The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-07-17

gave him a lady OF the court for wife.
But his marital happiness was soon sadly
marred by his discovery that, according
to the law OF the land. every living hus-
band was buried with his dead wife. and
vice versa
The universal burial place was the hol-
lowed-out interior OF a treat mountain,
reached only by a shaft from the top.
which was securely sealed and guarded
after each burial-every husband being
buried in the midst OF his earthly treas
ures in gold. silver and jewels, in order
that his happiness in the next world might
not be menaced by lack OF funds Sinbad
describes such a burial-of a dead wife
and living husband:
I. can be imagined how this tale stimu-
lated adventurous treasure hunters TO re-
newed efforts. Later on. when archaeolo-
gists had discovered the rock-hewn TEN
pies and tombs OF ancient Egyptian kings
at various places along the upper Nile,
and made their discoveries widely known,
the idea OF ancient monarchs being buried
with all their wealth about them became
a hundred times more credible. For this
was the custom OF the old royal Egyptians.
But the actual location OF the Chinese
Treasure Mountain brought no solution OF
the difficulty. Chinese superstition and
reverence for the dead was an insur-
mountable barrier. and treasure hunting
In that direction gradually died out. IL
remained for American capital 10 take I'D
vantage OF the birth OF New China with
financial necessities that would override
superstition.
Shih Hwang TT. who had been the Duke
OF the Kingdom OF Tsin. subdued all the
other kingdoms. placed himself on the
throne and effected a consolidation OF the
country which has lasted to the present
day. lie drove the rebellious Tartars be-
yond the borders Of the country and then
arnuInuaH nH1nfaFr "a tho on
OF the Great Wall Of China. which. until
the completion OF the Panama Canal. was
the greatest engineering feat the world
had ever seen. He also built a great part
OF the Grand Canal OF China, and made
many improvements in the construction
OF roads and cities.
Although an able and energetic ruler.
the Emperor was very superstitious. even
for his day and his race. lie feared no
man and was renowned for his brave
deeds. but he lived in great terror Of evil
spirits. which he believed were pursuing
him all through life. One OF his subter-
fuges 90 avoid these spirits was 20 20
about dressed as a beggar. while he com
PEELED a courtier who looked very much
like him 10 wear the imperial robes. This.
Of course. was 10 deceive the evil spirits.
who. thinking him a beggar would spare
him and turn their unweicome attentions
to the poor courtier lie also constructed
an enormous palace containing 1000
rooms and slept In different room every
night. also 20 deceive the spirits
~ was this superstition which was re-
spOnsible for the great tomb and FOR the
treasure placed IN No. He believed az do
many Chinese 20 this day. that his happi-
ness In his future life would depend on
the security with which his body was
buried and the amount ~ treasure buried
with a. So while Shin HwangTl was
collecting taxes and tribute Tor the con
struction o. the Great Wall he was just
az euerEetically coIlectipg treasure for his
tomb and pushing forward the work on a.
just AZ the Great Wall. the Grand Canal
and HIS other enterprises were greater
than any the world had ever seen, 30 wa
his tomb % be the greatest and the
richest
An account Of the construction Of ths
tomb written By a Chinese historian Tess
than century after the death NJ the I'm
peror. reads az follows
I'm the ninth moon the First Empetul
was buried in Mount li which IN fhs
sariy days Of HE reign he had caused n
be tunneied and prepared with that view
40 that time. when he had consolidated