New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-04
lFrom Tie Tribune Bursaul

Washington, July 3.-If the new I'm
peror of China, Hsuan Tung, retains
the throne until he becomes Of age he
will be required under an old custom 10
marry two wives and rear two families
The necessity of his double marriage
arises from the fact that he was made
the adopted son Of two emperors Oh
China.
There was a famous feud between the
late Emperor of China and the late
EMPRESS Dowager. In 1898 the Empress
Dowager had the Emperor cast INTO
prison. where he was held, under I'M
perial auspices, until released in 1900.
In 1902 the feud was well on the way
to healing, and, as the Emperor was
without an heir, marriage was ar
ranged between the Emperor's brother
and a daughter of General Jung-Lu,
one of the Dowsger's principal sup
porters.
The marriage took place in 1908.
The marriage settlement provided that
if a son should be born to the union
he should ascend to the throne on his
becoming of age. In 1906 Pu-Yi, known
as Hsuan Tung, was born, and another
provision of the marriage contract was
carried out, that the son should be-
come the adopted son of the Emperor
Kuang- Hsu and also of the preceding
Emperor, Tung-Chih, who died in 1875.
That fact will require him to take two
wives upon becoming of age.
Result of Dowager's Acts.
The troubles brought upon the coun-
try as a consequence Of the acts Of the
court under the influence of the En-
press Dowager presented an opportu-
nifty for the progressive elements of
the nation, led by persons who had
imbibed the spirit of Occidental insti-
tutions through being educated in
America and Europe, to set their forces
TO work providing for the time when
they might overthrow the monarchy.
The main event awaited was the
death OF the Empress Dowager, who
during her lifetime was surrounded by
n powerful group Of supporters and
who welded the military power of the
nation.
One day in 1903 the Empress Dow
ager was taken very i'll. A eunuch came
running suddenly into the palace and
announced to the Emperor the death
of the "Old Buddha," as she was called
in derision in imperial circles. The
Emperor Immediately sat down and
wrote a decree ordering the execution
of Yuan Shih-kai, who had opposed the
Boxer rebellion and whom the Emperor
had charged with botraying him in
1898. when he was taken prisoner.
Directly afterward, however, the eu-
much returned, saying the announce
ment of the dowager's death was prem
ature and that she was still alive. The
Emperor thereupon stuck the decree
ordering the execution Of the future
President of China in his desk. In
November, 1908, the Emperor himself
became mysteriously i'll and died, and
the Empress Dowager was credited
with an edict proclaiming the accession
of Pu-Yi. or Hsuan Tung, TO the throne,
in accordance with the marriage con-
tract.
Hsuan Proclaimed Emperor
The very next day the Empress Dow
ager herself was declared TO be dead,
Hsuan Tung was proclaimed Emperor
and his father was made regent. A few
DAYS after the regency was announced
the widow of the deceased Emperor dis
covered the edict requiring the death
of Yuan Shih-kai, took it 10 the regent
and asked him what he was going TO
do about il. Friends of Yuan informed
him in time for him 10 make his escape,