The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-03
BABY ON THE THRONE
SIMPLE CEREMONY TAKES PLACE
 IN CHINA.
Goodies of Humble Hank Tnken to Palace to Witness rrnportanf Event
 -Amnesty Granted by Proc

Pekfn, Dec. 2.--The strict mourning which has been observed in this city since the death a fortnight ago of Elm peror kuanR Hsu and the dowager Empress of China was suspended long enough this morning to permit the as- tension to the Dragon throne of the baby Emperor, Pu Yi, who becomes ruler of the Kingdom under 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 most humble classes in the empire were brought into the palace to act as witt nesses.
 Following the ceremony an imperial edict proclaiming the ascension was issued. This communication contains also q grant of amnesty.
 The date upon which the new Elm peror will receive the members of the diplomatic corps will be fixed later.
 The ceremony of endorsement was one of striking interest. It included obesiences to the tablets of the dead Emperor and Empress, and prostra- tions before the infant Emperor. the 3-year-old son of Prince Chun, who today formally took the throne.
 The imperial program for the func- ton was prepared at the palace yes- terday. It ordered that music for the occasion be prohibited, ana that not a single note be played; this because of the mourning of the court for their late majesties.
 Troops began entering the eastern gate of the palace at o'clock this morning. They took up their positions inside and were no sooner in place than the high officials of the Empire be- gan to arrive. The size an dthe i'm xnfrv a S..4+ a% Nhn indicated by the fact that by 10 o'clock not less than $50 carriages. together with a vast number of sedan chairs, were waiting outside the palace for the ceremonies to come to an end.
 The function began by the princes of the imperial family and the high officials of the Empire kow-towing to the memorial tablets of their late ma jesttes. After this they all kow-towed In turn to Pu Vi. Pu Yi then offered a sacrifice before the tablets of the Em- peror and the Dowager Empress. Af- ter this he was relieved of his dress of mourning and clad in a diminutive imperial garment embroidered with the imperial dragon.
 Thus arrayed, the toddIing Emperor ascended the throne amid a fanfare of drums, bells and firecrackers. He made his way alone and showed no need of the assistance that willing hands would have given him had his little feet faltered. From the throne Pu Wi kowtowed to his stepmother, the Dowager Empress Yehonala. He then received the kow-tows while still on the throne of all the princes and ofiieials present. This over, he de- scended from the throne and was again clad in his little dress of mourning.
 The ceremony took place in the throne hall of the Forbidden City. The off, cfals present were selected with great care and were the highest men in the Empire.
 At I1:sO the oniSials began leaving the palace. Trafc outside the For btdden City was at no time impeded.
 The scene was enlivened by a num- Der of pilgrims who had come in on camels all the way from Mongolia.
 All day yesterday sacrifices were made to their late majesties by the highest dignataries of the Empire at the five most important temples of Peking. the temple of heaven, the temple of the ancestors, the temple of the earth, the temple of agriculture, and the temple of Confucius. The edict. setting forth the accession of Pu-Wi to the throne and granting am nesty was carried with much ceremony to the throne hall, where 1t was given official Vermillion seal.
 This observance concluded 1t was carried out of the Forbidden City, and thence to the ofice of the Board of Rights, where 1t was proclaimed and put in circulation.
 In addition to granting amnesty for certain specified ofTenses, the edict sets forth that henceforward. all imperial princes and princesses will be addressed as dukes; it promotes all officials by one degree and bestows honors on their parents. It erases the demer- its entered against minor officials: ad- vances 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 enthronement of the new Emperor has taken place, has in part replenished confidence here and resulted in the prophecy in vari- ous official circles of an extremely conservative rule.
 The dowager empress has reinstated the notorious eunuch L Lien YinK as head of the palace administration. Prince Chun's first appointee was a personal friend.