Ir is interesting at a time like the present to see what course of preparation for Government, the Ruler of 400,500,000 people has received. After all, very little is known of the august Emperor Tang Chih, which name being interpreted means "Union in the Cause of Law and Order." On looking back, however, we find certain data which induce us to judge of the style of education which nas been given to the man or boy who has lately been married with so much pomp, and who is soon to ascend with all the favourable auspices that Astrology can give the Phrone of this vast and populous realm. It is probable that the sovereign knows little or nothing of the kingdom he is about to rule, It is a matter of doubt whether he does not, at this moment, regard the Treaty Ports as fishing villages, and the foreigners as unimportant intruders, on the sacred soil. If we turn back to ancient records, notably to the Sacred Instructions of the Ta Tsing Emperors, we shall find that he has received lessons like the followin, Prince is the Son of Heaven, all the ministers and public functionary are his sons, and the people are again the children of the former, A Prince serves Heaven as " Father, and, never forgetful, thinks with reverence about rendering his virtue illustrious, and looking up receives the gift, i.e. the investiture of the Empire. The ministers ought in turn to view the Emperor as their Father, and serve him as such, never be rapacious, or play the traitor, protect the people, observe the Laws and take care that there is no treason growing amongst the nations."
Of course the new ruler has been directed to reflect on the illustrious acts of. the Emperors who have gone before him. He has doubtless been reminded of the virtues and distinguished acts of Vu the Great. He has listened to eulogiums on the valour of Woo-wang the martial king," and to the praises of his brother Chow-kung, whose fame fills the pages of the Shoo King. The illustrious men of the Han Dynasty whose actions are described in the History of the Three States have doubtless from his early years been the Heroes of his imagination, and the great _Kang-he has preached to him from his eloquent pages of those principles which make monarchs powerful and nations happy.
And while models to arouse the ambition of the Prince have not been wanting, beacons to warn him have also been held up. He has been told of Woo.yeih, whose monstrous follies and blasphemies were the shame of his age, and of the semi-mythical Ku Kwei, so notorious for his misgovernment and vice. The past has no doubt been studied with assiduity by the Tutors and Governors of the Prince, and they have striven to indoctrinate him with such lessons as seemed likely to make a favourable impression on a young mind. The Dowager Empresses have likewise, we may believe, searched the memoirs of distinguished women by Lew Hoang, and have prayed that the new Empress may be endowed with all the virtues of the mother of Shang-te. Still, though we may fairly believe no pains have been spared in the education of Tung Chih, it has been an education conducted by the retrospective classes, and consequently utterly unsuited to the requirements of the present crisis. The Em. peror has been taught to respect the traditions of that China which is rapidly passing away, but he can have no sympathy with the developement of the land, as he has no knowledge of the influences at work in re-moulding the national institutions and re-fashioning the character of the people. Of course the education of sovereign princes is a difficult task, and experience in the East and in the West proves that we cannot attempt to predict what a king will turn out. Horace Walpole said of the Prince Regent: "he came forth from that Temple of virtue his Father's Palace as though he had been brought up in @ cider-cellar." Princes who have been educated with the greatest care have been conspicuous for disregarding all ties of honour and duty, and the heirs of profligate sovereigns have been models of virtue. Though we may glance then at the environment which has compassed the Royal Boy at Peking, we cannot pretend to conjecture how it may affect his future. Will he turn out a Kang-he or a Woo-yeih, or be one of those characterless. Emperors who allow favourites to rule them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.