Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-21

the base and forty feet at the top, and
their outer faces are perpendicular while
the inner faces slope-at some places
enough to permit of horsemen mounting
them. Parapets are erected on both inner
and outer faces of the walls, those on the
latter being loop-holed and crenelated. AT
intervals of about sixty yards are large
buttresses. every sixth one being larger
than its neighbors. Near the gates the
walls are occasionally faced with stone, but
In the other parts by immense bricks, which
bear striking resemblance to stone. The
space between the facings is filled up. first
by a solid foundation of concrete, of some
ten feet in depth; then by a layer of we'll
rammed earth, another layer of concrete.
and another of earth, the latter being paved
with large blocks of granite, which form
the terreplein. The earth to fill in the wall
was taken from the ditch or moat which
encompasses the city. Each of the gates
has bUttress on either side, connected by
a semi-circular wall which thus forms an
enciente. That of the central south gate is
larger than any of the others, and Is the
only one with three entrances, the central
portal being for the exclusive use oe The
emperor or his family. The southern wall
of the Tartar city-that separating it from
the Chinese city-is a great deal stronger
than the walls facing the open plain. and is
Indicative of the dread in which the Tar
tars held their Chinese subjects The Chi
nese city walls. built so late as 1913, are
neither so strong nor so high as the walls
ipoul LIE CITY. Iney ABOUT
thirty feet high twenty-five feet wide at
the base and only fifteen feet wide at the
top or terrepiein 1t is also parapate1 and
buttressed like the walls of the Tartar city
and susceptible of military defense.
Cities Within Cities.
The Tartar city wall is about 141k miles in
circumference. From east to west its total
length is 1-3 miles, and from north to
south. % miles. The distance around
the wall of the Chinese city is a half mile
less, even though the breadth of the city is
81 eater than that Of it's northern neighbor.
The total girth of the two cities-taking
of course, only the walls that face the plain
is signify over twenty miles. In the Tar
tar city or Nui-ching is the yellow or i'm
perial city, in which dwell the throne Off
Gals, princes, &c, and, again, within the
imperial city Is the purple or forbidden
city, where live the emperor, his family and
the immediate court.
The forbidden city is surrounded nv a
wall of red brick and crenelated The ter
races and glacis are also of red brick, while
the walks within the Enclosure are stone
paved The area of the purple city is about
one square mile. The gate forming the
outer barrier of the palace is situated in the
south wall of the yellow city. 1t is a low
ugly building, with three doors, so con-
structed as to be in accordance with the
usual Chinese custom, which tries TO hide
Interior masnifcence under a disguise of
outer crudeness.
Further On is the meridian gate. which is
Inc southern entrance to the prohibited CITY
and the second from the palace itself
Before this gate, on the east side is a solar
dial and on the west side a lunar dial In
me lower above it. called the Teng Wen
hu' Is large gong, which is said to have
been used in the time of tht. Ming DYNASTY
by Wauld-be petitioners. who having failed
to obtain Justice by the common channels
We're allowed TO call the emperor's attention
thus TO their grievance. For a frivolous or
Needless appeal death was the penalty and
many a sufferer hesitated to invoke The
Questionable judgment OF his majesty. At
the present time this gong is struck when
the emperor passes through the gate
Inside the Meridian gate is a court ward
throush which runs small canal crossed
by nFe bridges with carved balustrades
mons ana other devices, all In fine marble
lEclosed is a building called The. Tai bo
Tien, which has five avenues of fine mar
bic like the bridges. II is upon a basement
= ieet nigh. and rises to total height Of
ITO Feet The ascent is by five flights of
1orty-two steps each. with balustrades or
namented with tripods and other figures in
bronze. Inc central avenue is very broad.
ana Is used only by the emperor
Home of the Empress.
AT the back of the Tai-ho-Tien is the
gate leading to the palace proper, which
consists OF four large and two cmaller
puNdlhss-the latter of which are allotted
10 the dowager empress and suite The
ereo with tiles of tawny yellow The nal
sce used by the emperor as his residence
mas us hoors painted rich yermillion ar
ranged IN pattern of squares. The CEN
terS or the rooms are covered with native
yehoW velvet carpet, and in most of them
the furniture is constructed of the fine
hard southern woods, which are suscent.
lbie OF high polish. 1t is said that the
couches. etc, Of the emperor's own room
are framed In solid gold. The official re-
ception room has a carpeting of rough vel
Vet worked with great yellow dragons. and
IL contains no seats except the throne no
one, however high of rank, being allowed
TO assume anything but kneeling position
while in the presence of the sovereign This
Is not the room in which are received for
eign diplomats. The throne itself is placed
on dais some ninety feet high which is
assembled from behind. Beneath, and sup
porting this dais, is a large gilt copper
dragon. with five claws-the mark of the
imperial dragon. On two sides of the hall
is music gallery. 1t was here that
kanghi, in 1I22-that being the sixtieth
year OF his reign-invited to a festival ali
OF MS subjects over sixty years old; and
ms grandson. Kien-Lung, in 1875, repeated
the same ceremony on the fiftieth year OF
MS reign-the number of guests being three
thousand-which must only have Included
the mobiles of the empire.
beyond the emperor's palace stands the
Palace of Earth's Repose where the EN-
press. or heavens consort." rules her
mi int In he