New-York tribune., 1908-12-27
CHlNA'S NEXT EMPRESS
Infant Monarch Affanced to De-
scendant of Confuciss.

NJ sll the reforms instituted by the new and en-.
,srr-ened Regent OF China there is none that will
-,ss, With greater degree Of approval on the part
~ all the denitsries OF the imperial court and
ves-uoert than that which dispenses with their
.-,sining on their knees throughout any audience
,,corded them either by the Emperor by his
pere-t AS the oignitaries in question are mostly
,-.- of mature years the obligation OF remaining
- kneeling position for hours together has been
x,-netirnes terribly trying. even though they
r; 10 strap thick pads. aof cushions their
,ses easily concealed beneath their long robes in
orser protect themselves against the hardness
- she chness Of the stone or marble floor II
ts ~ record that one occasion the late Ii Hung
-bsne during prolonged audience Of the old
r-,rress Doxsger. became exhausted by hav-
a. - remain in kneeng position that he fell
- IN 3 dead faint which excited no pity on the
s-t q the female tyrent. who merely contempt
,,osslv ordered her eunuohs 70 take that thing
sway"
,skinr 70 abolish the distinctions between the
.r.,rl,,s ana the Chinese. il must be explained
-.st exclusive Of Manchuria and the metropolitan
,-o,5,ce there tvsenty-two Manchu earrfsons
z.s,-sruted in twelve OF the provinces OF China
-one- J-ntn these Manchus. that is 70 say
80 ronu,Ieror race. which the reigning dynasty
bslones have enjoyed sll sorts of special privi-
,.rss before the Law. being immune from ordinary
,v-4sdiction attending their schools and in
..oept of pensions from tie imperial government.
II Sc intended by the Regent that henceforth
+be wznchus IN al parts Of the empire shall Re
-1soed on identicay the footing as the
rs;nese and shall Re subject - ordinary law and 20
,be rsxes from which they have until now been
rxs-1rt They are likewise TO lose their pensions
,-s are receive small compensation in lieu
,bereof 10 enable them to provide themselves with
agricultural implements. cattle tools Of trade.
should The Regent carry into effect Of
heTothirg his son. the three-S ear-old Emperor.
>, maiden q pure Chinese blood PROBABLY either
= daughter granddaughter of China's Holy
Duke instead Of 10 one of the Maachu princesses
svo-a whom the monarch's consorts have until
nv been chosen. he sill have made long step
-svs-e -eccnctliug the bulk OF the Chinese people
- tie regning dynasty and toward obliterating
the srtasonism that exists Between the Chinese
and the Nanchus-
ps-hsus -he most remarkable instance Of this
spirit Of reform in China * that the so-cailed
Holy Duke that say. lineai descendant
az ConfUcius and prospective father-{n-law OF the
trfsnf Chinese Emperor, granted permission for
the Tientsn Puko Railroad line. now In course Of
construction TO traverse his estates. The duke.
tv virtue q his ancestry. is hereditary inspector
general Of education and. far from being reaction
g-y fully alive 20 The advantages OF reform and
cutie ss keen about the matter as the late Ii Hung
Chang 4 man about fifty years of age. and
seventy-six.h unbroken descent in the male lire
ron Corfucjcs. he may be regarded as the most
blue hooded noble in the world. the as he
e stu In possession Of the landed property which
belonged 70 the ilustrious founder Of his House
more Than three thousand years ago; that is to
say some twelve centuries before the birth Of
Christ. The property is situated in the province
q shaurune. and + comprises the tomb Of Con-
frcius Eyfu and his residence. The Duke
very rich. since each generation Of Emperors Chi
nsse vel Manchu. has lavished gifts upon
the 'Hcly Duke Of its day. This ones name
IS Kung LinEt that is TO say. Duke L;ngi and his
ofieisl designation s sheng Kung. which means
'Ths Holy Duke" He is tall. heavy faced
Ch.naran. II somewhat massive build, with
rather majestic presence and good hurnored face.
The mouth inclined 70 laughter and in keeping
with the shTewd. CHEEKY eyes. Though regarded
saint he is 2 very joviat saint. and IL popu-
isr runor IN his home Vince of Shantung is 10
be believed Is extremely fond Of all the good things
q life Every and again he visits Pekins
uhe7s he Is received with imposing honors. and
these occasions he does not disdafn travel by
rail ] would add that in every school and college
throughout China there IS altar 10 ConfuCius,
and that inasrnuch each student is obliged 70
bow The knee the altar. and that the service Of
the STATE IS restricted TO graduates Of these
schools this the effect of virtually excluding
native Christians from government service True
sorss cf the government officials do profess CHRIS
tianity bur they have become converted since their
appointment