Poking, Feb. 11.
Two or three deys ago the President received his Ministers at formal audience. His Excellency wore his new Imperial robe, and the new Imperial hat, the latter without the strings of beads hanging down in front of the face. No doubt after the Coronation the beads will be there, and the august countenance duly veiled from the eyes even of the highest functionaries of state. According to an offcial account of the ceremony, the Ministers paid "their homage to the Holy Master" by bowing three times. Some of the courtiers wanted them to do the kow-tow!
Simultaneously we learn that the State Department, in response to the command of the President, has submitted a memorial suggesting the honours and privileges to be granted to the "Four Friends" of the potentate elect. These are Messrs. Li Ching-hsi, Hsu Shih-chang, Chang Chien and Chao Er-hsun. The worthy gentlemen in question are to be allowed to see the Ta Huang Ti whenever they Jike, and to have tea with him. They need not call themselves "Joyal servants" in addressing the Emperor. The Emperor himself will see them to the door when they call. They may sit at the same table at private entertainments. They shall each have a pension equivalent to the salary recently drawn in the public service.
It is a matter of some wonder why the Four Friends should thus be singled out for motion. Hsu Bhih-chang is retiring from the Government because he disapproves of the Monarchy and declines to serve "two masters" Chao Er hsun haa resolutely refused to take
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.