Evening star., 1921-05-10
TO RESTORE .
MANCHU DYNASTY :
Attempt to Place Chinese
Boy Emperor on Throne
Is Hinted.
By the Associated Press.

by the ADociated Prets-
TIENTSIN. May 1o.-Rumors of an
other attempt to restore the Manchu
monarchy by placing the captive boy
! emperor, Hsuan Tung. on the throne
are circulating in the inner circles
| of this center OF oriental statecraft.
| Hints come from unknown sources
| that such a move is to be made
within the next two months.
Speculation on this possibility pro-
vides one OF the most fascinating
| subjects Of conversation among the
Chinese, as well as among the for
eigners. Here Is the stage and the
| throneless boy emperor a star char
| that may yet focus the worlds atten-
ton.
| Anything is possible in Chinese
politics, for upon Peking centers not
milftarists and politicians. but
| large proportion of all the diplomacy
| OF the orient.
History OF Boy Emperor.
| The story Of Hsuan Tung is like
| tale of the Arabian Nights. Though
! he is still boy of fifteen years, be
1 has twice been proclaimed emperor
and twice has abdicated. When he
was less than two years old he was
| made emperor by edict of the dying
empress dowager in 1908. With his
| father. Prince Ching, as regent. the
infant was nominal ruler over 500
! 900, 900 people for a little more than
| three years. Then came the republic
! with a president, Yuan Shih-kai. and
the boy. still an emperor. retired TO
captivity within the walls of the For
| hidden city.
| There he remained for five years.
! until in 1917, when he was yet only
! eleven years old. he was forcibly re-
stored to his throne by a coup d'etat
| Of Gen Chang Hsun who. 1t has been
plot to prevent the Chinese republic
from taking hostile attitude toward
| Germany in the war. Another pur-
pose of tho conspiracy Is saad 70
| have been to stop the sending OF
Chinese coolies to Europe to relieve
the French workers, so that they
could be put on the fighting line.
This time the boy emperor's reign
| was brief II lasted less than q week.
| and again he went back to the palace
he has remained surrounded by 5000
or 1000 of the Manchu adherents.
| princes eunuchs and whispering OLD
women who long and probably plot
| for the time when the little Son
| of Heaven" shall again ascend the
dragon throne.
Get Allowance of Millions.
To support him and his household of
Manchus, titled and otherwise, the
Chinese republic pays an annual Al
lowance of from 100000 to $4,000
900 in silver. and thus within .hn % me
nesa republic exists a strange group
which may at any moment become
the prey Of ambitious military lead
ers or the fulcrum by which they
The boy. still possessed 6f the title
Of emperor. leads secluded life.
Naturally. the Chinese classics are
his chief study, but he also has
learned English and derives delight
from his skill in penmanship. He is
observes the rules Of imperial con-
duct they have taught him.
| Hsuan Tung is carried in his yellow
sedan chair by twenty attendants to
his English tutor gives him lessons
He loves exercise, but he has little
chance to crafty his wish within the
limits Of the palace grounds. II he
goes to ride he.must straddle q pony
Ted at a slow pace about the court
yard. Though he longs to see the
distant parts Of the world, he 10 not
even allowed to go rowing on the lake
about the summer palace. To the
youth Of America, accustomed to its
freedom. his position would be in
! tolerable. Yet his disposition re-
mains unspoiled.
His Marriage Considered.
Hsuan Tung has reached the age
when the question of his marriage is
looming up. When Yuan Shi-kai be-
came first President of the Chinese
republic it was reported that the boy
emperor had become betrothed to the
presidents daughter to promote a
plan to restore a monarchical govern
ment with Yuan as emperor. Not
long ago it was reported he was en-
gagged to marry the daughter of the
present president Hsu Shih-chang.
It is said here the girl is being edu-
Gated in the United States. This
would be in conformity with the Chi
nese fashion Of arranging maria pes