The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-08
JAPAN.

from Yokohama. November u, says:-
As the present week has witnessed au event
the like OF which has not been observed IN japan
for some hundreds Of years, have concluded to
give you some account OF II. | refer to the
procession of the Mikado from Kyoto to Yeddo,
which has Just taken place. His Highness the
htkado lett his southern capital, Kyoto, on
the 4th instant, and reached this place on
the Path, and arrived In Yedo on the 26th,
making the entire journey in twenty-one days.
AZ hinted above, this Is not an absolutely new
thing, but one which has not occurred Tor many
years-the japanese say not for 1000 years. Au.
Cieutly, say 500 years AGO, before the rise OF the
military class, when the capital OF Japan was at
Nara, place some Is miles from kyoto, his
Majesty ireelymade excursions TO various places,
accompanied by only lev retalners, ana was
gazed upon by HE devoted subjects. But In the
course of time the capital was removed to
kyoto, 400 years ago; aud about that time the
military class was Ia possession OF supreme
power, and the MikadO was nominally the
supreme ruler OF the land, but actually he was
only subject, and an instrument often used Oy
successive Tycoous iu subduug tnsubofdinate
Damios 10 their sway. Some what later, after the
rise OF the TokugaW8 dynasty which ended WITH
the late Tycoon StO shashi, the Mkadn was
clothed with all the insignia OF rank and OUT
ward respect, and confined TO his castle III
Kyoto which he has not left for generatlonS
tll quite recently. While the nom.na. ltaJ nvaJJ
ofthe nation was thus confined ana thu5 9 ii
with great respect tne Tycoon ,pc hi yhe,t
real power and claimed for himseIi '.u % W. lv,, 80
respect from the people. lhsJ yOu luaJ s 49, u
soue Idc. of the Kind aud degree OF re,PevI
required from the people, you nave on.y W
Inv that hitherto when Tycoon passed
oiopg a street In IcdlO, or made Journey
20 Kyota, generally "a visit OF ceremony 10 the
Mkado, all the people were rtquWGd 10 20
into their houses shut their doors, and remain
uulet TIL the lengthy train was past. Not
only so, but 10 prevent any OF the common
people IRON gazing on his High Mlghuness,
public officer went In aud sealed the doors;
and If ever a seal was broken the offender
was punished as the law required. Nhen thls
was the law of the land, II sometimes nap
pened that brave men exercised the lhalIclaD'e
right of position IN manner WhlCh reason
and conscience universally approve, buL Whch
the laws OF Japan then forbid. More cases than
one are recorded in japanese history IN Whlcu
men, to gain, IL possible, redress Tor the
Wronps inflicted by interior officers. have boldly
rushed. petition IN hand, IRON theT concur
ment and breaking through the ranks ol re-
tainers have presented 1t to the mead OF tue
nation, aud instead OF obtaining reuTe-s TOT
their wrongs have only aggravated their cOndi-
tion. Such has been the state OF things IN Japan
for generations. Men have been prevented the
exercise OF their simplest ghts In this arbitrary
manner. 1t was then received as a token OF
future good, and a sign OF progress, when, q
short time ago, II was proclaimed 10 the
japanese that they would not only be allowed
to come out of their houses when the Mlkado
should pass alOug, but also, II 10 ralued, they
might keep up their umbrellas A shed AID
platform were also erected tQr tue uCcommola-
lion of the foreigners residing IN nOkohama.
Your correspondent had the curiosity two days
before the procession passed along, 10 60 rom
Yokohama about two miles, TO hauhga"a'
village through which the FokattO OF nauona
road passes and where the MlkadO was expected
20 lodge one night. Great preparations
were making tor his reception. The road was
undergoing thorough rcpalr and II needed II
badly enough. In some places 1t looked as il
il had not undergone repair slnce his Majesty
last passed along some centuries ago, as atore-
said. But now ample amends were being made
for past neglect, and should his Majesty here
after frequently pass travellers will doubtless
be the gamers. Your correspondent also ob-
served that the old posts which marked the
boundary of district were taken down and
new oLes erected in their places. Two new
houses of superior workmanship were erected
in the Kauagawa; one at the side OF the prin.
Cipal hotel Tor his Majesty to lodge IN, aud
onelnear the only SinoO, temple for the receo-
tion of his baggage. These structures, Though
costly will no doubt be torn down TO prevent
their being used by the vulgar, after the
distinguished guest has departed. A he does
not lodge in an Old house, so 1t Is said he does
not eat twice from the same dish, which Is
invariably broken after he has used It. Apro-
pos to this custom, a japanese friend OF mine
tells me that some years ago he visited
town near Kyoto, the inhabitants of which,
though poor, yet as people who live
near court are apt to do, made an effort to imi-
tate royalty, and broke their dishes after using
them once, Hence they were compelled to use
very cheap dishes, made of tile clay very rough
and badly burnt, so that the smell of the clay
took away not little OF the taste for food. SO
muCl IOr MAINTAINING cost ana Keeping up WIN
the fashions. ! noticed too that large stone
gateway through which he was expected to pass,
sufficiently strong OF itself, was pTopped up and
bound with ropes very securely so prevent It's
falling perhaps when shaken by the steps of
majesty. Bat the august parsonage, being
boy yet IN his teens, is not likely by his personal
might TO incur such calamity as Is here sup
posed. Another significant fact was that the
Buddhist images were carefully removed from
their places, or shut out frOm view by a screen
OF boards set up between them and the
road. This is significant when viewed III
connection with the fact that a great effort is
now made in the south to revive Sintooism and
suppress buddhism. Buddhism and Chinese
literature were introduced into Japan about
one thousand years ago, and now they are try
ing 10 Danish both. Books are printed in the
ancient native character, and characters are
entirely eliminated. A spirit OF nationality is
spriIging up, As in Europe the cry is "Ire-
land for the Irish, - "Germauy for Germans so
here we begin to hear something like Japan
Tor japanese" "Why should japan be in
de6ted to India and China for religion and
literature, when it is the land of the gods, and
It's ruler the Son of Heaven n Therefore when
the Mikado who is PontlfeX MaXimus of the
aoorlglnali Sintooism, passes to his northern
capital, the inferior and foreign divinites must
DE removed or hidden from view.
All prepa1ations were completed by the oath
instant, on the afternoon OF which day nearly
ali Yokohama, native and fOreign, went 10 the
place appointed TO witness the spectacle. II
was quite mixed throng. multitude of
natives lined the TokaidO, while in the principal
STATION crowd of foreigners - English.
American, French. and German with NOT "a fe a,
IN conspicuous places requesting foreigners ne
to cheer when the Mikado passed, After
waiting some time, we got hint that ms
majesty wa. approaching, from the fact that
natlVe ohclsls came along and required the
japanese, who lined the road in places eight
or ten deep, all TO take down their hats fronl