The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-08
TOY KING RETURNS TO SIT
UPON HIS TINSEL THRONE
Grim Old Empress DOWager Follows and Pays a
Visit to Temple of Mercy.
Homecoming of Chinese Court Like Opera BOue Scene in Comic
Opera.

u EKIN. Jan. THE re-entrance Of
the Chinese emperor into Pekin
today was the most remarkable
episode in the annals OF the dynasty,
save the fight of the Chinese court
when Pekin was bombarded by the al
lied forces.
The spectacular phases. Of the return
Of the court exceeded expectations. The
cortege was a sort Of glorifed lord
mayors show, and was a bewildering
barbaric exhibition O: Oriental tinseled
spIendor.
It's chief significance was the COM
plete effacement Of the traditional del
fication of Chinese royalty. The for
eigners were given greater facilities Of
witnessing the ceremonial than would
have been afforded them at most Eu-
ropean courts.
The scene at the Chen gate when the
emperor and the 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, dip
lomats, army officers, missionaries, Ia
dies, photographers and correspOn-
dents.
Homage to God of War.
When the emperor and dowager en-
press arrived at the temple the pro
eession halted, and their majesties
aHghted 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, 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
Goddess of Mercy on the east side OF
the plaza, and the dOWager empress Sp-
peared.
Amid a great scufiing of attendants
she proceeded into the temple on the
arms of two officials, followed by q
company Of Buddhist priests bearing
offerings. The spectators then heard
the temple bell. After an interval Of
Nv 2 4LAll4uLNS LAAC III e-ss-A NAA-A'- 80
appeared. Directly overhead were the
German minister, DR.. Mumm Won
Schwarzenstein, the secretaries of the
German legation, the officers and Ia
dies from the American garrison and
the correspondent of the Associated
Press.
Bows to the Foreigners.
The dowager empress saw the for
eigners and bowed low. She advanced
a few steps and bowed again in &C
acknowledgement of the salutatiOns Of the
foreigners. She returned to her chair
looking upward to the semi-circle OF
forcing faces and bowling repeatedly
In the meantime the Chinese soldiers,
Manchu banner men and minor Off
Gals who had crowded the plaza were
reverentIy kneeling The two arches
at the sides of the ancient gateway
framed hundreds of faces Of Chinese
coolies. who emboIdened by the pres
ence of foreigners. ventured 10 gaze
upon their rulers. This incident con-
stituted 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 expression of the dowager en-
press seemed almost appealing as she
faced those who had humbled her and