Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22

2 years old. knew something very serious
was happening, but did not know just what
But In later years my tutors told me the whole
story in great detail and explained to me its
implications"
But of the events of 1924. when the Nation-
alist army marched north and captured Peking,
his recollections are vivid, indeed He was then
just 10, and when the batterng, sprawling Ma
tiOnaliSt army reached the very gates of the
Forbidden City he had to fee. There was no
army to defend him. and for two days he sour
ried through the twisting backways of the
capital, his life every minute in peril, until he
reached the shelter Of his uncle Prince Chun.
Probably he thought Of the fate of the Gar
and his family, just eight years previously. He
had with him only faithful retainer or two,
who led him through lanes and back alleys of
tortuous nature which probably other
city in the world possesses.
There were fires and Ioeting. Soldiers and
unorganized marauders created a terror which
even penetrated into the hearts of those behind
the walls of the comparative sanctuary of the
Legation Quarter Several times he thought
he must be discovered and even after he
reached Prince Chuns palace he was not safe.
In few hours he was secretly conducted to
the quarters Of the japanese concession, and
there he remained in asylum for two months.
1t was decided that it was more polite for him
not to remain In the capital so he was escorted
to the japanese concession in Tientsin.
CMCE that day he has had no money from
the Chinese government. His personal and
imperial possessions valued at many Millions
were seized. Gen. Fung Yu Shang made the
conf1scatiCn. and II is an open secret that he
ts now personally q very wealthy man. So.
II could ne nothing, of course" young Pu.;Yi
told me quietly, perhaps little bitterly, for he
feels that less than human justice has been
meted out. 81 had never attempted to inter-
fere in the republican fern of government
had kept no army. did not want to fight.
Peace had always been my aim, and it tears
my heart to see how broken, divided and suffer-
ing China Is today Even In the old days, be-
fore 1912, China was very poor, but she was at
least one nation
when the soldiers came in 1924 said I
would gladly abdicate that shadow of former
authority and fragment of departed glory which
was mine. said: Here Is China I give my
people to you. May there always be peace
But. alas! I'm afraid they have not found
happiness"
For almost five years he lived in house
which suited him and his menage fairly well
as soon as he got accustomed to the extraordi-
nary change in environment He married and
although his wife has had much ill health
she has not been able to read for more than
year-they are said to be very happy
On July 1, 1922 he deemed it advisable to
move into less expensive house, the property
OF Mr.. Lu Chung-yu, well known Anfu leader.
He economical to save a matter of $50 or 500
month. A few years ago, while still living
in the palace in the Forbidden City, he also
felt 1t wise to ecOnemize-and dismissed more
than 1000 servants! Today he has about 20
In his household. ana this does not mean what
40 servants would mean In the United States.
Their aggregate pay weuld probably not exceed
the sum paid to one American butler
(Ccpyreht. 1897