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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 1900)
T1IK ILLt'STUATIil) liMH. Marvels of the Sacred Forbidden City CVIolior 7, WOO. (Copyright, by ! M- Walker.) The parade of the uIIIimI forces through I !u' sacred Forbidden City of tho Chinese on August "S whs u pageant which will go ilowu in history an one of thi' groat spectacles of thu world. It Is not likely that any person living will nee atieh u procession again. This famous city, the Holy of Holies, fioni whoso precincts all Chinese are prohibited, but to which they look for Impulse and di rection, bus thus for the first time been desecrated by the profane feet of China's conquerors. Chinese pride has been humbled and It Is to be hoped that the arrogant and stilt nocUed Kinpress Tsl An, who for a second tlino has been '(impelled to llee from her palaces to escape the avenging armies of civilization, has been taught a lesson which will last her the balance of her life. Tho Northern City or Maiichu part of the Chinese capital consists of three enclosures one within the other, but each surrounded by Its own wall. The Innermost or Forbid den City, through vvhUii the allies inarched, Is the enclosure which surrounds the Im perial residences of the Chinese emperor anil Includes the great national library of China, together with a number of govern ment olllces. Tho Chinese ompeior is called by his peo ple "Tho Solitary Man" because he Is the only man who dwells within the walls of this sacred city. Princes and high olllclals may come and go to audiences, but the em peror alone remains. Tho only other per sons allowed within the city are the otn- CHEAT Pl'KH OATH WHKUF, M.UUS presses, the members of the imperial harem and the eunuchs, 11,000 of whom are retained as the servants of the royal household. Death Is tho certain penalty for any man found within Its mysterious precincts and the exact nature of the doom of the few who havo surreptitiously ventured there has never been known. .MiinnIvc tiiiiirilliiiiHlilp of (lie Willis. This Inner city Is called by the Chinese the "Kin Cheng" or Prohibited City. It Is 4 about two miles In circumference and sur rounded by a wall almost as massive as those around the outside Tartar City itseli. This surrounding wall rises abruptly from the waters of a moat which surrounds the entire city to a height of nearly fifty feet. It Is faced with red glazed brick and the top of the wall Is covered with the royal yellow porcelain tile, which from a dis tance glistens brilliantly in the sunshine. The city Is entered through gates on each of the four sides, over bridges which cross the surrounding moat. lleforo each gate Is an open area for the gathering of troops and the forming of state processions. Around each of those areas are buildings and barracks for the accommodation of the guards who defend the approach to Chlna'ti "Dragon Throne." Watch towers at each corner of the wall and over each of the gateways furnish points of view from which any suspicious movements outside may be detected. Tho Interior of tho Forbidden City Is made up of a succession of court yards and apartments which In their mas siveness and ornate and profuse decoration far exceed anything to be found elsewhere in China. According to the Chinese themselves it Is the city of gold nnd silver. To their Oriental vision the pavements of marble within lead from gilded palaces to gilded i palaces, where gold and silver pillars up hold gold and sliver roofs, and tho fortu nate Inhabitants pluck Mowers growing In gold and silver vases or play with gold nnd silver llshes swimming In crystal globes. Their Imaginations comprehend nothing which they do not believe exists somewhere In the Imperial palaces of their eniporor, Viewed from the great square or open place before the Da Tslng Mun, or Oreat Pure Onto, which Is the outer barrier and extreme southern entrance to the Imperial palaces, the Forbidden City stretches awny to tho north with a succession of tall palace buildings with pagoda roofs sup ported by Immense pillars, heavily lacquered with red enamel, covered with roofs of different colored porcelain tile, yellow, green and deep red. Tho variegated colors of these roofs glistening through tho beautiful trees which abound In the royal city make up a scene of architectural and arboreal beauty absolutely uneqiialed. while far In the distance, Just back of tho northern gale of the city, rises the beau tlful urtllhiul mound covered with shrines and pavilions known as the Mel Shan, or Coal Hill. The (ireat Pure date Is a low. ugly building with three doors built of heavy oak timbers and covered with sheels of Iron. It impresses