The San Francisco call., 1904-04-24
CHAPTER XIX.
THE IMPERIAL FUNERAL.

The aspect OF the heathen city ndU
been wonderful by day. The greaN
crowds. the flying pennons and ban
ners, this nation on a holiday, was
sight never to be forgotten, unless one
had seen the night which followed-this
nation on q holiniglIt-
The crowd became more dense as the
sun went down. To the quarter of
million inhabitants was now added
visiting quarter of a million. Cities and
towns were deserted for space fifty
miles around. The gates of the city had
been crowded all day. the grinning
monkeys on their gables admitting gov
ernors and beggars. dukes and nounte-
banks, priests and criminals, indiscrim-
inately, from seashore, mountafn and
valley.
The sight presented by this half mil
lion people was indescribable. The alb
sence Of lights made the appearance of
the city doubly significant, for there
were no lights save the candle each
man carried in a little paper lantern,
for the moon shone only fitfully.
And so there was light-a burning
glare. but low down as a mans knee.
From where I stood on the plaza of the
legation It seemed that the city was IL
Illuminated by red-hot pavements. a
ruddy glare distinctly marking the di-
rection of all the main avenues.
The sound Of this moving host was
indescribable. The hard limestone
streets were covered with tiny pebbles
which rolled and crunched under each
falling foot. What was the tumult
arising from a million moving feet? 1t
was sound unknown even to the sea.
1t was not the continual grind of gi-
gantic glaciers. 1t was like nothing
that ever met my ears. / stood en-
tranced a space. looking on those streets
of flame, and listening to the murmur
Of that million of sandaled feet.
Ny orders were to flank the imperial
route from the legation TO the center of
the city, where the great bell hung
The crowds had already OWNED the
route, and this avenue was the seething
center Of the city. 1t was mems work
for my column to plow through to the
bell, but they went through like men.
Ny lines once established On either side
the avenue, the crowds were admitted,
temporarily, between them. Here and
there along the route elegant lanterns
were suspended from slaves thrust into
the hard ground. The silken network
Of each was four feet long with a CEN
ter of red and a border of blue at the
bottom and top. Within each, thus
thoroughly protected from the wind, a
candle burned on a sharp iron finger.
1t may have been o'clock when my
lines were established from the legation
to the great bell. The funeral process
sion was advertised to start az g. was
advised to expect it promptly three
hours later. at midnight.
For three hours-though they were
anxious hours-I was an interested
spectator of the scene before me.
Through my lines surged the countless
throng. Now it was brushed lightly
aside, as company of Quelpartien in
fantry trotted down on the double
quick, formidable in appearance and
sound. No sooner was ii again in mo-
tion, in aimless pursuit of happiness,
than a shrill scream rent ii asunder, as
a Quelpartien nobleman on a spotless
pony, preceded by busy henchmen.
paced to his place in the imperial cor
tege. A sackcloth Quelpartien hat COW
cred his netted hair. A rope an inch in
diameter surrounded his waist; another,
smaller in size. was caught about his
hat. Such was the imperial mourner's
habit.
Beyond, in the plaza of the bell, was
the vortex Of the surging human bill
lows which were sweeping the city In
that maelstrom. peddlers with trays,
supported by strings about their necks,
were reaping a rich reward, and thieves
a richer. The native soldiers guarding
the plaza had broken ranks (their OH
GERS were in the neighboring drinking
houses) and were seated on the ground
nodding before their fires of sticks and
grass, their rides stacked about them.
Gambling being legalized for the time,
many were playing games of chance.
Thus the hours dragged on.
The first sign of the approaching pa
geant was the arousing OF the soldiers
10 clear the avenue. 1t was soldiers
work, too. Piercing the streets in the
center, the multitude was crowded back
to the houses. The forward lines were
pushed out by those behind, and the
soldiers pounded the faces of those in
the rear with the butts Of their guns.
Slowly a way was cleared. In some
places it was twenty feet in width; here
narrowing, there widening. Then, in
the center of the opening, was laid a
thin line of earth, all the way from the
Russian Legation to the imperial tomb
for in Quelparte it is beneath the dig
nifty of the King to walk upon the earth
that has been desecrated by other feet.
Thus wherever the King goes fresh
earth is strewn which no foot may
touch until he has passed.
The sight of this faint trail had mi
raculous effect upon those surging
thousands. They became quiet and ex-
pectant, each suggestion of the coming
pageant being greeted with delight.
Heads Of departments began flying
back and forth on official duties; a
Quelpartien general and staff tittupped
along the route. inspecting, at a proper
distance the line Of fresh earth 10 see