The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-14
YUAN IS ASSUMING
 AIRS 0F ROYALTY Offered Sacrifices From
 Famous Open Altar A BRILLIANT SIGHT
First Time This Time Honored Cere- mOny Has Been Conducted Since Manchu Abdication-But Two
 Foreign Civilians Witnessed It

Peking, February 1.-(Correspondence of the Associated Press.)-On the occasion of the winter solstice President Yuan Shi- kai worshipped heaven and offered sac rifices from the famous open altar which was formerly considered the center of the universe. He wore imperial robes and performed the ceremony in the man. ner of the Ching and other dynasties of the Dragon Throne.
 For this reverson to ancient customs of imperial pomp as for his worship in Confucian temple some months ago, the president has been criticized in some cir cles, although the press, which is cen sored, explains and approves the act. In a proclamation, the president explained
 that he performed the ceremony only as the representative of the state, in which, he said, authority was now vested The chief magistrates of every district are instructed to hold similar ceremonies throughout the country, and the people i, are enjoined to worship heaven in their homes.
 First Since Abdication
 This time-honored Chinese ceremony, the first since the abdication of the Man chus, was conducted under the repub- lican administration with all be glory and splendor that distinguished 1t in the days of the empire. The temple of heaven itself is the first show place in Peking Within vast enclosure covering many acres stand the temple, the altar, and many minor buildings, the colors of which are of great and varied beauty. The altar is a white marble dais-or l rather, three, all circular, set one upon
 another. There is no covering to 1t; it is open to the sky.
 This white altar was a brilliant sight
 as the sun rose on December % At every pillar of the ballustrade stood spear bearer with uniform and p1umes like a modern European lancer in full array. In the enclosure immediately below were the musicians wierdly clad in blue robes studded with stars and their instruments ! were those of the days in which Con- fucius lived. There were probably 200 ! Of them. There was a troop of small boys playing reed pipes with pheasaI t feathers five feet long stuck to the ends. The stringed instruments. giving forth | music like harps, were longer than any thing known in this day, some six and eight feet. Then there were bells of the | extraordinary shape and tones of those treasured by museums, said to be of the l Chow dynasty. The drum stood hign up on stout pole supported by draggon heads at the base. Over the drum was a canopy of red and gold.
 l The musicians stood in two groups al the sides of the main aisle to the altar
 the southern aisle; and between them of ficials. those who did not take actua part in the preparation of the sacrifices
 stood in groups according to their grades | ready to kowtow at the proper signal.
 Styles of 20O0 Years Ago
 Scattered round this orderly arrange
 ment of men in robes and hats of l style worn 2000 years ago were military
 officers and police, the police in blacl and yellow. the ordinary colors of thu present day, and the military men in tn, brilliant modern uniforms which the re public has adopted from Europe.
 | In all the crowd there were but twt foreign civilians, one being the writer
 and this was the first occasion that { foreigner has ever been admitted to thi sacrifice.
 Just as the sun rose the President
 motor car, surrounded by a troop of of
 ficers on galloping Mongolian ponies. drew up at the last gate but One-for one mus
 pass through many gates before reach ing the altar of heaven. The President likewise dressed in uniform, descende, II from the car and got into a sedan chair which was borne by eight men througl
 the gate and into a tent-like imprompt, building. not the permanent structur Tn Wnlcn the Emperor uSeu tO rope. II few minutes he came out robed lik those officials who awaited him, excep that beneath his overgown of rich blu the stripes of an imperial under rob trailed and on the overgown were 1 conspicuous medallions formed of goldel dragons and other symbols.
 The ceremony lasted for an hour, ter minating with the burning of the sac rifices in a great green-tyled brazier be side the altar. Incense, the hair an flesh of calf, the finest silk, and tablet sealed and designed by the Presi dent were put into the flames.
 It was a bitter cold day, and no soone had the President passed out of the in ner arches than the soldiers. who ha
 stood on guard over night, broke ranks
 some of them climbing up on the side
 of the great brazier and warming them
 selves by the sacrificial fires.
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