Evening star., 1931-12-06
''Mr. Henry Pu," Ex-Emperor


bronzes. Unusual rock gardens, beau
tlfully carved white marble spirited
screens, staircases and balustrades de-
lighted the eye. Conventionalized
dragons, clouds and sea were interviewer
in every conceivable pattern and In
endless variety.
Famous Well Passed.
We passed the famous we'll lust in
side the gate of Tung Wha Men, where
the unhappy Pearl Concubine had met
her death. This beautiful little lady,
one of the two daughters of the Viceroy
OF Canton, was the close. friend and
almost the only loyal supporter at court
OF that inept end tragic figure the
emperor KuanS-hsu While Kuang-
hsu was kept prisoner for nearly two
years for his supposed treachery against
the DoWager Empress, the Pearl Con-
cublne also lang lished in filthy little
room, given only enough food to keep
her alive.
When "Old Buddha,' frightened by
the anger she had stirred up among
the foreign devils" for her encourage
ment of the Boxers, was forced to fee
from Peking, she felt it inconvenient to
leave this prisoner behind, and Is
therefore reputed to have given orders
Pearl Concublne and hurled her into
the well, and since her cries could still
be heard by those above the second
eunuch pushed huge rock over the
edge; then the well was covered over,
l looked at this grim spot and shiv-
cred. Rumor has it that even TODAY
during the hours of darkness, means
may be heard from the depths bv those
who care to listen.
We finally reached Mr.. Johnstons
quarters, and there I had INV first
meeting with the Son of Heaven AT
that time he was only boy. He was
slender. OF medium height, with beau
tlful tapering hands. He wore the street
dress OF Chinese gentleman, a gray
SILK robe, plain black silk Jacket and
a little round cap, in the front of
whlch was a large jewel. He might
nave oeen, SO lar as appearances were
concerned, one Of his own ancestors
but for very modern touchNiarus
ana slightly shaded tortoise shell spec-
tacles. The Chinese loves Western
spectacles. I think they make him
feel modern and sophisticated, and this
was apparently The Boy Emperor's own
attitude toward them. Later, when !
painted his portrait. tried to get him
10 taRe them of, but was unsuccessful
He clung to them as a child to a TOW
ON the occasion of rly first visit /
was struck by the fact that the in
heritors of the Manchu power. like
the Forbidden City, seemed gently
helpless before the changes time was
bringing about. Just as the marbles
and bronzes were overgrown with grass
SO this most celestial of celestial cou-
pies had let Western civilization and
China's new freedom impinge on their
lie and customs without adaptation
or absorption.
Black and Gold Wood.
In the palace rooms, for example
we frequently came on some priceless
DIT OF jade, some beautiful antique
standing on square of cheaply print
ed American kitchen oilcloth! A room
rich with black and gold wood, in
tricately carved and hung with rare
examples of k'cssu, or embroidery
would have at its modern glass win.
dows tawdry cotton lace" curtains Of
type familiar in poor American homes
of the period.
The doorsills in most Chinese courts
are high, and this was true In the
Forbidden City. But I noticed with
curiosity that between the gates anc
exits to the courts where the Empero,
and Empress lived, small inclined
bridgelike approaches and descents
Continued on Fourth Page.)