The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
THE fORBIDOes CITY.
Description Of the scene when the Allie,
Troops Marched Through.


Pekin Letter Ia Leslis's wsskIv
The interior Of the forbidden CITY /. "A
rided into three parts b. two walls run
ming entirely through IL from north -
south. the eastern section OF The city ha-
ing given up 10 the Offices OF the Chimes.
boards OF government and 10 the treasury
Of the palace. while that on the wes, con-
tains great variety Of buildings. me-
mortal halls to distinguished soveTeigns
and scholars. the guardian temple ~ rs
city. and the government pr.n,ing-0Glle.
We werC not. however. allowed 10 do any
investigating. and the procession was
kept in the inner space between the two
dividing walls. straight through TIE city.
Back OF the great audience hail was the
gate leading 10 the palace itself The
palace consisted OF four buildings. ne
central one being the Emperor own rest
dence, on either side Of this were build
ings called the Eastern palace and jhs
Western palace, while the fourth build
Ing. which was o-nateiy gildea. Is called
the Hall OF the Golden Dragon. The En-
psTor's palace was the only building IN
the city which was entered, The Ho1r
was covered with cloth Of a deep red
color the Chinese yermilion. The center
% the room was covered with a large rug
Of a sort Of rough velvet worked witA
yellow dragons. II contained no seats or
any Conveniences except the throne Itself.
for among the Chinese no one. however,
high his rank. Is permitted 10 assume any
other than a kneeiing position while IN
the presence Of the Emperor. The throne
was placed on an elevated dais, ascendet
from behind by splendiily-carved stair
case. and supported by a large copper
dragon heavily giided. Around the hall
Is a gallery which, according &c the
eunucEs who were guarding the palace.
vas for the use of the orchestra. which
nlays while official receptions are going
on
The palace is considered by the Chinese
as the most important Of all the imperial
buildings Il was the scene o. the famo $
reception given by the Emperor kanghi
in III. when on the slXtteth anniversary
Of his reign he invited 10 the palace, as
his guests. az the men of the empire over
sixty wears of age North beyond this
building we passed the Palace Of Earths
Repose Here heavens cons0rt.' as tna
Chinese Empress is called, rules over the
imperial harem. Between this palace
and the northern wall OF the forbidden
city were the imperial gardens. full OF
dainty pavilions and marble bridges run
ming across the canals and reaching out
10 artificial islands which stood In he
little lakes. covered with groves and dot
ted with temples
on the right, as we marched past the
Empresss palace, stood the Hall Of In
tense Thought. a temple devoted 10 Con-
fucius and the other great sages Of China,
while just north OF 1t stood the imperial
library. or the Hall Of the Literary Abyss,
as the Chinese call it. Back Of the pal
ace stood another gate like all those No
had passed through before. then another
courtyard. then through the back cr
north gate, over the bridge across tho
moat which surrounds the forbidden city,
into the Enclosure al the foot OF the Mel
Shan or 'coal-hill," and the spectacle was
over
There was considerable disorder among
the troops during the march through the
palace grounds, for everybody was trying
to get glimpses of ali the sights. II was
not much, but IL was more than any llv-
ing white man is likely 10 see again. T.a
buildings We're closed, eunuchs stool
bout on watch. and most things OF value
seemed to have been removed. The city
look ed as If it had been abandoned for
some time for the courts were dirty apl
unkempt and the buildings decidedly Cd
and dusty.
There were cheers and considerable eld-
ton and a decided disposition. not too
well suppressed by some OF the officers. 10
make the spectacle as humiiiatiHg as pos
sible to the Chinese. As they marched
out the north gate the Japs and Russians
lined up on either side OF the stone cause
way, and then stood al salute cheering
the rest OF us as We marched through
between their lines II was a great de-
monstration. and has had a profound ef
feet upon the Chinese. They are not
likely 10 forget IL for long time 10 come.