Nor did this funeral disappoint their expectations, for though I have seen just as good ones, as far as quality goes, it was certainly exceptional in size and quantity. And it was a good day for the beggars of Peiping, whose special prerogative it is to carry the coffin and all the other paraphernalia that go to make up the procession. The catafalque was borne by three relays of 64 bearers, Sixty-four is the number allowed for the highest officials, with two relays, so that this was something special. (The coffin of an Emperor, is borne by 84 Bearers in the city and 120 outside).
What seemed to excite the particular admiration of the crowd were two full-sized motor cars of paper máché, complete with chauffeurs and attendants; though, as a matter of fact, this is by no means a novel feature in modern Chinese funerals.
Most of the funerals of wealthy persons nowadays include at least one motor car, which has apparently become as much of a necessity in the next world, as in this.
There were one or two unusual features about the procession, which gave it a special character. One special feature, which will probably not have been noticed by the majority of foreign spectators, were the two cords of twisted white cloth, several hundred feet long and attached to the coffin, which were held by the mourners. This corresponds to our pall-bearers and is only seen at the funeral of a very important personage. Another feature, uncommon in Chinese funerals but a common sight nowadays in Peiping and one that does not add to the aesthetic charm of any ceremony in which they appear, were the two rows of gaudy-coloured paper wreaths presented by Japanese
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.