The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-08
The RETURN TO PEKIN
REMARKABLE SCENE AT
CHINA'S CAPITOL.
EMPRESS SEEMS HUMBLED.
o,r1cNERs HAD SPLENDID VIEW
OF RE-ENTRANCE.

ube Spectacular Phases of the He
.nrr exceeded Expectations-For-
.,arers stood Upon the Walls at
.Ao Vain Gates and Gaxed Upon
,be scene, Taking Snap shots
1v;tb Their Cameras-Never Be-
.a,a Was such Familiarity Per-
n,itted-Empress Bowed Many
Times TO Foreigners.
pekin. Jan. THE imperial cortege
Inferred the Forbidden City at 100
.,dock this Afternoon. 1t was the most
s.1liant scene Pel<in ever witnessed.
Tho procession consisted of a thou
sond gorgeously attired noblemen
,.ounted uopn glitteringly caparisoned
horses The Emperor. the Empress
nouaeer. Prince Chun, the Empress
o,d several princes were borne in yell
law chairs. their escort carrying hun
dreds of gay banners and silk umbrel-
las The troops of Gen.. Yuan-Shi- Kai,
Governor of Pe-Chi-Li, preceded the
Tmneror. The foreign community as
ssmbled on top of the CHEN gate.
The Emperos and Empress Dowager
entered the Temple in the gate and
burned incense The Dowager Empress,
upon emerging from the Temple, saw
the foreigners peering down, and bow
cd double rank of soldiers, kneel-
| ing. lined the four-mile route.
The re-entrance of the Chinese En-
neror into Pekin to-day was the most
remarkable episode in the annals of
the dynasty. save the flight of the Chi
oese Court when Pekin was bombarded
bv the allied forces. The spectacular
phasas of the return of the court ex-
ceaded expectations. The cortege was
sort of glorified lord mayors show,
and was a bewildering and barbar1c
exhibition of Oriental tinselled splen-
dor.
Royalty No Longer Defied.
Its chief significance was the COM
plete effacement of the traditional del
fcation of Chinese royalty.
The scene at the Chen 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
horse shoe wall, forming the ancient
gate, was crowded with Europeans,
diplomats. army officers. missionaries,
ladies'. photographers and correspond
snts. When the Emperor and the Dow
sser Empress arrived at the temple,
the procession halted and their Males
ties alighted from their chairs, which
were covered with imperial yellow 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 forty feet above
him. and 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 Empress was brought to
the doorway of the Temple of the God
dess of Mercy on the east side of the
Plaza, and the Dowager Empress APP
psared. Amid a great scuffiing of at
tendants she proceeded into the tenn
pie on the arms of two officials, fol-
lowed by a company of Buddhist
priests bearing offerings. The specta-
tors then heard the booming of the
temple bell. After an interval of five
minutes the Dowager Empress reap
peared. Standing in the doorway of
the temple, she looked upward. Di
Iectly overhead were the German min
Ster DR.. Mumm Won Schwartzenstein
Inc secretaries of the German legation,
Inc officers and ladies of the American
garrison and the correspondent of the
Associated Press.
She Has Learned to Bow.
The Dowager Empress saw the for
egners and bowed low. She advanced
few steps and bowed again in ac-
Mowledgment of the salutations of
ule foreigners. She returned to her
mar looking up to the semi circle OF
"regn faces and bowling repeatedly
IN the meantime the Chinese soldiers,
Nanchuria bannermen and minor Off
udls who had crowded the places were
IeVerently kneeled. The two arches at
,le side Of the ancient gateway framed
uuhdreds Of faces of Chinese coolies
VINO, emboldened by the presence of
IoIegners, ventured to gaze upon their
lllers This incident constituted a most
Mdfp contract with the old regime,
nnen neither diplomats nor natives
we're permitted to view the passage oil
'VSal personages along the streets.
me expression of the Dowager EN-
Eess seemed almost appealing as she
k.aCeu those who had humbled her and
Uought her down from her former ar
.Oednce, and this confirmed the i'm.
Messlon that she is returning to Pekin