The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-28

most remarkable characters In the
Empire at the present time. says Prof.
Isaac II. Headland OF the Peki1 TINT
versity. HE is not what we are accus-
toned to term n ctrong character. AS
a boy he was interested In all kinds Of
foreign toys and considered everything
brought from foreign countries. from a
railroad train. n phonograph. an elec-
tric car or n fine Swiss match, as n toy
10 be played with. Like many other
rich children. he was INDUCED In every
imaginable wish. and the populace re
garded him In the light OF a spoiled
child. The Chinese OF the better class.
who were I'm touch with those connect
ed with the palace. either as eunuchs
servants. or In official relations. were
full OF stories about his bad temper
and looked upon him as one who ought
20 be spanked. IL was said that his
own private apartment was a museum
OF all the most wonderful inventions.
the most intricate machinery and the
most complicated productions of mod
ern art. science and invention that he
had been able TO gather. and that his
viii must not be crossed In any cir
cumstances. for he was Just as liable
TO dash fine Swiss watch TO the floor.
breaking II into a thousand pieces. as
peevish child Is to destroy It's doll.
Knowing the disposition OF the boy.
the officials sought out all kinds OF in
tricate and peculiar machines as pres
ents To him In order TO enhance their
interests and prospects. and In doing
so they troubled us at the Pekin Uni
versity until We let them have our
phonograph 10 make as n present TO
his Majesty. Doubtless these toys
awakened his interest in foreign af-
fairs generally. But as the child grew
ne began 20 develop other notions not
less peculiar. perhaps. but more In har-
mony with his position. duties and
responsibilities. when some ladies.
both Chinese and foreign. presented the
Empress Dowager with n magnificent
copy OF the New Testament, printed on
the finest paper. with new type special
lIy manufactured for that book. bound
lin silver, encased In n silver box, which
was again lnclosod In n fine plush case.
the thing interested his Majesty. "a
Judge from his conduct, more than II
did the Dowager Empress herself.
The day after the present reached
the palace an order came to the Ameri-
can Bible Society in Pekin. which at
tracted the special attention OF the
agent OF that society. The man who
brought the order was n cunuch. He
seemed very particular 20 retain the
little slip Of paper on which the order
was written and insisted upon its re-
Iturn 90 him after u had been copied
They then discovered that the order
was from the Emperor and that IL was
for Blbies-both Old and New Testa'
! ments-such as the society was selling
20 his people. The society. of course
ldid not understand the import OF suci
. move on the part Of the Emperor
: but u was not long before we discov
cred what the young man was doing
"a was personally well acquainted
. and associated with n horticulturis
: and gardener who for many years wen
| daily 90 the palace with his nower'
: and vegetables, and have received from
him many presents OF flowers such a.
he took 20 the palace. He discovere