The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-09-15
THE IMPERIAL PRINCE CHEZ
America May Be Entertaining a Flu
ture Emperor.
CWashington Post.)

the throne OF the 0eleSiAl empire since
the beginning of the seventeenth CEN
tury. He is the eldest son OF that
Prince Ching whose name has been
brought so prominently before the civ
ilized world during the last three years
as the Chinese plenipotentiary in the
recent peace negotiations and as presi-
dent of the old tsung Ii yamen and Of
its successor, the new wai-wu-pu,
which may be described as the Pekin
counterpart of the state department at
Washington.
Prince Ching is a grandson Of the
Emperor Kea- King. who reigned for
twenty FIVE years, and who distinguish
ed himself by declining TO receive the
British ambassador. Lord Amherst, be-
cause the latter refused 10 abase him
self by performing the kowtow. Prince
Ching Is consequently the nephew of
Emperor Taou Kwang. who reigned
from 1921 10 1850 and fought several
wars with the British government. The
present emperor Of China Is the grand
son OF Emperor Taou- X wang and a
cousin, therefore. OF Prince Ching and
of the latters son, Prince Chen, who
is now in this country as a visitor.
Prince Chen is slightly built and
above the middle height He bears
himself naturally, and yet with much
dignity. while the quickness of his
movements reveals considerable ener-
gy. lie shakes hands. American fash
ion. and his hands and nails are sim
liar to those OF any well-bred Amer
lean gentleman, those who meet him
looking in vain for the phenomenallY
long finger nails which we are accus-
toned 10 regard as much feature of
the Chinese dignitary of high rank as
the distorted and dwarfed feet are OF
the Chinese ladies.
The prince is on very intimate terms
with his cousin, the emperor, having
been very closely associated with him
for the last ten years, and, according
20 his own account, has been commits
stoned 10 make a special report of ev-
erything that he sees and hears TO the
monarch on his return to China. The
prince, who must be addressed as
your imperial highness." does not talk
English, but be has with him as inter-
prefer a Yale graduate of the name of
Wong. who performs his task with in
telligence and expedition.
Prince Chen, by reason of his impe-
rial rank, wears that yellow jacket
which is occasionally conferred as a
token of supreme distinction to great
generals and statesmen. Ii Hung
Chang having worn IL in this country.
Imperial princes, after the fifth gener-
alton of their descent from the throne,
lose their imperial rank as well as their
right 10 the yellow jacket and 10 the
three-eyed peacock feather, and sink TO
the level Of mere dukes. II is curious
that in England. in Spain. and in Rus
STA the descendants of royalty in the
nth generation likewise lose their
status as princes of the blood and be-
come mere mobiles.
o 8 $
Prince Chen is the first Chinaman
who has ever been seen in this cOun-
try wearing a three-eyed peacock
feather dependent from his cap, which
is surmounted by button. consisting
of a ruby from the Yunnan, a stone
preserved for the use of the imperial
family. The peacock feather in ques-
ton consists of several feathers stuck
together so as to show three eyes. The
highest dignitaries of the realm who
are not of imperial rank are only al
lowed a double-eyed peacock feather.
while officials of lesser rank are re-
warded with a single-eyed feather. The
right 70 wear a peacock feather de-
pendent from the cap is a personal dis
tinctiOn, and fulfills in China much the
same purpose as the insignia of the
European orders of knighthOod, such
as, for instance, the English Order OF
the Garter.
The ruby button adjoining the princes
cap is about the size OF a Tangerine
orange, and has this distinctive fea-
ture about il. that it is not perforated
whereas the buttons Of all Chinese dig
nitaries not OF imperial blood are fixed
on a gold stem, which passes through
the center of the jade, ivory, coral OF
crystal Of which they are composed.
With the exception of these three
marks of distinction, namely, the vel
low jacket, the three-eyed peacock
! feather and the ruby cap button. there
is nothing in the costume of the i'm
perial Chinese prince now in the Unit
ed States to single him out from his
| fellow cOuntrymen Of the upper classes
and the simplicity OF his attire con-
trasts with the gOrgeousness of the
raiment of some of the minor func-
tlonarles Of the Chinese government.
l may add, too, that the prince is I'M
married, and that he is in line of sue
/ cession TO the throne, as he is three
| years younger than the emperor. who is
! childless, and who, in the event of the
! disappearance from the scene of his
aunt, the old dowager empress, OF
/ whom everybody stands in sc
much dread in China. is likely
to annul the decree which she
forced him 10 issue in Janu-
airy. 1900. nominating Prince Pu-Tsing
son of Prince Tuan, as heir to the
throne. 1t is quite possible in that case
that the emperor might designate
Prince Chen. of whom he is very fond
as his successor. for Prince Chen full
fills all the necessary qualifications
and is the junior of the present mon
arch of China by three years. Chinese
law expressly requires that the he'll
should always be younger than the
one from whom he inherits.
or course, il would be of inestimable
advantage, not only to China, but also
to the whole world. 10 have on the
throne at Pekin prince who has trav,
eled in Europe and America. and who
/ has become personally acquainted with
[ foreign rulers and statesmen and with
conditions and features of western civ,
lization.
! on leaving the United States. Prince
/ Chen will go To Japan and pay a WISH
! 10 the mkadO. II will be a wonder.
/ fully interesting meeting. the first &c,
] CasiOn of members Of the reignins
/ houses of China and of Japan ever beinl
/ brought into personal contact with one
/ another. Many hundreds Of years age
! Japan was subject to the suzerainty O
/ China; but it has long since shaken of
/ the Chinese domination, and at the
present moment IT is to Japan thal
/ China looks for guidance and support
/ Within the last ten years viCtOriOu.
! japanese armies have twice invaded
/ China and on one occasion have treated
! their vanquished foes with so muci
/ fOrbearance and generosity as To vii
! their gratitude. Indeed. il was largely
I owing 10 japanese action that China
/ escaped without more serious humilia
/ tion and loss after the siege Of the for,