one as a shabby looking aftatr for the outer eutraiiie to such a renowned enclosure as the famous Nal Kung. or city of the roal palaces. Its iippearam e. however. Is at counted for by the Chinese principle that Interior magnlllceiice should not be visible or suggested III external surroundings. In the M'conil I'.nolnxiit'o, Passing through litis gate another large area stretches out before a second gate which begins to give some hint of the inagniliccncc to be espoctod within. A wide stone causeway extends north through this courtyard mi to the gate which Is called by the Chinese the Tien An Mini, or the tiate of Heavenly Host. Tills Is the so called Croat Pink (late, so named because Its pillars and woodwork are heavily enameled with a ted laciiuer, which has become faded and now pre sents a pink appearance. The three arches through the gate are faced with white marble, over which are twined splcn dldly carved dragons. On the eouib of the roof ami running down on the projecting eavis of the pagod.i-llke slriieture over the gate are grotesque porcelain oriia ments, the heads of Phoenixes and (iiilllns. Within this gate Is still another couri ard, on the north hide of which stands the H NTKUKD THK FOHHIDDF.N CITY U u Mun. or .Meridian Oate This Is the southim durance of the prohibited city Itself anil tlie second gate from the em peror's palace. On the eastern side of the gate stands a large sun dial of antique de sign ami magiiillceiit workmanship, being cast in bronze in the time of the itiougol dynasty which reigned In the thirteenth ctnlury. On the western side of the gate stands a lunar dial of like workmanship and design. The tower over the gate holds a largo gong which was originally Intended to lie used like the drums whic h now stand before the magistrates' yameiis throughout the empire, it is said that It was ' used iluiiug the time of the Ming dynasty, petitioners who had faileil to obtain Justice through the ordinary channels being per mitted to call the attention of tho em peror to their grievances by striking on the gong, hut the death penalty was Inllicted on any whose appeal was found to be Ill founded or frivolous. The gong is now used only as a signal of the emperor's passing through, either when entering or leaving the city. The courtyard before this gate is the place of audience for victorious generals, who, returning from successful campaigns, come here to lay before their moiiar.il the loot and prisoners which they have taken, it is also tho place for the distribution of decorations and presents to foreign ministers and native olliiials. Passing thioiigh this gate one is at last within the mysterious city itself. Aen ss '"ffSfffKi the courianl within Hie gun- runs a small uiiial over whUh lead live marble bridges with ningnlihiiitly unveil balustrades and Impressive mono lions guarding their i lit rallies. From each of these bridge!' runs a maguilli out avenue paved with lino marble leading up to an immense building called the Till I lo Tien. This Impressive building stands on a marble basement about twenty feet in height and rises to a total blight of over 110 feet. The ascent to the building Is made by live Mights of steps with carved marble balustrades leading from each of the live avenues which run across the courtyard. The central one of these avenues Is very broad ami Is re served for the use of the emperor alone. Tho two avenues on either side of this are for visiting princes of the blood and olllcers of the highest rank, while those on the estreino light and left are for the use of all others. Hack of the Till llo Tien Is the gate leading to the palace proper. The palace buildings consist of four largo structuris and two smaller ones arranged around the courtyard within the gate. The central building is called the Cheng Kung, or Tho Palace. Those which Mank It on either side are called the Tung Kung and SI Kung, or the eastern and western palaces, while the fourth one. which faces the pal ace proper, Is called the Hall of the Ooldeii Dragon. The smaller buildings are those ro forved for the empress dowager and her suite The palace building, like the great audience hall in the com I In front of It, Is ong and wide, reaching almost acioss Iho lourl in which It stands, built with red bricks which, according to Chinese law, are reserved for use in the Imperial buildings, wltli marble facings ornately carved ami surmounted with a double toof, the second one of which covers a gallery supported by pillars, tho roofs being coveieil with yellow lorcelalu tile and all the woodwork covered with a heavy red enamel. ccordlng to Hie native descriptions the interim' of tho palace Is painted with the famous imperial