Savannah Morning News

HAIL TO THE NEW EMPEROR.

China Passes from the Control of the Queen Regent and Chinamen Celebrate.

From the New York Sun

The gloom that pervaded Chinatown on Saturday disappeared on Sunday, changing into festivity. Last Thursday the Emperor Gong-Si attained his majority, and this week is observed by the Celestials the world over to celebrate the event. The State flag of joy is run up to the masthead of the Chinese city hall at 16 Mott street. To the impartial observer the two Celestial flags suggest the American national game. The every day one has a golden field, on which a rampant blue dragon is endeavoring to catch a crimson base ball on the fly. The other flag displays the exultant beast as having succeeded in a fly catch, with the ball safely secured between the upper and lower incisors. The quarter was crowded day and evening with laundrymen from all parts of the city and its suburbs. At most of the leading business houses Oriental collations were served to all comers. At a large gambling establishment the menu included crystallized cocoanut and inch-es, candied pea, rose and lily petals, stewed foo-qua (or bitter cucumber) and devil fish, mutton chops, mandarin oranges, and pastry, in which watermelon seeds, quince, almonds, and other nuts were the chief ingredients. On every table, besides the customary cold and hot teas, were No-Ma-Dhai, or brown arrack, and Ung-Ka-Peh, or orange gin. Most of the visitors came to buy holiday supplies, and after their purchases departed in every direction with bags and bundles overflowing with Celestial delicacies. To a reporter the Secretary of Consul Yung Ming said: "The birthday of our monarch is always commemorated, but this year it has a peculiar significance. Gong-Si has been nominally a ruler since he was four years old, now twelve years ago, but the government has been managed by a regency. It now passes into his hands. He enters his career with very brilliant promise. Though young, he has already displayed remarkable intelligence and ability. The only celebration the New York consulate has made has been purely formal and official. The embassy which was here last summer gives a great banquet to-night, which will cost $85,000. To-morrow night state dinners will be given in San Francisco, Sacramento and Denver. Our own people here, I understand, are likewise making the week a half holiday. What changes in our policy may occur I cannot say. I may have my ideas, but it would be manifestly improper for me, an imperial official, to give utterance to personal views." Ah Hee, a well-informed Chinese broker said: "The new reign will make great changes in the domestic and foreign policy of China. The Empress regent and her ministers have been very conservative, and have to a large extent prevented the introduction of Western ideas and institutions. The young Emperor, Gong-Si, is reported to be liberal, intelligent and progressive. I think he will retain Li Hung Chang, the present Premier, and surround him with a Cabinet of equally brilliant men. Americans think that China has only two parties those of war and peace—at least I judge so from their newspapers. As a matter of fact, there are numberless parties, but there are, as here, only two tendencies—the one progressive and the other conservative. The latter has been in power since the Tai-Ping rebellion: the former now takes its place. We who are semi-Americanized look forward to a period of great change and improvement." In the early evening Mott park and Pell streets were thronged with groups of well-dressed Mongolians, congratulating one another upon the beginning of the new reign. The customary firecracker was exploded, and after dusk every lantern was lighted. The Chinese orchestra inflicted a series of discords upon the innocent air.