The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
PRISONER ON THE THRONE.
The Queer Plight Of His HiRhness. Kwang.
Hsu, Emperor Of China.
rro,u ,l. f,l,.,,a T.h.,,.

A year has passed since the reins OF Govern
mcnt in China wcro wrested from the weak hands
Of Kwang Hsu by his aunt and adopted mother
TisAn This momentous event meant at the
same time the end OF reforms which have been
inaugutatcd by the youthful Emperor, or rather
by III Hung Chang, the Niccroy, who has not
inaptly been termed the Chinese Bismarck.
II the relation Of China TO foreign powers wcro
still as loose they were only forty years ago,
the coup d'etat undoubtedly would have ended
with the assassination OF Kwans .IIsu. but now
even China has to respect and TO fear public
opinion" at least as far as IL finds pres sion in
International politics IL probably was only
this lear OF an intervention or even Of q protest
By the powers having spheres Of interest" in
china that prevented the ruling powers IN China
from employing the means which otherwise arc
as matter Of course, the finale Of palace rcyo-
lutons in Oriental countries
II may also he possible that the loving aunt
and Downgcr Empress wns Of the opinion that
no artificial means were necessary to expedite
the departure Of the sickly nephew TO the seventh
heaven Of the disciples Of Confucius The health
OF the descendant II the robust Manchu chiefs
who bears every sign Of the dccadenco Of the
dynasty has always been extremely precari.
Gus Hois ply sicnly quite undcvrlopcd, scarcely
i've feet III height and makes, though he is nearly
80 years old the Impression Of a weakly boy Of
10 years The quiycrinR lower lip gives him
an aphthctic expression somewhat sOftened by
ihe melancholle but shrewdly looking eyes
ike his adaptive mother, kwang. Iisu has a
Roman nose-ior descendant Of Manchu an
unusual feature
The physician II the French Embassy, who
soon after the coup d'ctat was called 10 the palace
" refue The rumr circulated by the foreign press
that the -Son oi Heaven" had been assasSinated.
and Tor this purpuse 10 make Il physical exami-
nation Of the Emper 7 gave II as his opinion
that kwanlg Hsu would live eight months al the
though the Emperor has not recovered and the
idea that he will ever he in perfect health again
gr,ssT ,mpr"s1sir hi sond;,n has not
impression gained by foreigners who saw him
son after the palace revoluti' n, and again late
last summer al the diplomatic receptions
II il true that all sacriiicial rites and other
ritual acts, which otherwise, according 10 custom,
are celebrated by the Emperor IN person, as head
of the Chinese thcCCrhCy are crft rmcd by deputy
But this may he done for the sake II econ, my
as well as for ihc Empor,r's health, because
oihcatcS, d ~ not cost nearly as much as II the
Son II Heaven" appeared in person and On
the other hand the fear is removed that Kwang.
opportunity for Digit
soon after his oppression on Sept 81 Of last
year the Emperor attempted flight. as is now
Il the British Embassy But this scheme WAS
betrayed and frustrated. While the Chinese
Ambassador in England declared that the m, 81
cordial relations existed between aunt and nephew
the latter was imprisoned upon small island
IN .''tls d lake within the palace grounds, The
the extensive gardens was destroyed. and board
Of contrivsncc WAS provided which is only put
IN place when cunuch brings the meals for the
Son 81 Heaven" ~ when the legal ruler oi over
four hundred millions NJ people is taken away
In inter u participate as silent figure in some
council Of state where the cdicts Arr framed which
declare his best friends to be- traitors ur denounce
his rcirmhtory DEGREES and recall them.
Gradually the dethroncd ruler seemed 10 h..
come rcconcilcd 10 his fate. and he was given
quarters in the palace in the centre Of Pcking,
psa. ri. ,hI r rooms used BY thr pow.scr Empress
When the women 81 the foreign embassies in
Peking were received by the Dowager Empress
last month kwang Hsu was present ms n silrn,
spectator. lie occupied seat Of state, which
and "a the seven women were presented he shook
the hand OF each. smiling awkwardly.
during the present year the Emperor has To.
pratediy received foreign Ministers without the
ing word, while before the coup d'ctat he used
to speak quite freely in y thin, boyish voice. II
IL said that In the councils Of state he never saws
anything and that he declines 10 participate in
any 81 the business transacted, II this il done
oni OF spite u would appear az II his resigned
Quite recently the Iumor gained circulation
that the Emperor made another attempt at rs.
cnpc in having himself wrapped in blankets
and carried from the palace by eunuchs who are
they were later bastnado"d to death. Ii is also
said that through the medium Of the Japanese
Ambassador in Picking h. has prayed assist
hncc from the Emperor Of Japan What ruth
existence NJ them leads To the conclusion thai
the young Emperor is by no means rcconcilcd
10 his fate.
However, aid must come, II at all. from the
not the requisite energy to help himself he
cannot count upon delivery by personal follow
ers IN CHINA, for loyalty and self sacrificing de
Nouon are flowers which do not thrive in the At
mosphcre of the Chinese imperial court