The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-20
TIE FORBIDDEN CITY.
Tawdry Masniflcence and squaiid
splendor of the Son of Heaven and
the Imperial Aunt.

Tawdry Mngniflcence and Squaiid
the Imperial Aunt.
From The London Chronicle.
The following is an extract from let
ter written by the Rev. J. Stonehouse
and describing visit to the Imperial
Purple Forbidden City. Pekng. under
date Of Jan. /:
On arriving at the main entrance TO
the Forbidden Purple City we waited UNI
til our escort came. and then in we walk
ed, and spent some two hours inside.
We were met by Chinese officials, who
Kept with us all the time and by a num-
Der of eunuchs, who had tea provided
for us at various doorways. The palace
is a most difficult place to describe; the
whole effect on one was of a ruin caused
by decay. We mounted beautifully carved
marble steps, and entered large buildings,
the pillars and window frames of which
were destitute of paint, and very dilap-
ieated; only the ceiling and roofs main
tanned their former mognifcence and
beauty We entered the large Audience
Hall, noticing on our way the places Ia
the courtyard below marked with iron
stumps, indicating where officials of rank
should stand during audience: the hail
floor was carpeted with a very dirty yell
low carpet. on which were worked blue
dragons; at one side pigeons had a lodg-
ing place in the ceiling, and below their
nests the carpet was as dirty as a farm
yard. The throne on first glance looked
we'll and had some fine cloisonne ware
at the corners of the dais: on nearer in
hnt ~
found to be only lacquered woodwork,
and the cushions were moth-eaten, while
the wooden candle stands around were OF
the commonest description. We sat on
the throne without any feelings of eleva-
tion! This and another throne room had
not been in use for some time. SO we
FASTENED on to the throne room that had
been used more recently. Here we found
the same decay outside, but more clean
liress inside. The walls around were lined
with cases Containing the records OF the
dynasty; the throne itself was beauti-
fully gilded. Two huge mirrors acted as
screens to the side rooms, the western
one of which was the Empress Dowager's
throne room
The Empress Dowager's Throne and
Suite.
The throne this room contained. ex.
>NPL 4Oi ilo AEdUENOEk. was MADE OF
cloisonne; in front of it stood a long table.
while on the kang H. e. brick bed) were
books and ornaments: from the back of
this apartment we went into a low dark
little room which was her imperial High
ness's smoke room. The side room to the
east contained more books. In this whole
set of buildings, apart from some carved
woodwork and the beautiful ceiling, there
was nothing calling for admiration.
From there we wandered through court
yards--contsining small, dirty, and dilapi-
dated servants quarters--and desolate
passages, until we came to temple, where
sat the God of the North and other
hideous idols surrounded by yellow silk
hangings, incense burners, candlesticks
and all the usual parapheranlia OF q
temple; outside were ancient trees, some
decayed. others decaying, but all propped
up with poles to keep them in their
places, and tawdry bit of rockwork
not equal to that found in most gentle
mems gardens in the city. Before we
reached this temple, however. we had
visited a worship hall. on one side of
which was hung a huge foreign-made
clock. and on the other an ancient
clepsydra-both timekeepers in their way,
and both out of repair.
Through gateways and alleys, we ar
Palace, which is provided With glass win
dows and haf-glsss doors. Inside the
main hall were some ornaments, but
none Of great value a great many clocks
of all descriptions, and q map of the
heavens in a frame. On the west side
was the Empress's bedroom, containing
several silk paintings. inscribed as hav-
ing been done by some slave or other
but that might mean some lady of the
land. To the north. partly curtsined of,
was a room containing a wooden kang
and some cushions. and on the east was
a private temple. full OF gods shut up in
boxee. Among them saw O common
image OF the goddess Of Mercy. such as
can be bought In the streets Of Shang-
hal A big room at the back seemed 70
be used as a theatre, and in the court
yard were number OF fine bronze birds
and beasts. The Palace the Empress
Dowager built herself outside the city is
larger and cleaner than THE one.
The Emperor's Palace.
From there we went TO the Emperor's
palace. smaller building than the one
we left. A huge brass mechanical. but
unavoidable, toy wss on the floor. lots OF
clocks about an old broken-down piano,
a boys tin trumpet in one of the drawers
a lot of unread books in their cases
the whole lot seemingly worth about go.
His bedroom had a wooden kang. cur.
tained of. but not 80 good as the one
use IN the west city. We crswled into
one little room facing tho veranda, and
could scarcely stand upright In tilt was
the favorte resting place Of his Majesty
the Son Of Heavenl This place had not
been used by the Emperor for two years
at least. and this accounts for 90 much
OF the apparent neglect. Having seen
this building, we had penetrated 70 the
innernsoft recsss and most secret place
OF the "only ruler on earth" yet we felt
no aVel We had only 70 md our way
out and this we did through brick pas.
EageT. broken payementa. implanted
doors, and rows o. evnuehs with tea. q
''good-bys," slommlnG of doors. snd then
out into the open once more, feeling
that, having trod these nost sacreo pre-
cinfs, we had been repaid for the abuse
Of many years Such if . general out
line ~ . place 7 have often lonRed ~
80. bot never thought ! should IL this