Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1896-05-15

First Formal Reception Of the nip
iomntic Corps by the Potentmte.


From the Chicago Record.
After the present Emperor ascended
the throne Of China his government yield
ed the point and agreed 10 recelve the
diplomatic corps IN the same manner that
they are received by the soveregne OF
Europe. The first ceremony OF this kind,
which took place on March 5, isei. was an
event IN Chinese history. The members
81 tho several legations arrived at Flu
Hua or East Flower gate Of the forbidden
city at ten o'clock on that morning IN
sedan chairs. each escorted BY two mount
ed officers Of the imperial guards They
were there met by the members OF the
Tsung II Namen who conducted them to
the shih Nung Kung. the temple Of the
great river god, when they were offered
tea and sweetmeats. An hour later they
We're escorted to the Tsu Kuang Ko,
or reception hall. a handsome building
pr0fusely decorated with gilded cover
lngs and ornamented with gay colors.
The hail Is approached by eight marble
steps. which lead TO a broad marble ter
race. Around this terrace Is a balnstrade,
supported by pillars Of marble, pure white
and beautifully engraved
The Emperor arrived about the same
time IN his chair, which was covered out
side and in with yellow silk. the official
Button on top being gold, instead OF
silver, aud the ends OF the bearing poles
being deliberately carved and capped with
gilded dragons. The dean Of the dlpio-
matte corps, escorted BY members OF the
Foreign Office, was conducted into the
hall. the sides Of the approach 10 the
steps, the steps themselves, and the ter
race being crowded with eunuchs en-
poyed In the palace, and civil and mill
itary officers whose rank did not entltle
them TO enter the presence Of the EN-
peror. Each member Of the diplomatic
corps was given a separate audience by
L f11a -. vaHaIa n
marble throne As they crossed the
| threshold they bowed advanced three or
| four PAGES and bowed again, then ad-
vanced to point between the TWO dragon
made, There a foreign carpet covered
| the floor OF the platform. which was about
three feet high. Three flights Of steps
assembled TO the platform. one in the
/ middle and on . at each end.
The ambassadors ana ministers stop
ped about twelve feet from the Emperor.
/ where they made their speeches. which
were translated by an Interpreter into
i Chinese. They then ADVANCED and hand
ed letters Of oredenee to Prince Ching,
who had been standing on the left Of the
| Emperor. Taking the papers he ascend
I ed the steps, approached the table in mont
/ of the Emperor. and laid them upon II.
not kneellng until he had deposited them.
| The Emperor replied to the speeches N
| tile Manchu dialect after the diplomatists
had returned 10 their places between the
I dragon pillars. his remarks being trans
] ldteu mo lniNese pl GElile 1ilAuhf acll-
tence by sentence The exit from me
hall was made by walking backward.
with bows at three places.
The sides Of the audience hadd were coy
cred with inscriptions and rare paint
ings Of enormous size. The ceiling was
I composed OF wooden squares one and
one-half feet IN size. divided by heavy
rafters. The supporting columns were OF
red lacquer, covered with figures Of gold
on the right Q, the Emperor stood
| Prince Pc. on his left Prince ko, and near
him Prince Ching, Tie room. was lined
1 on either SIDE by two rows OF high OFF,
GERS OF the imperial guards and cham
herlalns. many being princes and dukes
Of the imperial family No arms were
! visible except the swords worn by the
Emperor and the princes. The imperial
I escort, bearing long red lacquered spears
with silver points and a long tiger tai,
They presented a picturesque appear
! ance on either side OF the Emperor
was a straight stem SIX feet hlgn, sup
] porting at the top what appeare1 10 be
painted limitations Of peacock tails Npread
out the feathers Indicating raik In
Lengthy inscriptions in Manchu we're
! engraved upon a marble plinth back OF
| the throne. Six immense incense bowlz
Of old closonne. each guarded by an
( immense cloisOnne dragon of great value
were placed around the platform. while
| from the ceiling were suspended eight
! cloisonne lamps made during the Toa
kuang dynasty. Tn the tame IN lrOUf
Of the Emperor. which was covered with
yellow satin embroidered with figures 81
dragons, was placed the pipe Of His
Majesty. a piece Of carved Jade and gold
the handle formed by the body and tail
Of a dragon, Its mouth as the tobacco
bowl
Within the pink walls that surrounded
the forbidden city are several temples
and forty or more palaces and other
/ buildings. which are occupied as resi-.
dences by the Emperor's immediate at
tendants and officers of the guard. They
are all of one story and Of uniform
! architecture, differing only In dimensions,
Their exteriors are painted that peeulial
white which EuroT~ans have never been
Z able to Initiate. nd9a.ofed with tiles Of
imperial yellow The n. Hua, or East
Flower gate. IS reached from the Tartar
city by passing over marble bridge
handsomely decorated and bearing sew
eral tablets with inscriptions that betoken
long life prosperity, happiness and other
blessings Immediately before the gates
are the western gardens, Handsomely
laid out In the highest taste and skill
1 IN landscape architecture. and SURROUND
I ing a lake that covers sevefaf acres. The
nearest temple is dedicated to the great
river god, and there the Emperor offers
sacrifices to appease that disorderiy Joss,
! who Is responsible for the floods which
Z so frequently devastate the lowiands OF
Northern China.
About the grounds are stationed thou.
| tinguished by their yellow tunics and
| violet cloaks. They have series OF uni
/ forms, which are changed at Intervals
l nv tho Vrrnraroriz nrfarc