The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-09

~ IL W ~ 4 u AbObLA 4 =
i lar relations Of Chinese life that extend
4 even INTO the imperial family. Prince
/ Chun the emperor fatler was Known as
| the seventh prince. because he was the
! seventh son OF the father Of the late en-
pror, HEN Flung. For several years he
/ was at the head OF the admiralty and
| commander OF the army at Pekin, but
! when mis- son, Kuang fisu, was selected
/ a. emperor, after the death of Hen Fung,
| he was required. by Chinese etiquette, 70
| retire from active service, for the hlial
! respect, which hes at the foundation Of
| the Chinese social system does not per-
| nit son to receive from his father the
| AFFECT worship Which the son Of heaven
| eXacts from the officials Of his govern
| ment.
Therefore. Prince Chun went into re-
tirement on pension of $4,000 year,
| and soon after died. His wife, the mother
Of the emperor inherited his pension, and
| until recently. was living in the SUBURBS
- ~ ~, - - 9LS Hdu iiotHLiS " ~ 80
| the education or the care OF her child after
ne was selected for the throne, when he
was years old, and was sent into retire
| ment. Two aunts of the emperor, TzI
! An ana III An, was made joint regents
| Their confidence in each other and their
| aHectlOn were never impaired. In 1881
| Izu An died. and her sitter, Tzi An, con-
| tinued to act as regent and guardian IF
| the young emperor until he reached the
| age OF IL and was placed upon the throne
! in March, 1889. Then she removed from
dence in Eho park, about ten miles from
| the forbidden city. She is there surround
ed by a court of her own, and lives in
what the Chinese consider great splendor.
Inc emperor visits her regularly in gorge
Gus state, accompanied by retnue Of
OfnclaiS, soldiers and other attenEantS,
VINO make a procession more than nalf
mile long. He rides in a sedan chair. up
holstered in yellow brOcade, for that is The
imperial color. and none but the imperial
family are allowed to use il, except by
the emDeror's command, and then only
when they have done some great service
to the state or are otherwise entitled to
such honors. The chair is carried by six
teen eunuchs in gorgeous apparel They
usually wear robes OF scarlet, embroider-
The emperors mother did not live in any
sucn state. she was a person OF compa,-
ace at the time OF the emperor's marriage,
but never exercised any influence with
him or in the court, while I'll An has
been for thirty years the most power
tul person in all China. When she was 60
years old, in 1894, 100000 was appropri-
ated for celebrating her birthday, and
mons more. Ihey came from all parts
os the empire. They were brought by
me sengers of high rank, and no man OF
ambition or political expectations failed
to pay her tribute on that occasion Ona
OF the stories is that she received over
siAt4 priceless robes of sable. The agent
of the American Bible Society at Shang-
hal sent her a Bible in the Chinese Ian
gUage, handsomely bound, and received
very gracious letter Of acknowledge
ment
1t appears that while Lii Hung Chang
was in this country, along some time in
September, the emperor's mother visited
Tzi An at Eho park and complained that
the doWager had influenced her sons
mind against her, so that she was not
receiving from him the filal respect that
every Chinaman owes to his parent The
doWager did not receive this remonstrance
kindly, and quarrel ensued Til An al
thoush generally considered wise and
good woman, benevolent and economical,
was always autocrattc stubborn and vim
dlctiVe, and she appears to nave resented
the accusations OF the emperor's mother
with great VigOr. She ordered her out
of her house, and even compelled her 20
ride to her home, some ten miles dis
tant, IN common cart, without springs,
such as is used by ordinary people in
emma. The old lady died a few days
after she reached her home. The exaos-
ure, the fatigue and tho modification were
poor for years, and she was subject to
fits of rage that ended in Mysteries It is
said that she was hysterical all the way
her self-control.
The emperor knew nothing about the
quarrel until after his mothers DEATH and
the termination of the thrty-fiVe DAYS of
mourning, during which time her BODY Law
in state in the palace and the emperor
visited II every day. 1t was then trans
ferred to the imperial tomb, and placed
beside that of her husband, Chun the
seventh prince. People in Pekin say that
the emperor might never have known
about tho quarrel if Til An had shown or
binary respect to his mothers memory
during the period of mourning, but her
stubborn disposition would not permit her
to show even so much diplomacy. Her pc
culiar conduct having attracted the en-
peror's attention. he demanded an explain
alton, and then the truth came out. He
could not punish the empress dOwager, but
it is said that he holds her responsible for
his mothers death. and that she has en-
tlrely lost her influence with him. This is
| M fort 40 q
dowager has always been his consistent
friend and patron. She has helped him out
of many scrape, and has supported him
in his attempts to introduce modern ideas
into China, and it was during her regency
that he obtained most of his honors and
acquired most Of his wealth and power.
IL is difficult to reconcile the reported
position of Ii Hung Chang at the Chi
nese court with the appointment of two
of his closes and confidential attaches
to the legations in London and Wash
ingtOn. Within the last few weeks 10
Feng Lo, who accompanied the viceroy
on his journey around the world as sec
ed minister to England, and WI Ting
Fang, who has been his legal adviser
for many years, and a member of his
household, relieves Yang Yu in Washing
ton. In addition to this Sheng Husan
Hual, another of Lis confidential at
taches. has been placed in charge of the
railways that are now being constructed
in China, which Is very important APP
pointment because such Innovations re-
quire the highest degree of tact and abil
ity to be successfully carried on. Lo Feng
10, who goes as minister to England,
was taken UP by Earl Lii when he was
very young man and given the very
best of modern educations, first in the
Tien-Tsin and then in Europe. He was
for several years a student at the British
naval school, and when he returned to
China organized school for the training
of seamen at Tien-Tsin, of which he is
still the nominal director. He had inn
mediate charge of Ii Hung Changs navy,
and was known as his naval secretary.
Mr.. WI, the new minister to Washing
ton. also became a protege of Ii Hung
Chang at an early age, studied law in
London, and was there admitted to the
bar at Lincoln's Inn He afterwards
practiced at Hong Kong and then went
to Tien-Tsin as legal adviser or attorney
general to Ii while he was Viceroy For
the last two years Mr.. WI has been a
member of the Tsung Yaman, a board
of officials which has charge of all in
tercourse between the Chinese government
and foreigners. He speaks English per-
fectly, has much tact and sound com
mon sense.
sailors and the Small Boat.
From Harpers Round Table