The age-herald., 1901-03-10
CUTTING OFF THE HEAD OF TAN.
 THE RICH MAYOR OF T|EN TSIN

Tein-Tsin, which will take place on Tues day, January s. at Il a. m., in the public square, near the North gate.
 Please present this card to the off cer in command of the guard
 l drove to the place of execution, which was some 800 paces from the North Gate The morning was cold and damp. The street was crowded with Europeans in rickshas hurrying to the scene. The streets were as crowded with these ve- hicles as they would be with cabs at theater time in a European city. The coolies bearing the rickshas went fast for they knew that they would receive an extra thrashing if they were late
 AS the little vehicles came near to- gether one could hear scraps of conversa- tion.
 Going to the execution?"
 "Of course Everybody worth knowing in Tien-Tsin will be there."
 Have you got your ticket? I can in troduce you to the officer of the guard"
 When 1 arrived at the outskirts of the place of the execution I was met by German patrol, who saluted me The lieutenant in command conducted me to a front place. where, together with the moro favored guests, l was provided with a seat.
 The officer asked me if I had a re- Tolver with me, and when I replied in the affirmative he remarked:
 That's right You can never trust these Chinese
 The right side of the execution square was reserved for the officers of the all lied nations and distinguished foreigners. The natives were ordered to assemble at the left. They proved themselves thor ough actors. Nothing could exceed the expression of indifferent stolidity on their faces. We knew well what hatred 1t con cealed. Long continued. enforced inter- foI taught them that it is safest to wear this rifles are aimed at them.
 On the officers side of the square things went merrily But for the ab- sence of the grand stand one might have thought himself at a race meeting. for most of the gentlemen wore gay ribbons scarfs and highly colored decorations with parade uniform. They chatted and laughed, smoked and exchanged courte- sles. A jollier and pleasanter lot of fel- lows you would not run across in many a long day.
 Promptly at 10:45 mufffled sounds of drum and fife were heard from the di- rection of the Imperial Canal. The Chin csc pricked up their ears. They are music-loving people, and these foreign devils are much better musicians than they. The officers bent forward; some stood on tip toe. Expressions such as, Now, goodbye, your Highness," went rom mouth to mouth. NO one III the spurred and spangled crowd seemed 10 realize that human life was about to be taken away. Yet it is safe to assume that all the spectators were sons of gen tie and refined mothers-that all of them had been reared in good society. The habits of the executioner brutalize any man.
 In the wake of the drum and fife marched the town crier, carrying aloft a printed sign. on which the delinquents crimes were set forth in flaming letters.
 Then came the Taotai.
 Tan wore dress the gorgeousness of which beggars description. It was of eX- quisitely embroidered silk, the finest work of it's kind in China, gold, yellow, purple and the most brilliant colors min gling in the design. His shoes were beau tifully embroidered in gold, but the sev- en allied nations had deprived him of the emblems of his rank-bead chain and staff. The latter would have been of no use to him. though, for his hands were bound with ropes the ends of which were held by two coolies trotting be- hind.
 Next came the executioner, who, from motives of decency and patriotism, had