The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-08
DOwager Empress Even Bowed to HeI
Former Enemies when They
Gazed at Her.
SON OF HEAVEN "K0DAKED'
DOZENS OF CAMERAS WERE FO-
CUSED ON THE EMPEROR.
scenes as the Party Entered the For
hidden City-Fight Between Amer
leans and Russians.

PEKING, JAN THE special train
bearing the Emperor and Empress dow
ager arrived here at noon. Thousands of
officials were assembled there to receive
their Majesties. The entire route to the
entrance of the palace was lined with
troops.
The imperial cortege entered the For
hidden City at 1:SO o'clock this afternoon.
ever witnessed. The procession consisted
of a thousand gorgeously attired noble
men. mounted upon glittering caparisoned
horses. The Emperor, the Empress dow
ager, Prince Chun, the Empress and sew
eral princes were borne in yellow chairs,
their escort carrying hundreds of gay ban
ners and silk umbrellas. The troops of
General Yuan Shi Kai, Governor of Pc
Chilli, preceded the Emperor. The for
eign community assembled on top of Chen
gate The Emperor and Empress dowager
entered the temple in the gate and burned
incense. The dowager Empress, upon
emerging from the temple, saw the for
eigners peering down and bowed. double
row of soldiers, kneeling, lined the four
mile route.
The re-entrance of the court into Peking
was the most remarkable episode in the
annals of the dynasty, save the fright of
the Chinese court when Peking was bonn
barded by the allied forces. The spectacu-
lar phases of the return of the court ex-
ceeded expectations The cortege was
sort Of glorified lord mayors show, and
was a bewidering barbaric exhibition of
Oriental tinseled splendor. Its chief signifi-
canoe was the complete effacement of the
traditional dedication of Chinese royalty.
FOREIGNERS GIVEN PRIVILEGES.
Foreigners were given greater facilities
of witnessing the ceremonial than would
have been afforded them at most European
courts. 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 revo-
lutionary 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
correspondents.
When the Emperor and the Dowager
Empress arrived at the temple the pro-
cession halted and their Majesties alight-
ed 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 for
eigners peering down only forty feet above
him, and dozens of cameras were focused
upon the son Of heaven. When he re-
turned, 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 appeared Amid a great scuf-
temple on the arms of two officials, fol-
bearing offerings.
The spectators then heard the booming
of the temple bell. After an interval of
five minutes the Dowager Empress re-
appeared. Standing in the doorway of the
temple she looked upward. Directly over
head were the German minister, DR.. Mumm
Won Schwartzenstein, the secretaries of the
German legation, the officers and ladies
from the American garrison and the cor
respondent of the Associated Press The
Dowager Empress saw the foreigners and
bowed low. She advanced a few steps
and bowed again in Acknowledgement of
the salutations of the foreigners. She re-
turned to her chair, looking upward to the
semi-circle of foreign faces and bowing re-
peatedly.
In the meantime the Chinese soldiers,
Manchu banner men and minor officials
who had crowded the plaza were reverently
kneeling. The two arches at the sides of
the ancient gateway framed hundreds of
faces of Chinese coolies. who, emboldened
nv he foreigners 70
gaze on their rulers. This incident consti-
tuted a most sharp contrast TO the old
regime, when neither diplomats nor natives
were permitted 10 view the passage of
royal personages along the streets.
DOWAGER EMPRESS.
The expression of the dowager Empress
seemed almost appealing as she faced those
who had humbled her and brought her
down from her former arrogance, and this
confirmed the impression that she is re-
turning to Peking with anxiety for her
safety.
The streets from the Machiapo station TO
the gateway of the Forbidden City, a dis
tance of four miles, were swept and gar
nished early this morning. The great plaza
between the temples Of heaven and agri-
culture were sprinkled with yellow sand.
Residents were compelled 10 remain in
doors. The soldiers and the police formed
a close Gordon along both sides OF this on
tire distance a sharp wind. bringing sand
from the MOnsolian desert blinded the
spectators.
The special train bearing the Emneror
and the Empress dOwager, composed OF
twenty-five cars, was preceded by pilot
engine and arrived here shortly after noon
The engine and the Emperors cars had
been decorated with yellow silk dragons
by the British railroad officials Two com
panies of Chinese cavalry, mounted on
white horses. and two companies astride
horses from Australia
the sides OF the station. Two thousand Of
ficials princes, viceroys and Tao Tais in
a Kaleidoscope field of silks and furs IN
which cleaned an occasional yellow jacket,