The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-12-12
PU u TODDLES
To. THE THRONE
The Little Emperor of China
Now Begins His
Reign.

4
permit the ascension TO the Drago
throne of the baby emperor, Pu vi, VIII
becomes ruler of the kingdom unde
the name of Hsuan-Tung.
The ceremonies were brief, lasting
only half an hour. They were per
formed by officials of the highest rank
and a number of coolies of the mos
humble classes in the Empire were
brought into the palace to act as wit
nesses. Following the ceremony an i'm
perial edict, proclaiming the ascension
was issued. This communication con
tains also a grant of amnesty. The date
upon which the new Emperor vail re-
eeive the members of the diplomatic
corps will be fixed later
Not a Note of Music.
The ceremony of enforcement was
one of striking interest. 1t included
| obeisanee to the tablets of the dead
Emperor and Empress Dowager and
prostrations before the infant EN-
peror, the three-year-old son of Prince
Chun, who today formally took the
throne
The imperial proclamation for the
function was arranged at the palace
yesterday. 1t ordered that music for
the occasion be prepared, but that not
a single note be played; this because of
the mourning of the court for their late
majesties. Troops entered the eastern
gate of the palace at o'clock this
morning. They took up their positions
inside, and the high officials of the en-
pire began to arrive At 10 o'clock not
less than $50 carriages, together with
a vast number of sedan chairs resplen-
dent and brilliant in the winter sun
shine, were waiting outside the palace
for the ceremonies to come TO an end.
Kowtow Before Tablets.
The function began by the Princes
of the imperial family and the high
officials of the empire kowtowing to the
memorial tablets of their late maiesties.
After this they all kowtowed in turn
to Pu vi. Pu vi then offered sacri-
fee before the tablets of the Emperor
and the Dowager Empress After this
he was relieved of his dress of mourn
ing and clad in diminutive imperial
garment, embroidered with the imperial
dragon. His nurses performed this duty
with great attention and care. Thus
arrayed, the toddling Emperor assembled
the throne amid the fanfare of drums,
bells and frecraekers He made his
way alone, and showed no need of the
assistance that willing hands would
have given him had his little feet fall
tered. From the throne Pu vi kow-
towed to his stepmother, the Dowager
Empress Yehonala. He then received
he So he
of all the Princes and officials present.
This over, he descended and was again
clad in his little dress of mourning.
Coolies Act as Witnesses.
The ceremony took place in the
throne hall of the Forbidden City. The
officials present were selected with
great care, and were the highest men
in the Empire. According to an old
established custom, number of hum
bic coolies, men from the lowest walks
of life, were brought into the sacred
precincts of the Forbidden City to act
as witnesses. The soldiers played but
an inconspicuous part in the proceed
ings.
At 1870 the officials began leaving
the palace. Traffic outside the Forbid
den City was at no time impeded.
Edict Grants Amnesty.
The ediet setting forth the accession
of Pu vi to the throne and granting
amnesty was carried with much cere-
mony to the throne hall. 1t was es-
cOrted by all the members of the Grand |
Council, who were in turn accompanied |
by the members of the board of rights. |
In the throne hall it was given the of |
fetal vermilion seal. This observance
concluded, it was carried out of the |
Forbidden City and thence to the of |
fee of the Board of Rights, where it |
was proclaimed and put in circulation. |
In addition to granting amnesties for |
certain specified offenses, the ediet re-
wards all the Imperial princes, prin- !
cesses and dukes; it promotes all Off |
Gals by one degree and bestOws hon |
ors on their parents; it grasses the de- |
merits entered against minor officials, |
advances the degree of scholars, dis |
misses all pending petty criminal cases,
excuses certain liabilities and grants
bounties to the soldiers in the service
of the Empire.
The fact that the enforcement of
the new Emperor has taken place, in
part reestablished confidence here and
has resulted in the prophecy in various
official circles of an extremely conser-
vative rule. The Dowager Empress has
reinstated the notorious eunuch Lii Lien
Wing as head of the palace administra-
ton. Prince Chun s first appointee was
a personal friend.
The best-informed ministers, how
ever. are inclined to think that the out
ward sign of calm has been bought
with promises which if kept will COM
pletely change the personnel of the Pc
king Government, Immediately the 100
DAYS of mourning are ended.