreigner had been
inside the walls since the days of the
carly Jesuit missionaries, and all lntor-
nation concerning the court OF the
Yellow Dragon had been derived from
native sources. Outside curiosity had,
therefore, been aroused to q hlgh pltch.
Effort after effort had been made by
curious foreigners to obtain ADMISSION
to the grounds of the palace, some
times surreptitiously, sometimes by the
Isa of brides and sometimes by The use
of political influence. Each and every
attempt had to all intents and purposes
proved futile Among others, Norman,
the intrepid special correspondent OF
the Pail Mall Gazette, rad nearly lost
his life in the attempt.
MY friend Duncan and had oIten
discussed the chances Of such an I'M
dertaking. We had long since deter
mined that we would run the FISK OF
getting out if we could but devise some
means of getting in. How 10 set IN
there was the rub.
lone hot day in July Duncan came
into my room in a fearful state Of e'l-
citement. l thought he had been af-
fected by the intense heat, but tG my
establishment he yeiled' "IEa got II,
FisIer: I've got IT. Rabies. ! thought.
But he soon made things plain to me.
He had got UP nucn earlier than dsual
that morning and ma / zone down 20
the inner wall Just 81 ,laybreak IN o.
der to study the situation when no one
was around. Wine
about the rear Of the wall he was as
tonished TO see a small Stone soee
SWING inward, at The same time cart
loaded with Stops and ashes came cut.
The cart was peculiar affair, peculiar
from the fact that from where tie
driver sat. right down over the single
tree, 1t was impossi9le for him to see
the interior of the car.
..'Theu an idea flashed through Dun
cans mind why couldn't he and
crawl oVer the taCl-b09rd of that cart
early SCgGs morning and SScre'te our
selves BIZ. lying down on the dirty
floor? Why, indeed We were young
then and The spirit Of adventure was
strong within Us. We determined 10
try II.
''Our plan soon matured. We would
watch for the cart some morning, stow
ourselves in unffi- paSt-uhe sacred port
ais and Ehen at the first opportunity
lump out and hide in the snrubbeTy,
from which coigne of vantage We hoped
TO gel some views Of the mysterious
buildings and grounds. Our intention
then was 20 wait until the cart re-
turned, crawl in again and return TO
safety.
Fouf plan seemed feasible and we