veimllloii. The Moors are covered with priceless yellow silk-velvet carpets of native make ami the furniture, which follows the designs ami shape com mon In China, Is constructed of heavy red lionwooil and highly polished. In the em peror's own rooms tho frames of all the fur niture are of solid gold. The Chin Dunn Tien or olllclal reception loom Is carpeted with an immense tug of rough velvet worked in with yellow dragons. It contains no seats or other lonveiiieiices except the throne It si if, for among the Chinese no one, how over high his rank, is permitted to assume any (il her than a prostrate position while In the teirifylng presence of his emperor. The throne Itself is placed on an elevated dais. It is ascended fiom behind by a splendidly carved staircase and supported by a large topper dragon heavily gilded. Around the hall Is a gallery for the use of the orchestra which plays while oMUial receptions are go ing on. A Wtiiulci-lii nil of I'lilneoN, This palace is considered by the Chinese as the most Important of all the imperial buildings. It was the scene of the famous leeeptioii given by the Fiuperor Kung Hi In A. 1). 171', when on tho sixtieth anniversary of his reign ho Invited to the palace as Ills guests all the men of the empire who were over (HI years of ago. This tribute to old ago was ro ealod by the Kmpcior Klcii l.ung in A. D. ITS."., on the liftieth anniversary of Ills reign. No living white man has over before seen tho palaces within this city. The only foreigners who are known to have THU IIII. I, OF COM. SHUN FHOM W1TIIOIT woM'Uitni.tm of Tin: suiui been In them were Hit Jesuit m' wh obtained stub favor in the Mam ho ...tin m the hitler part of the siventcelilb ami c.niv part of (ho eighteenth centuries srvc.il of whom have left very Interesting do-., ripi lout of the life of those within Within the pto ent century the late Dr. S. Wells Williams was probably the only foreigner who has over seen enough of them to give any kind of a comprehensive account. North hc.voiid this tliiouo building Muni the "Palace of Faith's Itepose " Here "Heaven's Consort." as the empress Is called, rules over the bat em of her Imperial master. Ilelween the palace and the north ern wall of the Forbidden City are the loyal (low or gardens or pleasure grounds of the palaces. The gardens are adorned with dainty pavilions, white marble bridges cioss the canals and reach out to attllbial Islands which, dotted with temples ami covered with groves, stand about lu miniature lakes. Fountains ami artllltial mountains complete one of (ho most beautiful bits o' landscape work In the world. The Forbidden City Is divided Into three parts by (wo walls running entirely through II from north to south and the porilou of the city Which has Just been ileciibed Is III the central section between Hie two par tition walls. Tho ooslt ru division of the city 1 1 given over to (lie ollb ers nf the Chinese boards of governments II also holds the Imperial treasury. In Hie north ern part of this section stands the Hall of Intense Thought, a temple tledlialed to Confucius and the oilier great sages of China. A short distance north of litis stands (ho Imperial library, called by the Chinese Hie Hall of Literary Abyss Near these two stands the Fung Sii'li Tien, or Im perial chapel, the temple set apart for the emperor's private devotions, to which he eoiiies lo worship Ills ancestors. The west ern division contains a groat variety of buildings, memorial balls dedicated to famous emperors ami distinguished slates men, the government printing olllcc, the board of Imperial auditors or comptrollers who regulate (ho assessment ami collect Ion of taxes throughout Hie empire, ami the Chlng Hwang Mino, or guardian temple of Pcklu. A Kcmiui.tllilr - I llolii I Mini n III I n. Hack of tho Palace of Earth's Itepose Is another gate, separated by a eourtyaid from the Shell Wll Mini, which Is the uoiili, or rear, gale of the Forbidden City. With out (his gale another bridge crosses the moat ami outers tho enclosure which sur rounds the famous Coal Hill. This arli lltial mountain, which is also called by the Chinese (he "King Shan," or Capitol Hill, stands Just north of the Forbidden City, within tho area of the Huang Cheng, or Imperial City, and is really a part of the Imperial pleasure grounds. It is hulll of coal brought down on camels' backs from the mines in the northern pari of the prov ince. Tills remarkable mound is over l.'