Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1908 — EMPEROR AT THE PLOW. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EMPEROR AT THE PLOW.

iPaouNaritiM of China's Thanksgiving CaUbrgtion. ! In China at the beginning of winter ft thanksgiving festival Is held a* which the deities, are especially thank-* 1 ed for the preservation of life aad health during -the preceding twelve

months. Offerings are presented on the family altar, and the ceremony Is brought'to a close by a grand dinner •t which all members of the family can partake. The feasting and rejoicing are kept up for days. On the fifteenth day of the first moon -the emperor of China goes in great state to a certain field, accompanied by the chief officers of his household, and prostrates himself, touching the ground nine times with his bead in honor of the god Tien, and pronounces k prayer invoking the blessing of the great being. Then as high priest of the empire be sacrifices a bullock to heaven as the fountain of all good. While the victim is being offered a plow drawn by a pair of highly ornamented oxen is brought to the emperor, who throws nsldejiis Imperial robs, lays hold of the plow , handles and opens several furrows. The principal mandarins follow bis example, and the festival, which is really a species of thanks in advance for good harvests, ends with a distribution of clothes and money to the poor.

THE EMPEROR OPENS SEVERAL FURROWS