Weekly News. — 1891-04-30 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE CHINESE EMPEROR AND THE AMBASSADORS.  As the electric cable has already informed us, the Emperor slua.ng Hsii was as good as his word in according to the members of the Diplomatic Corps, on March sth, the unprecedented honour of a persmal audience. Advices from Tientsin inform us, says the Daily News, that the representatives of the various legations occupied 31 sedan chairs, each attended by four mounted servants in full costume, as well as One or two Chinese efficera sent to conduct them to the "Gate of Flowery Prosperity." They were fortunate in an early spring day with a clear blue sky and bright sunshine, and vast crowds of Chinese gathered on the way to watch the novel pageant. After taking refreshments with Prince Ch'ing they were finally ushered into the Shining Purple Hall. where they stepped forward to between the two "Dragon pillars,' at about six feet only from where the young Emperor sat in state, making on their way the usual three obeisances. Prince Ch'ing, kneeling, then introduced Herr von Brandt, the German Minister, who, in the name of himself and the other Ministers, delivred a congratulatory address, which was repeated in Chinese by his interpreter, and presented his credentials. Thereupon the Emperor addressed a reply to the Prince, and, descending the steps with his arms spread out like wing's, according to the classic Confucian style, repeated it aloud to the intrepreter, who in turn translated it. After this his Imperial Majesty dismissed his audience, and the Ministers retired, bowing as etore. The Emperor sat about three feet above the floor of the hall, on a sort of estrade, with steps leading up in the middle and on both sides, the banisters of which were richly carved and moulded in a dragon pattern. He was dressed. like his Ministers, in a puce-coloured silk robe, with dragon embroideries on the shoulders and breast, a large, felt hat of the ordinary official pattern, and only wore a knotted button of red silk. He is described :1-1 looking not more than 18 or 17. Although his features are essentially Chinese, or rather Manchu, they wear a . particular air of personal distinction. Rather pale and dark, with a well-shaped forehead, long black arched eyebrows, large mournful dark eyes, a sensitive mouth, and an unusually long chin, the young Emperor, together with an air of great gentleness and intelligence, wore an expression of melancholy.  A shocking murder was committed at Hordle, near Lytnington, on Monday morning, a young man named Elwes, in a tit of passion, shooting his mother dead with a revolver.  The Americans are having a great laugh at their own expense. For 40 years the citizens of Massachusetts—legislators, historians, and the general public alike—have basked in the smile of a marble 1)114 which they believed to be that of the lion. Samuel Adams. It now turns out that the bust is an effigy of Washington and not eccentric in any way, but similar iii ieatures to two well-known busts f the first President. A commission of inquiry has solemnly recommended "that the name a Samuel Adams be removed from the pedestal, and th, 11,1111 e of ‘Vashington be inscribed in its place." "It is ao 400 d arguing with a policeman," says a youthful wit, "for you never get much change out or a copper." A bad bargain.—llardup: "Wonder what I would Y.et ill put this overcoat up ? " Wiggins: " 1!lia, I guess, in this weather." The dead-body 01 the night watchman at the railway station at Arad has been found, and on examination of the premises it was discovered that the post-office attached to the station had been broken into, and that registered letters containing valuables to the amount of nearly 10,000 gulden, liad ben abstracted. The thieves had thrown a quantity of red peeper into the unfortunate watchman's eves,