Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-25

the last few centuries the gong has been
used only to announce the coming of the
emperor.
Here we are at the palace-or call 1t what
you Wlll-Where the emRerors were wont to
receive triumphant generals-Chinese gen
erals, OF course-and here, too. gifts and
decorations to native officials and foreign
ambassadors were distributed. All these
gates that we are passing through are mis-
cradle affairs from the standpoint of
beauty, but they are built of red brick a
material that in China Is reserved by law
for imperial buildings These gates are
faced with marble in places, and each gate
is surmounted by a pagoda.
In the Sacred City Itself
We are now In the sacred city itself
Across the courtyard runs canal, crossed
by five bridges Of fine marble Each bridge
has magnificently carved balustrades From
each bridge runs a marble-paved avenue
up to the great audience hall Traditional
law reserves the central avenue, which Is
broader and finer than the others, to be
trod only by the emperor's feet. But now
the foreign devil soldiers are marching
along this sacred path.
The interior of the Forbidden City is di-
vided by transverse walls into three parts.
First of all we pass many buildings used
for government and household purposes.
But the line of invaders keeps on, and no
one is permitted to enter these buildings.
Shriveled-up, old yellow men stand and
stare at us affrightedy. They look as an
tique as China itself There are fat, sleek
eunuchs, who up to few weeks ago had
great weight in the affairs of China. They
have lost their arrogance now, and are
plainly afraid that we will start in on a
career of murder. But they have been left
behind responsible for the buildings and
treasures under their care, and are sticking
to their posts.
Back of the audience hall is the gate
leading to the palace. Surely there must
be an experienced guide at the head of the
line to lead us straight through all this be-
wildering maze of gates. But here is the pal
ace, or rather four of them the real pal
ace. the eastern and western palaces and
sthe hall of the gold dragon. All four are
handsome buildings from Chinese stand
point. They are certainly wonderfully curl
Gus specimens of architecture. though In
Europe 1t is customary to associate the
idea of palaces with larger structures. The
emperor's palace the real one, is the only
one Of the quartet that is empty. In the
other three are huddled the frightened,
abandoned wretches of the imperial house
hold.
All! We are going into the emperor's
palace it seems. The troops are wheeling,
and In we march. Here is the audience
room. or throne room, or room Of heavenly
something or other-Whichever you please.
The Chinese have score or more of fanci-
full names for this place where the en-
perors of China have been wont to appear
before the favored few 1t Is a gorgeous
room, a big one into which we file. Owing
to the lack Of furniture 1t would look like a
huge barn. If it were not for the splendor
Of the woodwork and carvings. The floor
Is covered with cloth OF the hue of Chinese
vermillion. In the center is vast mat of a
fabric looking like rough velvet. It Is work.
ed all over with yellow dragons.
The Emperor's Empty Chair.
And over here is the throne-the empty
chair Of poor, weakened, little Hwang-su.
It stands on a raised platform, reached by
stairs at the rear. This throne is the only
place to sit down in the room. for of course
no one ever sat in the presence of the en-
peror. s" O.
Just here the officers, have to keep their
eyes open. There Is a. disposition on the
part Of many of the men to drop out of
the ranks for an instant, dart swiftly at
the throne and afterward be able to say
that they have sat on the throne of China
But the officers are v1gilant, and not
man gets out Of Ane.. So the most restless
Of the soldiers content themselves with
splitting at the emperer's empty chair as
they pass by. liz.
How swiftly this swinging infantry step
carries us out of the palacei Here we are in
another court. We march north, and go by
the Palace of Earth's Repose. This is
where the empress lives when at home
quartered with her,and. under her supervis-
ion. Just beyond are the imperial gardens
1t Is here that emperor after emperor has
dawdIed away his leisure hours flirting
Will ldulS6
Bewildering Beauty.
1t is a scene Of bewildering beauty, despite
the dust that now lies thick over all. There
are small canals crossed by costly bridges;
little islands standing in the middle of ar
tifcial lakes, little pagodas on these islands
that make ideal places for flirting. On the
right of the Palace of Earth's Repose is
the Temple of Intense Thought, a dreary
looking place devoted to the worship of
Confucius and the lesser sages. Next we
are marching past the Hall of the Literary
Abyss.
Another gate, another court yard, and
here we are at the back or north gate. AS
we pass from under It's arch we are out in
the plain, ordinary world again. The Diff
ferent contingents of allied troops halt
long enough to send up some rousng
cheers. The generals smile and bow and
shake hands. There is only a moments
halt, and now the troops are marching off
in different directions. The show Is over!
3. q. SELWYN.