Evening star., 1900-07-07

they did not wish him to pay it back. but
that they would take il out in flowers and
vegetables.
Growing Interest.
On one occasion. when they had kept him
longer than usual-and it is to be remem-
bere1 that all the time they were con-
yersing on subjects related to Christianity V
he made several excuses to get away. but
was unable to do so. He finally said:
But 1 must go. I have not yet had my
dinner and it is now late in the day"
'Oh. that is all right" they answered
we can give you your dinner" which they
proceeded to do. and he remained with them
until evening telling them about the nature
of Christianity
During one of these conversations one of
the eunuchs was especially interested. and
In conversation with my friend told him
that the emperor daily had parts of the
Gospel of Luke written in large characters
on sheets of paper and that he thus studied
them This eunuch was the einperOr's per-
sonal servant. and he stood in the room all
the time he was studying the Bible. That
TINS was true cannot be doubted. for it was
impossible for the eunuch to know ANYTHING
about the Gospel of Luke had he not
learned II in that way. The fact tina: he
was able to tell that the emperor was
studying the Gospel of Luke was proof
that he was doing SO.
His Interest in Forcigners
1t must not be inferred from this that th.
emperor was becoming a Christian. One
day three of the eunuchs called on me with
TINS same horticulturist for the purpose of
seeing foreigner. and to get a view of his
nome and to talk with him. One of them
was younger than the other two-in fact
a young man-and above the average in
ttlllSence of his class. a few days later
my friend told ME story which illustrates
one phase of the emperors character. He
had ordered a number of the eunuchs to
appear before him, but none of them save
this particular one ma terialiZed As he got
down on his hands and knees to kotou or
knock his head to his majesty. the latter
kicked him in the mouth, cutting his lip
and otherwise injuring him, and my infor-
mant added:
What kind of a man is that to be on the
throne OF a country, Furnishing those who
obey his orders?"
of course, 1t is a well-knOwn fact which
has, perhaps. been already reported q
great number of times, that the young en-
peror began studying English about the
same time. and those who were getting
books for him came to our compound and
secured small volume, which had been
taken to China by the man who induced
me to go to Pekin as a text book for his
little daughter. When the emperor began
the study of English he departed from
the usual methods of men in his position
and allowed his teacher to sit and teach
him instead of forcing him to kneel in his
presence. / myself worked for some time
with Inc grandson OF this teacher. teach
ing him English, and in return he taught
me Chinese.
the study of English. the study Of the
Bible and all the foreign toys the emperor
had played with. including the great in
ventiOns which mark the progress of the
advancing civilization of these last years
Of the nineteenth century. were not lost
on the young man. They could not change
his impetuous disposition. but they DID in
spire in him a disposition to the world
and to know more OF what was going en- in
ii than had ever been known by any other
occupant of the Dragon throne. He there
fore. began buying all kinds OF books per-
tanning To foreign affairs.
Fought EoO:.s of Ali Sorts.
1t was known to him that there were
various institutions of learning connected
with the missions of the various churches
and that each Of these schools had trans
lated some of tine most important text
books Of the countries they represented into
Chinese. They were issued by tract So
cieties and societies for the distribution of
general and Christian knowledge; and there
were books prepared by scientists and ply