Evening journal., 1898-09-09
The EMPEROR OR CHINA
HE LOOKS LIKE A MAN WHO
WEARY OF THE WORLD

HE LOOKS LIKE A MAN WHO is |
WEARY OF THE WORLD.
A Berlin journal publishes the fol-
lowing account from the pen Of we'll
known German traveller, Of an audi
ence granted by the emperor Of China
to the foreign ambassador at Pel1in.
The writer was the only non-dip,o-
matte person present.
Headed by the highest dlgmitarles OF
the Celestial empire, cur procession
moved on between rows Of priyy chan
cellors OF the first class, body guards
armed with bows and arrows. civic
authorities holding valuable old swords
under their arms, and unarmed sol.
diers Of the palace we passed by the
black tents with the little, peepng win
dows, in which the ambassadors fore
gathered in former years before they
were received by the emperor.
Silently and pompously we passea
over the dark carpet, woven cut OF
back camers hair, and ascended some
steps leading to the widely opened
folding doors Of a building, from the
front wall Of which the outside had
peeled off, leaving the casing and tim
bers exposed to view, moldly and
worm-eaten. Thus we reached the au-
dience chamber and were within three
PAGES Of the "son of heaven" Kouang
Sou, the ruler Of the middle king
DOM"
lie was seated upon raised plat
form, approached by five steps and
three gangways, while from the right
and left two narrow paths also gave
access to the dals. The latter and the
ba,ustrade were covered with red cloth
and trimmed with yellow. On either
side OF the emperor stood one Of the
Manchurian princes, upright, notion
less and with a stony stare, ans though
he were keeping watch over a bier.
In this hall, the "hall of the flow
ers Of literature" the "son Of heaven"
sat before table ON the platform, 80
that only the upper portion Of his body
was visible. Upon the table ,ay a
STAFF, probably Of jasper. the "scepter
of good fortune" A small square box.
seemingly of antique cloisonne work,
was said to contain the imperial seal.
There were also upon the table the plate
for preparing Chinese ink, tray fo1
unused writing brushes, a rack fol
holding these brushes when in use, a
box Of India ink, and a vase of water
for making the writing fluid. AN these
articles were made out of precious
stones Of the second rank, such as jas.
per, topaz, turquoise and the like. II
seemed as If the emperor preferred tC
have these useful articles before him al
the insignia Of power. instead Of ths
usual sword, scepter and orb.
r His majesty looks older than he real
D ly is. With sunken head and yel.ov
face he locked shyly ait the assemble
. diplomats, and his heavy eyes wer
lit up for the occasion by opium o
morIhia. A sorrowfui, weary ant
e rather childish smiie played about hil
mouth. When his lips are parted his
, long, irregular yellow teeth appear
! and there are great hollows in either
cheek. His face is not entirely wanting
in sympathy, but rather betokens in
difference, and from its features moth.
. ing of interest can be read; in fact
the emperor impressed me as being
= self-restrained. cold, apathetic, wantinl
: in capacity worn out and as though
0 half dead.
felt that whatever passed before hi
eyes had not the slightest interest fcf
b him; and that it mattered not in tn.
? least to him whether he understoo,
the meaning of the ceremony. I may
!, indeed, be wrong in my Judgment, an,
it may be that the emperor OF Chin.
is a highly intelligent monarch, edm
p Gated, We'll read, keen student, an,
anxious for the welfare of his people
| may be entirely wrong, but I canno
believe that 1 am. A man who wears
a look as If life were a burden to hin
{ must surely he OF the downward grade
; l must be bold enough to reproduc.
4 the "son Of heaven" as 1 saw him ans
d as he struck me, and not as Others
K would wish me to picture him.
For a quarter Of an hour / stood cn,l
d three PAGES from the emperor Of tn
e Celestial empire. and 1 watched hin
= Narrowly the whole time; there eto.'
over me a feeling of regretGul sym
S pathy with this potentate, who govern.
more than 4OO,OOO,OOO people from th.
S ruined chambers OF a vast prison house
q After a deathly silence of some min
utes the doyen Of the Diplomatic Corps
h Coione. Derby, minister of the Unlike,
e states, read an address in English
S Prince Kung had previously been mad
s acquainted with the text of his ad
2 dress.
il He mounted with difficulty the small.
b, | or ct ffscaea on fto rfohf l,-rvea var,