The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-01-08
PEKlNC'S GREAT DAY
Court Enters City Amid Big
Demonstration,
BEWlLDERINC BARBARIC EXHIBITION
Everywhere In Evidence
Daring the Entry-COntrary to All
Chinese CustOMs-DowaKer
Returns snlutati0ns.

PEKING, Jan. S.-The re-entrance
Of the Chinese emperor into Peklng
was the most remarkable episode In
the annals Of the dynasty save the
fight of the Chinese court when Pc
king was bOmbarded by the allied
forces.
The spectacular phases of the return
OF the court exceeded the expectations.
The cOrtege was sort of gloritied lord
mayors show and was bewildering
and barbaric exhibition Of oriental tin
seled splendor.
Its chief significance was the COM
plcte cffacement of the traditional de-
ification of Chinese royalty. Foreign
ers We're given greater facilities to wit
ness the ceremonial than would have
been afforded them at most European
courts.
The scene ut the Chen gate when
the emperor and dowager empress en-
tered 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 dowager
empress arrived at the temple. the pro-
cessiOn halted, and their majesties
nlighted from their chairs. which were
covered with imperial yellow silk and
lined with sable. The emperor pro-
ceeded to the Temple Of the God of
War. on the west side of the plaza,
with hundreds of foreigners peering
down only forty feet above him, and
dozens of cameras We're focused upon
the son of heaven.
Then the chair Of the dowager en-
press was brought to the doorway Of
the Temple of the Goddess of Mercy.
on the east side of the plaza, and the
dOwngcr empress appeared. Amid Il
great scutfling of attendants she pro-
recded into the temple on the arms Of
two officials. followed by Il company of
Buddhist priests bearing offerings. The
spectators then heard the booming of
the temple bell
After an interval of five minutes the
dowager empress reapprared. Stand
Ing in the doorway of the temple, she
looked upward. Directly overhead
were the German minister, DR.. Mumm
Won Schwartzcnstein, and the secretu-
ries of the German legation and the
officers and ladies' from the American
garrison. The downger empress saw
the foreigners aad bowed low. She
advanced few steps and bowed again
In acknowledgment of the salutations
Of the foreigners. She retlfrned to her
chair, locking upward to the semicircle
of foreign faces and bowling repeat
pdly.
The expression of the dowagcr EN-
press seemed almost appealing as she
faced those who had humbIed her from
her former arrogance and confirmed
the impression that she is returning to
Peking with anxiety for her safety.
In the meantime the Chinese SOL
diers. Mantchoo bannermen and minor
officials who had crowded the plaza
were reverently kneeling The two
arches at the sides of the ancient gate
way framed hundreds Of faces of Chi
nese coolies wlio, emlloldened by the
presence Of foreigners, ventlred to
gaze upon their rulers. This incident
constituted a most sharp contrast with
the old regime. when neither diplomats
nor natives were permitted to view the
passage of royal personages along the
streets
The streets from the MachiapO sta
ton to the gateway Of the Forbidden
City, distance Of four miles, were
swept and Sarnished early in the morn
Ing The great plaza between the tenn
pies of Heaven and Agriculture were
sprinkled with yellow sand. Residents
were compelled to remain indoors. The
soldiers and the police formed close
Gordon along both sides of this entire
distance.