The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1898-12-15

~ SNAS AN1a - |
his Imperial Majesty, Kuang Hsn, the
emperor of China, which is to take
place within a fortnight. The occasion
is always one of great moment in Dip
leinatic circles of the empires capital,
and is particularly important this year
In view of the possible partition bf the
empire in the near future. In the
present contest for concessions which
the European ministers are conduct
ing. an effort will be made by each to
make an impression On his Majesty
at the audience, so that the most gor-
geous pageant the empire has ever wit
MESSED is likely to be seen.
The audience will probably not differ
IN other respects from it's usual lines.
Though nee a year only does Kuang
Isu defgn to shed the light of his
c~ountenahce on the barbarian rep
fesehtatives of foreign countries, he
rarely permits the interview to last
longer than ten minutes. This il
aoabtless due to a proper respect for
the comfort of the diplomatic corps.
IheS could not be expected to endure
with comfort a longer association
with the dazzling effulgence which
emanates from the presence Of the
Son of Heaven" For this brief peri
Cd, however, weeks of preparation are
necessary to perfect the glory of the
diplomatic uniforms for the eventful
day.
When the morning arrives there is
a great run on sedan chairs Cit would
be deemed highly indecorous to travel
to the palace in any other onvey
ance), and frequently those used at
weddings are brought into requisition.
On the windows of a bridal chair are
inscribed the characters "Shuang Hsi,"
and when these conveyances pass
through the streets considerable
amusement is created among the spec
tators, the more waggish of whom,
with the pertinacity of a London street
boy, inquire of the occupant whether
he expects to obtain a wife from the
palace.
The annual audience is the only &C.
casion when foreigners are permitted
to enter the sacred precincts of the
Forbidden City," the punishment in
1licted on intruders at other times be-
ing instant death. From a pagoda on
the south wall of the Tartar City the
yellow turrets of the royal buildings
can plainly be distinguished beyond
the capacious court yard, while in the
latter there may be seen on any fine
day the Imperial Guards summing
themselves in various pastures. all un-
mindful of the fact that they have in
their keeping the Ruler of the Uni
verse.
The members Of the foreign lega-
lions, on arriving at a side entrance in
the palace walls, are received by some
two thousand mandarins, g%orgeously
appareled in silks and furs, their re.
spective degrees being denoted by the
color of the button on their hats ant
the square decoration on their breasts
The English and American legations
are usually arrayed in sober evenins
dress, unless the minister happens tC
be a military man, when he wears his
uniform. The Anglo-Saxons are com
pletely outshone by the French, Rus,
sian, German, Holland, Austrian
Spanish, Italian and Japanese lega.
lions, whose display of gold lace. golt
ombroideries, medals, ribbons, insig-
Mas, plumes, spears, swords and he'll
NETS look for all the world like ar
Alhambra ballet, and, of course, make
q most profound impression on the
mind of the tinsel-loving Oriental.
The waiting room into which thu
| 1inln ti0 anrnc iC Shnun now l,,c4 Il,
compared to a waiting room on til,
London, Chatham and Dover Railway
1t is a wretched apartment, sparsely
furnished, and the walls are decorated
with a few scrolls on which are in
scribed Confucian proverbs, more hon
ored in the breach than in the OBJ
%Gervance. The room is not half bi,
enough to accommodate the minister
and their suites, numbers of whom
have to wait i'll the hall. To FORTH,
them against the trying ordeal await
ing them, tea is served in cups of dirt,
china, and Japanese cigarettes are dis
tributed. While waiting here the min
listers are visited by the chief officer
CT state, the commanding figure of I.
Hung Chang being con%spicuousl,
prominent as he PASSES from one grou
to another. INDUCING in that specie
Of mental horse-play for which he j
SO noted, and greeting everyone wit
a genial smile. Rival ministers, for
getting for the norce national jeal
ousies. mingle as freely as the consula
students at the club, and all seem I
bear up bravely i'll face of the impend
ing strain upon their nerves.
Prince Kung, the emperor's uncle, i
a short time that the re
cepticn is about to take place; cigar
cites are thrown away, white XII
gloves are put on, and, headed by tn
ministers, the entire body emerge int
the cpen all, whence, through Il pas
age between lines of blue tents. the
proceed to the audience chamber,
yellow tiled building with a courtyar
In front. The emperor is seated be
hind 6 small table. which is cover