Evening star., 1898-10-08

emperor, the punishment meted out to him
is that of decapitation
With these safeguards against being seen
the emperor proceeds to the Ming tombs,
where he finds everything in the most per
feet condition. The officials surrounding
bin iEG2r1 him thai AZ 9f China + in a a
ike Condition, SO that Wheh fefjfms CT
various kinds are suggested to the emperor
he is not likely to see the need of them.
The emperor is termed the Son of Helven,
and he is never allowed to come in con-
tact with the representative people ou'sloe
of the class of officials who live within the
Sacred City. 1t is the duty of these OH
Gals to wait upon him and to keep MIN
informed of the conditions throughout the
empire and they have done their worK 80
c.everly that he knows little except the
roma lces and distorted notions that nave
been given him since his childhood.
Any progressive idea that comes to the
imperial household is first presented to the
immediate officials waiting upon the en-
peror, and after time these ideas may
reach the emperor with such adornments
as tie officials conveying them may see
lit to give them. Since the construction OF
the railroad from Pckin to the city of
Shang Hal Quin, distance of eighty miles,
the emperor has repeatedly expressed de-
sire to make trip over it with the pur-
pose ,f inspecting it and paying visit to
number of Chinese cities along its line
But UP to the present time he has been I'M
able TO do this. Notwithstanding the pre-
cautions against allowing the young EN-
pcrcr to know anything of the outside
world, it is said his curiosity has been SUI
ficientiy excited as to make him show an
interest in western civilization, and 1t Is
quite generally believed that a lear that
he might listen to suggestions for modern
methods in controlling his country as he
grows older has brought about his abdi-
cation.
Succession in China.
The Emperor of China is the son of
Prince Chung VII, brother of the late EN-
who succeeded to the
throne of China in 1873, when he was four
years of age. He is the ninth emperor of
China of the Manchu dynasty of Using,
which overthrow the native dynasty OF
Ming in 1911. There exists in China no law
of hereditary succession to the throne. 1t Is
left to each sovereign or emperor to ap-
point his successor from among the lnein-
bers of his family Of Il younger generation
Tie late emperor having died suddenly. the
empress dowager appointed the emperor
who has lately abdicated in her favor.
The empress dowager, the most powerful
woman in China. is the second wife OF the
Emperor Hen Feng, who died about twen-
ty-seven years ago. In December she will
be siXty-four years of age, and she has
practically been the ruler of China since
the death of the late emperor. She is re-
garded by the Chinese as woman of eX-
ceptionally good qualities, and such for
eigners who have secured an audience with
her have spoken of her as a born diplomat.
fOr instance, When Prince Henry OF Ter
many visited her it was thought he would
learn much of her purposes, but, like LII
Hung Chang. when on his tour around the
world, when asked a question she replied
to it by asking another and at the end of
the interview the prince knew much
he did before his visit, with the additional
knowledge that the empress dowager was
as willy a diplomat any of those Europe
could produce.
The deposng of China's emperor places
the empress dowager in complete control of
the government. and she may not only rule
during the balance Of her lifetime, but has
the right to appoint her successor.
Ever since the war between Japan and
China the empress dowager has been
strongly opposed to the Japanese. The eff
forts Of the Marquis Ito, the prime minis
ter of Japan, to secure offensive and de-
fensve treaty with China are fresh in the
minds of every one. The emperor was ia
vorable to this idea. but negotiations were