Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1902-01-08
There Has Been a Bit of 1t
Going On at Fehin This
Week.
FOREIGNERS SALUTED
The Empress Dowagcr Bows Hmm
bly, to Those no Had Reduced
Her Arrogance.
Entrance Of the Court Into Pekin
Is Signalized By an Epoch
marking Event.

rekin, Jan. S.-The re-entrance OF
the Chinese emperor into Pekin yes
terday was the most remarkable cpl
sode in the annals of the dynasty. save
the flight of the Chinese court when
Pekin was bombarded by the allied
forces. The spectacular phases of the
return OF the court exceeded expecta-
tions. The cortege was a sort of glor
flied lord mayors show. and was be-
wildering barbaric exhibition of ORR
entail tinseled splendor. Its chief sig
nificance was the complete efYacement
OF the traditional deification of Chi
nese royalty. Foreigners were given
greater facilities of witnessing the
ceremonial than would have been af-
forded them at most European courts.
The scene at the Cnien gate, when
the emperor and the dowager empress
entered the temple to offer thanks for
their safe journey, was nothing less
than revolutionary when viewed in the
light OF all Chinese customs The
horseshoe wall forming the ancient
gate was crowded with Europeans.
diplomats. army officers. missionaries.
ladies, photographers and correspond
ents. When the emperor and the dow
ager empress arrived at the temple
the procession halted and their maj
estes alighted from their chairs.
which were covered with imperial vel
low silk and lined with sables- The
emperor proceeded to the temple of
the god of war on the west side of the
plaza, with hundreds of foreigners
peering down only 40 feet above him.
and dozens of cameras were focused
upon the Son OF Heaven. When he re-
turned his chair was borne through
the gate Then the chair of the dow
axer emprers was brought to the door
way of the temple of the goddess of
mercy on the east sue of the plaza.
and the dowager empress appeared.
Amid a great scufiing of attendants
she proceeded into the temple on the
arms OF two officials, followed by a
company of Buddhist priests bearing
offerings. The spectators then heard
the booming of the temple bell. After
an interval of FIVE minutes the dowa-
ger empress reappeared. Standing in
the doorway of the temple she looked
upward. Directly overhead were the
German minister. DR.. Mumm Won
Schwartzenstein. the secretaries of
the German legation, the officers and
ladies from the American garrison.
and newspaper correspondents. The
dowager empress saw the foreigners
and bowed low. She advanced a few
steps and bowed again in acknowledg-
ment of the salutations of the foreign
ers. She re urned to her chair look
ing upward TO the semf-circle of for
eign faces. and bowling repeatedly.
In the meantime the Chinese sol
diers. Manchu bannerman and minor
officials who had crowded the plaza
were reverently kreeiing. The two
arches at the sides of the ancient
gateway framed hundreds of faces OF
Chinese coolies who, ernboldened by
the presence of foreigners. ventured
TO gaze upon their rulers. This Incl
dent cons itu' ed a most sharp con-
trast to the old regime. when neither
diplomats nor natives were permitted
to view the passage of royal person
ages along the streets. The expires.
sion of the dowager empress seemed
almost appealing as she faced those
who had humbled her and brought her
down from her former arrogance. and
this confirmed the impression that she
is returning to Pekin with anxiety for
her safety.
II appears that the empress dow
ager ordered that every courtesy be
extended TO the foreigners at Pekin
and that the efforts to exclude them
from Witnessing the passage of the
imperial cortege emanated from local
officials.