The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-15
HARD JOB BEING MEDITERRANEAN
 0F AN EMPEROR
Chinese Boy Rulers Gift of Sheep to Betrothed Is Embarrassing.
By THOMAS NIEzLOY, International NewsS eTvice Staff
 Correspondent.


 PeI6ing, Dec. 15-Beine, mother of an Empress is not all it's cracked up to be. So thinks ''Er Gurga'' moth CT of the Boy Emperor's' bride. The wedding was ended early this month and now the family may take a much-needed rest. Anyway it comes but once in a lifetime" remarked the old lady. as she surveyed the remains of the glorious celebration"
 In the frst place, one is apt to be fond of ones most beautiful daughter and when she is selected to ascend the Peavenly throne, wonderful though it may be, the number of times she again may see her family can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
 In the second place, the daughter must be incarcerated fro1H the mo- ment the betrotha1 is announced, which was nearly a year ago. To do this properly means the building of specially seclUdS1 quarters, the em- ploying of heavy guards, the utiliza- in general, ceaseless vigilance, so that no mortal pollution may reach the future daughter of the gods.
 And lastly one has to care for all of the elaborate presents the young Emperor continues to send his rancee. It would not be so bad if these were limited to jewels and gowns of gold and silver and marvel ous brocades. but they vary. A month before the marriage he sent a whole flock of sacred sheep and in the 
 was, there was no place to keep them.
 Mother Puzzled.
 At first Er Gurga, the mother, was in tears. Where could she put up all these animals, which would run about making much dirt and noise and tear !rg up even the beautiful gardens, rarefully tended for many years. Yet one cannot kill sacred sheep and use lhem for common mutton without in VOking celestial wrath.
 "A friend of the family whom she had known as girl and who was TOW an old Buddhist monk, solved the problem. He would take them all to the temple, he said, and there would be a place worthy of even the most holy of sheep. Accordingly they cOrt, with the exception of two little cnes. These the baby brother of the little Empress begged hard to keep as pIayfe1lows At first this was thought to be a violation of the august purposes of the Emperor but 3rother cried so hard that when the little Empress also pleaded he got his way. He has added them now to his collection of pets, of which he has a great number.
 Meanwhile the Emperor, also pre- naring for the great wedding in his own palace, made it a, point to send a collection of presents to his fancee every other Tuesday. Therefore the last Tuesday before the wedding was was Gfraid there might be some cameIs; 'IttIe brother was hoping for some urtles while the little Ennpr ress bought it would be nice if he sent Ter another necklace. But when the orilliantly clothed standard bearers lrrived from the Forbidden City To and behold out of the equipa ge step 1ed ten little slave girlsi
 They varied in age from six to ten, and they were mighty fearful and Frightened to have been thus abrupt W ta ken from their homes. And Er Gurga was still more put out. New quarters had to be prepared and fresh servants SsSailed to look after them. Each one of them was given a thor ] ough bath and completely reclothed. ] Then they were paraded to the room of the little Empress, who greeted 1 them most graciously, where they re- mained, a most solemn and dignified group of attendants, their hair close ly conbed and oiled, so that one could see ones reflection therein,
 One Graves Peanuts They seemed to accept their fate : calmly. except one, who wept bitter ly. She did not miss her mother so much as she did her older brother who had been always so kind to her He was a seller of roasted peanuts
 And did brother ever give you any of his peanEts?' asked the little Empress one daV.