The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-12-22
FORMER CHINESE
EMPEROR SELLS
RICH TREASURE
Japanese Guild Pays $780,
900 for Objects Bank
Held as Loan Security.
BIZ United P~ess

BU CHtted Press
PEKING. Dec. 22-Sordid COM
merce has dropped its heavy hand
upon the treasures of l'eking's For
hidden City" of the Emperors.
To satisfy his creditors, Henry Pu
vi, citizen of the Republic of China,
has sold, for $780, 900, breath taking
treasure trove Of jade, porcelain and
beaten gold which formerly solaced
his days as the recently deposed
Emperor Hsuan Tung, last of the
Ching dynasty. So says apparently
authentic report, though it is else.
where said that the sale is not yet
complete.
Soon there will be a secret removal
from Picking of this treasure a
treasure now hidden from profane
eyes in the vaults of the Salt Ad.
ministration Bank here. The late
possessions of the late Emperor will
leave the bank-which took them as
security for a $3.50, 900 note-to go to
Japan as property of the Yamanaka
Guild.
AOiil AAlC utBLtlo VI lilG Udllk Vault
will come, among other things, six
teen solid gold bells with a total
weight of $500 ounces and n value
simply as melted-up metal--of
around 100000. Out, likewise, will
come intricately carved jade Of the
deepest and most precious hue -
jade wrought into cunning forms
for the beauteous enrichment of i'm
perial consorts and concubines.
Few know the full details of this
Arabian treasure dream. Few have
seen all that now lies quietly waiting
for the arrival of the representatives
Of Japanese Guild.
The guild by no means purchased
sight unseen" It sent to Picking
a group of experts, suave gentlemen
with keen eyes and nimble minds.
These delegates met in secret con-
clave with the bank officials; they
inspected the imperial treasures;
they realized that they had the bar
gain opportunity of lifetime, or of
score of lifetimes, and they closed
the deal without delay.
So runs the story, and It seems
authentic in all details.
Meanwhile in Tientsin there Is a
slight boyish figure which, lacking
all knowledge of commerce and the
world, can be little more than a
counter in this great game. It is the
previously mentioned Henry Pu vi,
until recently the boy Emperor. "
who held a solemn mimic court in
the forbidden City" at the heart of
Peking until the Christian General
Feng Yu-hsiang elected him in the
autumn Of 1924 and deprived him of
even the shadow title which more
merciful leaders had left to him
after the republican revolution In
1911.
Henry and his wife Elizabeth are
now plain citizens, but by virtue OF
their former high estate they have
been numerically plagued by all
the poverty-stricken Manchu retain.
ers, who previously depended upon
their bounty. AS a stop-gap, Henry
signed notes which he has no way OF
meeting from his greatly shrunken
revenues, it is said. Now there Is nc
alternative to sale of his treasures.
Broken faith on the part of the re-
publican Chinese government is de
clared to be at the bottom Of the
present distressing situation.
Promise Broken
Throughout the period of the re
public, the former Emperor has
been supposed to received money
which has not materialized. At the
time when he was deprived of his
title and his residence in the forbid
den city, in the autumn of 1924, a
definite promise was made by the
government-and voiced by c. T
Wang, then foreign minister-that
$4,000 Mex about 100000 would be
paid the former Emperor monthly.
He got the money for just one
month.
The treasure involved In the pres,