Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-13
sIDELl!GHTsoNMukDEN.
Historic Capital of Manchuria
 Captured by the Japanese.
HIGHLY vEsERATED BY CHINESE

ConsiSts of Two Cities, an Inner and an Outer City-Building of the Latter - How Famous Treasures Were Taken For Safety to Picking. Richard H. Little, the Chicago News
 correspondent in Manchuria, thus de
 scribes the city of Mukden, which has
 been captured by the Japanese: Mukden chiefly rejoices in it's antiqui- ty. The city is the ancient capital of the Manchu rulers of the dynasty that
 now sits in Picking on the throne of
 China. The history of the town goes
 back eleven or twelve centuries. The
 great wall around the present inner
 city dates back three centuries. It is
 forty feet high and twenty-five feet
 wide and is in almost perfect preserva-
 ton. The walls inclose an area exact
 ly mile square. There is a great
 tower at each corner The eight gates, two on each side, one called the great gate, the other the small gate, are dis tinguished as the great north gate, the small east gate, and 50 on.
 Outside the big wall is another city which at distance of mile from the big wall is encircled by a wall of earth called the mud wall. This outer city grew up in the same way that suburbs grow up around Chicago. People first started shops just outside the city gates to sell tea or rice or small trinkets to the people from the country who came into Mukden to trade. Inns were es- tablished to take care of those who ar rived after the city gates were closed. Little communities grew up outside each gate and spread along the big highways leading to them. Finally there were more people living outside the walls than within. They needed, or, thought they needed, the protection of a wall. Being too poor to build wall like the one that encompassed the city proper, they erected the mud wall.
 Inside the big wall is the ancient pal ace of the Manchus called the Chin lantien or Forbidden Blue pavilion. There was formerly wall around the palace which took in considerable area and was called the Forbidden City. After the Manchus conquered the Chinese three centuries ago and es- tablished their rulers on the Chinese throne this wall was taken down, but the palace still remainsaas the ances- tral home of the Chinese emperor of the Manchu dynasty. The present em- peror made visit to the Chinlantien few years ago. He caused a special road to be built all the way from Sin ninth to Mukden, over which he jour neyed. An immense sum was extorted by the officials from the people along the way to pay for the road. The peo- pie consoled themselves with the thought that anyhow they were going to have a fine highroad that would be of the greatest benefit, but the officials squeezed most of the money. Instead of grading the road they erected tenn porary platforms covered with dirt, and these, together with the bridges, hardly held together long enough to permit of the emperor passing safely on his return journey.
 The palace buildings are more than four centuries old and are rotten and crumbling, but they still present a fairly good appearance. None is over two stories high. and the architectural arrangement of all is simple. The pal ace is gorgeously painted in red and green and has golden tile roofs and nendish grinning gargoyles. The pal ace was full of rich treasures of all kinds sent to Mukden by the various Manchu emperors at Peking. These emperors seemed to be impressed with the idea that they were not quite sure just how firmly their throne was nnil- ed down in Picking and that possibly some day they might make a very hur- ried return to Mukden. So 1t seemed to them that 1t would be a pious idea to send on much treasure ahead, thus providing against unforeseen contin- gencies.
 There were countless boxes in the palace filled with jade vases. dishes and jewelry of every description. There was a pearl necklace that con- noisseurs say is worth all the way from $25O. 900 to $5O0.OOO. There were dozens of other pearl necklaces of less value. There were the robes of the emperor. embroidered solidly in pearls and other precious stones. and there was the great crown of the Manchus. which is covered with jewels. All these wonders we have gazed upon. The two mandarins in charge of the palace liked to show the treasures. al- though every time they were exhibited they had to be taken down from musty cabinets and a half dozen pearls bro- ken and as many fresh ones put on again when the treasures were replac- ed.
 In one room of the palace was a great collection of all the bows and guns that belonged to the long dead Manchu emperors. saddles by the score. brides. swords and armor. and everything studded with pearls, rubies, turquoise and jade.
 The custodians of the palace had been greatly worried since the war be- gan to know how to protect the jewels. The palace walls are old and himsy. and a few lusty kicks would have taken any energetic looter into the holy of holies. where the great crown of the Eanchus sparkled in the dim light and the white pearl necklace lay IauS1,idlv m ifs hlue nI,,<h tod Al