ABSTRACT
THE excitement connected with the Emperor's marriage had been intense, and had arrived at a climax the night before our departure for ,¥00-tai-shan, when the bridal procession took place. The Chinese Govemment expects on such an occasion from the metropolitan population not joy but reverence. The Emperor and Empress are to be regarded as a sort of divinities, and as the most distant approach to familiarity is to be avoided, no one is allowed to be in the streets, perfect silence is maintained, and orders are even issued that none 111USt look from the houses lining the route while the procession is passing. If a light were to be seen in any house it would call down instant punishment on the householder. Yet multitudes were looking out from the darkness of their dwellings on the street everywhere illuminated by red paper lanterns. For Peking society was agitated to the centre. "Tho would like to miss seeing this the most striking of all processions ?