.u feet high, covered with earth ami planted with trees ami lloweriiig shrubs. Pavilions ami shrines dot its side ami crown Its sum mit, while paved marble walks wind up around it. From lis top a hooutiliil view is obtained over the whole city. It has been the scene of many a dramatic tragedy. From that point the lasl emperor of the Ming dynasty watched the sack of his capital by the Mainiiu hordes, who founded the present dynasty; then, refusing to sock safety in Might, he hung himself willi Ills yellow glidie from a tr u the summit. saying; "Heller die since Hie empire Is lost." Tho western part of the enclosure about the Hill Is occupied by the Si Yuen, or Till? WMJ w W . . 1 II i I 1 I, 'l I II i . lie I I t II. III. -.1 b i .1 l I 1 1 II I .pel III III. I ' II II I pi 1 .1 1 II itliln ill IiIm iiii H' lb. in ,i mile li lo; m llpn . I lie i i niei II I- '.applied w 1' b w.ili r fiimi the i.unnii. Hl.ick Dragon spring', wlil.h lie iiii niilis north Pcklti and from which a inaglitllceui aqueduct culled tjie Tllllg tlwul Ho con dm Is the vvaler lo Hie Imperial p.tlilccs The bike Is full of the mi st beniltlful an 1 Iragrant varieties nf the Chinese tutus, it Is eressi d by a marble bridge of nine arches which Ik nrehttectiirally uiimui passed. Al Hie end of the bridge stands a large ten house, while gardens, walks .in I rot kerles line the hanks of I lie lake. The profanation el Ihelr suci'eil city will have a profound effect upon the Chinese and go far toward preventing their guilty leader from over regaining their it si fate" m prestige Stories About Preachers The wli i or the t bull li In Mahatuu wllb li bail over one if IH thiols Hie words "Tilt-. Is the (iate id lliuvcn," Willi I he Uloilllv lllg poslt lipl seme tlisl.lllie below "Till Door Closed In Winter Time." recti Ms a somcvihil similar stcrv which Cardinal Maiming list d lo tell of his puhltshcis 110 was a mall who did toil keep his own books In all) gioal number in his private shelves, ami so one day found It liect s nary lo go lu his publishers for a eop of Ills volume. "Coutlileliee III Hod." To ills surprise tills convei'sal leu took plate 111 the liiiitlesl voices between Iho front ami back olllces. the men calling to em b other III Hie lop or their lungs "Sav you, send up some of Manning's 'Ciililldclife III (Soil Cani ilo il. Manning's 'Con lldciicc in Hod' Is all gone." Three metl once stepped up lo II Holed lovivallst at the close of one of his even lug meet lugs, relates Youth's Companion, and asked him to dot lite a point collcel tlllic which tll'V had been disputing. "Hue of my friends here," said the spolti small, "conli nds that you are it llap llsl " "Why does he think 1 am a llaptlst"" Intel rtipli il tin' evangelist. "Het anse he Ins seen yon assisting en lliiislaslleally nl a baptism by Immersion My oilier frb ml Is equally sure you lire a Methodist " "Why?" "Well, lie has heard you suy 'union' wllli such fervor when some good Met ho dlst brother lias been praying. I dill't r with lint h. I say you are either a cmgp' galliuallsl or a Presbyterian." "Why so?" "Well, I nut Ice you always stand when you pray." "My brother," was Hie reply, "I have al most forgotten, but 1 think each one m you Is right. I belong to all four of ihose l I 'III 1 1)1 1 1 III I Ions." Tills, In the larger sense, wits tlolllil let. . true. "The illgetiioiisiii ss of Itev. Hatty A Handle, recti I' of St .lames' Mission. Meeker, Coin., el llslulil ly evolves oilier tabling features for the old and young, attracting liileiest in tin- mission." writes Stanley Stokes lu the Ladles' Home .lout nal. "llo is all nccninpllshi i artist and lakes photographs for eveiybi.ily. All im mi use set -saw. swings ami oilier entertain lllg features have been elected by hllll III the rectory yard, while ovorybnly In the town enjoys I hem. The preacher spent part of his earnings fur a phonograph wlti a liet oT llfty rolls, which dievv big crowd t lo Hie rectory, some eouiing ion tulles in see Hie woml'ii'iil talking machine. Neari. every liny when the slag lues III, Mr Handle changes his working clothes and goes to the hotel In acquaint himself Willi the si lungers arriving, ami invites tliem lo the rectory, all of which Is unusual ami unlooh.'d for on the lionller. Ami l bill Is one of I lie ways by which so mauv people in Ills palish, which Is of greater area than Hie slates of Delaware and Itln 1 1 Island combined, have become nc quaillloil Willi the popular 'Utile Mlulslei of Itlo Hlaiico,' as he is i ailed." Worrv Delroli Journal' Hereupon wo spoke of volution. 'After nil," I observed, sagely, "vvoirv has boon the mainspring of liiimaii ptpg r. ss." My new iiciiuiiiiiunce agreed vvllh ine per fectly. "The limnkey and tho man," Htibl lie. "slaiied even. The monkey kepi hly hair on while the mun did not. Yes." This, it struck me, was a iininhlo IimI inee of tin- veiuaiular h mling 1 1 hell' to Hie c. piession ot scitnlilii Until.