Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-12
interests of Forbidden City
and Republican President
Have Not ConfIicted.
CARTS BEING DISPLACED
BY EUROPEAN CARRIAGES
New Roadways and New Gates
Through Walls Prove Big Ben
eft to Residents
PEKrNa, June IS. 1913.

PEKINo. June Is. 1913
Contrary TO declarations made at tho
time the throne abdicated in favor oc
the republic. sixteen months ago. the
court OF the old Manchu rulers- Of the
Chinese empire still remains at Picking.
The terms OF the nnal agreement with
the representatives OF the new repub-
Iican government provided that thu
Manchu mobiles. including all the meme
oers OF the reigning family. should re$
tain their hereditary titles and be lib
orally pensioned. and that the young
emperor. after his abdication. should
be accorded in China the honors given
visiting foreign sovereign. These
stipulatfons have been carried OUT
AT the same time Il was declared the
court would eventually move away
from the Forbidden City. but no steps
In this direction yet have been taken
There has not even been an exodus to-
the summer palace or to the ancient
palaces at Jehol, which were mentioned
at the time OF abdication as places ot
possible retirement Some minor Man.
chu princes a-nd officials have deserted
their residences in Picking and moved
away. genarally to the foreign set
Elements at Tientsin- or to Mapch:7a,
sian protection IL occasion arises. But
the ex-prince regent and Pa-Yi the
boy emperor, now seven years old.
still reside in the palaces occupied by
the reigning family for 26S years. and
imperial guards still forbid entrance
to their palace compounds.
Manchu Troops Still in Arms.
The Manchu troops continue in arms
and obey the instructions of President
Yuan Shih-k'ai in all matters that do
not affect the safety OF the court.
Should there be a conflict OF authority
between the president and the court IL
it believed they would stand by the
Manchus: but the interests OF the re-
publican president and those of tho
Forbidden City have not confiicted. In
deed. 1t is believed in the legation quar-
ter that they are closely allied. 1t is
thought among foreign observers that
the court depends on Yuan Shih-k'at
for a regular payment OF Its pension
from the republic, and, on the other
hand that Yuan may be compelled at
any moment to re-establish the dynasty,
and proclaim himself regent In order
to give his orders the weight of i'm
perial authority. At present. with a
hostile parliament presidential or
ders which are essential to the msinte-
nance of the government do not re-
ceive the sanction of any organized
A question interesting to old observers
who knew China under the dynasty is
whether the empress dowager, who re-
Gently died will be the last empress OF
China II the republic succeeds there will
probably be no other.
Peking Changed in Appearance.
Two striking changes have taken place
I'm the appearance Of Picking as a result
of the revolution. One is considered
Disagreement: the other an Improvement.
and a great advantage. The disfigure-
ment is the disappearance of the Manchu
cart which an American lady of literary
gifts once characterized as ".Portia
casket on wheels" The brilliantly col
ored sedan chair, borne high on the
shoulders OF four or eight coolies. disap-
peared to a large extent after the Boxer
rising in 1900 and has since been used
only at funerals and weddings. and by
few ultra-smart foreign legation ladies'.
who adopted the old when the Chinese be-
gan adopting the new.
Now the Picking cart is being rapidly
displaced by the European carriage. Only
the poorer classes are still riding i. these
little blue-covered springless carts with
huge brass-studded wheels, Along with
the adoption of the brougham the Chi
nese outriders of this new official vehicle
are adopting European saddles for their
ponies in place of the gay caparisons in
use under the dynasty: and instead OF
flowing dresses of white or light blue,
with red streamers to their hats. the SOM
these outriders in imitation of their re-
publican masters.
New Gates Through Walls.