The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-07-26
1OI3
WreStling' '*' LEE


and should be always spoken OF
a the greatest respect and reverence.
is impossible for him TO have faults or
20 commit errors like ordinary men. He
comes from divine ancestry, and when he
dies he takes his place among the gods, nc
matter what he says or does while on the
earth. Therefore the people who have an
opportunity To know what is going on
within the Forbidden City, as the grounds
around tho palace are called are not like
ly to discuss .seir ruler as freely as the
subjects of other sovereigns do. None but
the members of their court and their at
taches is allowed 10 enter the palace.
The military guard is composed Of chosen
soldiers. All the servants and attendants
are persons whose lives are spent in the
palace, and who are not allowed to leave
1t. The hands that have ministered to
the emperor of China are never allowed to
perform similar service for ordinary be-
ings, and no servant leaves the Forbidden
City. When "a servant becomes too infirm
20 perform his duties, he receives a PEN
sion. If the officials desire TO get rid of
him for any other reason, they cut off his
head.
The impression among the foreigners a
Peking, which is based upon casual gossip
from members of the court, is that the
present emperor is an improvement in both
morals and abilities over his predecessor,
who exhausted his vitality by dissipation
and was not more than half witted. There
are other signs also that the emperor is q
person of considerable flrmness and deter
mination, although no is necessarily Igno-
rant of everything that occurs outside the
Forbidden City, except so far as informa-
ton leaks through those who surround
him. Therigid etiquette of the court does
not permit any one but his wives to have
familiar conversation with him, and they
are moro ignorant than he
The emperor is educated in the Chinese
classics, and especially in the maxims of
Confucius, upon which all Chinese morals,
philosophy and Jurisprudence are ba sed,
and several years ago he undertook TO study
the English language Two students of
the Tung Wen college, of which DR.. Mar
tin, an American missionary, was presi-
dent, were his teachers, and he took n
lesson every day at l o'clock AT first
they were required TO perform the kotow
in his presence which means that they
were compelled to conduct their lessons on |
their knees, with their foreheads pressed |
TO the floor, but the Inconvenience of this ]
posture was soon realized, and the emperor (
gave them permission to stand upright in |
his presence.
Two teachers instead Of one were selected /
for the same reason that the ministers and |
other officials Of the government always
wait upon the emperor in pairs. No man
is allowed 10 see him alone. The custom
had its origin not only in the Chinese love
of ceremony, but also in suspicion. If one
of the ministers had private interview
with the emperor, he might misrepresent |
affairs TO him or make accusations against
his colleagues, or he might even assault
the sacred person. Therefore, as precau-
ton, the emperor never sees any one alone,
and two tutors were sent in order TO avoid
any possibility of improper communica-
ton. Furthermore, the constant intrigues
at the Chinese court require the officials to
keep close watch of each other.
The tutors represented that the emperor
had remarkable memory and learned
English rapidly. They reported that he
was able to read and talk English after a
year or more of instruction, but there Is
no way of corroborating their assertions.
The emperor is not physically strong,
and there is a fear that he has constitu.
tional ailments that will shorten his life.
lie has physician who has been educated
IN tho modern science of medicine, and !
who Keeps close watch Of him, although |
no still adheres TO the superstitions and |
practices Of the ancents. He believes i'm
nominations, conjuring and all that sort
u thing. Native Chinese doctors are like
he medicine men of the Indians-they
iepcnd good deal upon charms, amulets.
oncoctions of serpents' teeth and birds
ongues and other hcathenish combina-
ions.
The emperor has been trying TO build
lp his constitution by exercising on horse
'ack and at archery. He is said TO be very
klllful with the bow, and of late years he
las practiced good deal with shotguns
nd rifles. His exercise is restricted and
rescribed by the etiquette of the court,
nd Is taken under the direction of an OIL
lal board with the greatest degree Of
ormality possible, which must, of course.
etract from the benefits received. His
let is also regulated by board of man.
arms. They select his food, make out his ,
ills of fare and superintend their prepa- !
alton. It is one of the most important
osts at court TO act as chief cook or stew {
rd for the emperor, and under an ancient I
1stom, which amounts to law, he cannot q
artake Of any article of food not upon Z
10 menu without consulting the officials \
! charge of the imperial table, a
The emperor of China Is one of tho hard 4
It worked men in the world, and, accord G
q TO curious custom that have never {
card explained he turns day into night. 4
ome of the most important events in his 4
lilly programme take place after mid | h
ght, and he frequently receives visitors p
: appointment at 3 and o'clock in the d
orning. When Ii Hung Chang returned 5
Peking from his tour around the world, | v
o emperor received him and heard his s.
ports between and o'clock a. NV | d
Curtis in Chicago Record. a
The Finest Sight In Africa ri