Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-04
Pr ES|OENT Of
CHINA REEVES
ANCIENT RITES

Picking, Feb. lon the occasion of the
winter solstce President Yuan Shikai
worshipped Heaven and offered sacrifices
from the famous open altar which was
formerly considered the center of the
universe. lie wore imperial robes and
performed the ceremony in the manner
Of the Ching and other dynasties of the
Dragon Throne.
For this reversion to ancient customs
of imperial pomp as for his worship in a
Confucian Temple some months ago, the
President has been criticised in some cir
cles although the press, which is CEN
sored. explains and approves the act
In proclamation. the President ex-
planned that he performed the ceremony
as the representative of the state, in
which, he said, authority vas now vest
ed. The chief magistrates of every dts
trict are instructed to hold similar cere-
monies throughout the country, and the
people are enjoned to worship Heaven
In their homes.
This time honored Chinese ceremony,
the first since the ahdication of the
Manchus. was conducted under the re-
publican administration with all the
glory and splendor that distinguished II
in the days of the empire. The Temple
Of Heaven itself Is the first show place
In Picking. Within a vast enclosure COW
ering 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 rather. three. all circular, set
one upon another. There is no covering;
it is open to the sky.
This white altar was brilliant sight
as the sun rose on December q. At every
pillar of the ballustrade stood a spear
bearer with uniform and plumes like a
modern European lancer In full array. In
the enclosure Immediately below were
the musicians weirdly clad in blue robes
studded with stars; and their instruments
We're those Of the days In which Confucius
lived There We're probably two hundred
Of them. There was a troop Of small boys
playing reed pipes with phea SAINT feath-
ers FIVE feet long stuck to the ends The
str,nged Instruments, giving forth music
like harps. were longer than anything
known in this dav, some six and eight
feet. Then there We're bells of the extra :
ordinary shape and tons Of those treas
ured by museums said to be of the Chow
DYNASTY The drum stood high up on a
stout oo,e srnnorted by dragon heads at
tbo haso Over the drum, was a canopy of
roa ord cold
,rbo n,,,sio,ars stood In two proups at
t,o eidos If the main oisle To the altar.
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