THE DESCENDANT OF AN EMPEROR.
The correspondent of a China newspaper gives the following details' 6f a sudden change of fortune in that country :— Upon the accession of the present: Manchu dynasty, the heir of the last Mmg Emperor, who committed suicide on a coal hill in Pekin, was made a marquis and known as the Ming Marquls v During the reigu of the last Emperor bat one, the then holder of the title died without sons and with no direct heir to suoeeed-to the marquisate and estates. Reference 4o the family records showed that the right heir was an obscure personage, whohad been completely lost sight of, and search was made for him everywhere by ,thfr officials of the Banner under which the marquis was enrolled. For a long time no traoa could be found of the missing nobleman, but he was at length discovered standing with a barrow outside one of the gates of Pekin selling a species of large pumpkin. He proved to he a man of the most* rustic appearance and uttetly uneducated. Ignorant of his high birth, he was gaining a precarious livelihood as a oostermonger. He was with difficulty made to realize the sudden freak by which fortune had raised him to be one of the great nobles of the land. Hurried off to the office of his Banner, he was washed, shaved, and combed, and his rags exchanged for costly garments suited to his new station in life. For some days he was polished up generally, and taught the etiquette and Mancbu phrases necessary for bis presentation to the Emperor. His succession was allowed, and he went to his palace jmd took possession. Report speaks of him as an honest and kindhe?rted man, who has done his best to educate himself and fulfil the duties of his high position. He is now about 54 years of age, and still retains his rustic appearance. The birth of sons has secured the succession, so that the family is now in a strong position as ever. It is his duty to offer sacrifice each autumn at the Mtng tombs. His palace is near one of the gfates of the Imperial city. He is popularly known as the Pumpkin Marquis.
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Bibliographic details
Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1671, 5 March 1890, Page 4
Word Count
373THE DESCENDANT OF AN EMPEROR. Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1671, 5 March 1890, Page 4
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