CHINA 



129 



the head of a family should hold with relation to the minor and dependent membei3 of the 

 same. His title, Tien-Tsze, proclaims him "the Son of Heaven," and the people he governs 

 are supposed to be his children. Standing in this intermediary position, he, and he alone, has 

 power to mediate between his father, Heaven, and his children, his subjects. His sacrifice? 

 and pravers in discharging the duties pertaining to this high office are conducted with great 

 parade and ceremony; and the pomp, it need hardly be said, tends to impress npon the people 

 a sense of the greatness and dignity of their chief, who is able thus to commune on their 

 behalf with the Everlasting and Almighty. 



But the power wielded by the Emperor is still circumscribed by certain laivs and 

 hampered by precedents. From the day on 

 which he ascends the throne, special duties 

 are appointed by the Board of Kites to 

 nearly every hour of his daily life. In all 

 offices of State the Emperor is assisted by 

 the Xinj-Ko, or Privy Council. The provinces 

 are mainly self-governed. Each province (in 

 a few cases, two conjointly) is presided over 

 by a Viceroy, who is supreme within his 

 jurisdiction, and who has, in cases of 

 emergency, the power of life and death in 

 his hands. Next to him comes the Governor, 

 whose authority in all matters relating to 

 the province is second only to that of the 

 Viceroy. Each province is divided into 

 several departments, and each department or 

 district has to maintain its own staff of 

 officials. There are prefectures and sab- 

 prefectures, prefects and sub-prefects. The 

 smallest of these divisions is again sub- 

 divided into districts, over each of which 

 is placed a magistrate, and subordinate to 

 the magistrate are a host of petty officials, 

 each and all of whom have to be maintained 

 and enriched at the cost of the people 

 whose affairs they administer. 



Every occupant ' of office must be a 

 mandarin. Mandarins of all classes are 

 divided into nine ranks, each distinguished 

 by the button or buttons worn on the top 

 of the cap. These buttons are the insignia 

 of rank. The first and highest is a plain 

 red button; the second, a flowered red 

 button; third, a transparent blue button; 

 fourth, an opaque blue button; fifth, an un- 

 coloured glass button; sixth, a white glass 

 button; seventh, a plain gilt button; eighth, 

 a gilt button with flowers in relief; and 

 ninth, a gilt button with engraved flowers. 

 Theoretically, the system of government 

 practised in the provinces is nearly all that 

 can be desired; but, as a matter of fact, 

 it is as corrupt as any system regulating 



photoby iir. \v. 



A WOMAN OK MAMIUHIA. 



