Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-01-17


entered the Forbidden City at 1870
o'clock this afternoon. II was the
most brilliant scene Picking ever wit
messed. The procession consisted OF
thousand gorgeously attired noble
men mounted upon glittering Capari
soned horses. The Emperor, the En-
press DOwageT, Prince Chun, the EN-
press and several Princesses were
borne in yellow chairs, their escort
carrying hundreds of gay banners and
silk umbrellas. The troops Of General
Yuan Shi Kai, Governor Of Pc Chi Ii,
preceded the Emperor The foreign
community assembled on top OF the
Chang gate.
The Emperor and Empress Dowa.
ger entered the temple by the gate
and burned incense. The Dowager
Empress, upon emerging from the
temple, saw the foreigners peering
down and bowed. A double row ol
soldiers, kneeling, lined the four.milG
route.
The spectacular phases of the return
OF the court exceeded expectations
| The COrtege was a sort OF glorified
| Lord Mayors show, and was a Devil
dering barbaric exhibition OF Oriental
splendOr. Its chief Significance was
the complete effacement of the tradi.
tional dedication OF Chinese royalty.
The foreigners were given greater ia.
cilites for witnessing the ceremonial
than would have been afforded them
at most European courts.
The scene at Chang gate when the
Emperor and the Dowager Empress
10. 81
their safe journey was nothing less
than revolutionary when viewed in thu
light of all Chinese customs. The
horseshoe wall forming the ancient
gate was crowded with Europeans, dip.
lomats, army officers. missionaries, la.
dies, photographers and corresponds
ents. When the Emperor and Dowa,
ger Empress arrived at the temple the
procession halted and their Majesties
alighted from their chairs, which were
covered with imperial yellow silk and
lined with sables. 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. ana
dozens Of cameras Were focused upon
the son OF heaven. When he returned
his chair was borne through the gate.
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
Dowager Empress appeared. Amid a
great scuffling Of attendants she pro,
, ceeded into the temple ON the arms OF
two officials, followed by company
OF Buddhist priests bearing offerings.
/ The spectators then ueard the boom.
ing Of the temple bell. After an later
val OF five minutes the Dowager En-.
press reappeared. Standing in the
doorway OF the temple she looked up,
ward. Directly overhead were the Ger.
man Minister. DR.. Mumm Schwarzen.
stein. the secretaries of the German
Legation, the officers and ladies' from
the American garrison and the CORE.
spondents. The Dowager Empress
saw the foreigners and bowed low
She advanced few steps and bowed
again in acknowledgment OF the salu.
tations OF the foreigners. She return.
ed to her char, looking upward to the
semicircle OF foreign faces and bowling
repeatedly.
In the meantime, the Chinese sol.
officials. who had crowded the plaza,
were reyerently kneeling. The two
arches at the sides OF the ancient gate.
way framed hundreds of faces of Chi.
nese coolies, who, emboldened by the
presence OF foreigners, Yentured to
gaze upon their rulers. This incident
constituted most sharp contrast with
the old regime, when neither diplomats
nor natives We're permitted to view
the passage of royal personages along
the streets.
The expression OF the Dowager EN-.
press seemed almost appealing as she
raced those who had humbled her ana
brought her down from her former ar.
TOgance, and this confirmed he i'm
preston that she Is returning to Pc
king with anxiety for her safety.
The streets from the Nacniapo sta.
zion to the gateway Of the forbidden
City, distance of -four miles, were
swept and garnished early this morn.
ing, The great plaza between the
Temples of Heaven and Agriculture
was sprinkled with yellow sand. Res
idents were compelled to remain in
doors. The soldiers and police form.
ed close Gordon along both sides OF
this entire distance. A sharp wind.
bringing sand from the Monaghan des-
ert, blinded the spectators. The spe-
ctal train bearing the Emperor and
Empress Dowager, composed of TWEEN
ty-two cars, was preceded by a pilot