Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 edition. Excerpt: ... worshipped and have sacrifices offered to it, and this could only be done by one of the same generation as himself The council of the imperial family met at night within one of the palace chambers, and they decided that a little boy, about three and a half years of age, should be chosen Emperor. The child was the son of Prince Chung, the seventh son of the Emperor Tau-Kwang, and the brother of Hien-Feng. The little Emperor was sent for immediately, tired and sleepy as he was, and placed in the midst of his uncles, who all did homage to him. The first consequence of the act by which the baby-boy Tsaitien was changed into the Emperor Kwang-Su, or "Illustrious Successor," was the retirement of his father from public life, since, according to Chinese ideas, it was quite impossible for a father to do homage to his own son. But even this matter had to be arranged in what seems to Europeans a very round-about way. The Emperor's father sent up a memorial to the two Dowager Empresses--for these ladies now undertook the care of Kwang-Su, as they had previously done of his predecessor. Prince Chung described the agony of grief into which he was thrown when called upon to gaze upon the features of the departed Emperor. But he was even more overwhelmed by the news that his own son had been chosen to succeed to the throne. He was carried home as one bereft of reason, he was attacked by many diseases, and begged to be allowed to spend the remnant of his miserable life in the seclusion of his own home, entreating the Empresses to withdraw his double allowance as an Imperial Prince. This memorial, which reads so strangely to English ears, seemed quite correct and proper to the educated Chinese, and appeared in the pages of the court newspaper. Eeferences...
