The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-16
PROGRESS OF CHANGE IN JAPAN.
Tbe Emperor sets Out on IA Visit TO the
Northern Provinces.


YOKOHAMA, June 10.-The NJ kado has
for some time threatened to go on tour
through the Northern Provinces. He has
ried his threat into execution. Having received
the Corean embassy, he started In state FROM
Toxic on the following dav the I'd OF June. |,
with others VINO had been In the capital the
preceding evening, either TO attend ball given
by the British Ambassador at the Legation III
honor Of the Queens birthday, or 70 make be-
lieve we mad been there, stayed till the next
morning to witness his departure. Truly, 1t was
sight worth seeing.
with the very fewest 81 exceptions the peope
Of the eoaTt have followed the example set
them by the Emperor, ana have adopted the
European styles OF dress; Much as admire the
japanese character, and even the national ap-
pearance when dressed tbotn nature and body
la the earb Of their own ancient civilization,
cannot say that admire the people 50 much ia
the garb OF our Western civilization. The wear
ing Of beard also commences to be much AT
fected by those Of he court aud better classes
vino are ultra admirers and imitators Of Euro
peln customs and manners. In the whole Train
Of the Mikado, consisting VI some three thou
sand people, | only noticed one male IN the
gorgeous and really picturesque court dress Of
tue ancient refine, aud he, Instead OF being
borne in flOrinOnO was drawn In "A CARR tgo
and even he did not venture to wear the arms
and insignia OF the old noble-the two swords.
European dressed Asiatics; but he looked sug-
ges,ive, too middleman. a sort Of human
hyphen between the two ages, the old and the
new regimes.
must not forget to mention the ladies In tho
Emperor's suite. The koeo, as the Empress Is
designated by the natives. accompanied. or
rath, follOwed-for she was In another carriage
her imperial To- d during the hfst forenoon or
his Journey. she. and the ladies' OF her court
who accompany her. to the number Of somo
half dozen, were dressed 10 the splendid ladys
court garo of old japan. Strange to say. West
fashions are not nearly popular among
the female as anon; the male native population.
1 he carriages In tho Mkado's train must have
numbered ABOUT two hundred. really did not
think there were so many Japanese owned
carriages IN japan. Many Of them were hand
some, well horsed turnouts. The Emperor's
own carriages were drawn by Californian horses.
To the others were harnessed the best ponies 10
be found In japan.
Some Of the carriages were rather indiscriba-
BILE, and drawn ty mokes which II IL stretch OF
p9htenes, TO call merely ordinary. They were
"homsly' IN the extreme. But on the whole,
aud especially cohsideriug tine comDaratively
short time since Jansn began to change her
ideas, and TO follow the example Tor good, and
for ill., too, an sorry TO say, Of foreigners, the
depart re OF II. Me- the MiEsdo, offered very
creditable display. The crowds in the capital
which assembled to see him OF were great, and
lined the road through the whole length OF his
prevailed. There WIS certainly an apparent
want OF cord Ality-no shouting. no applause
hailed or follower the approach Of the descend
| to any want of loyalty, tut was due to the police
notifications, which mad teea previously pub
| lshed. forotddins. on thc part OF the natives,
salutes, cheers, or prosirdtions.
SO lar as have heard 81 his progress through
The provinces, the Emperor has been Loyalty
welcomed. Further he appears to be sincerely
| DESTROYS OF asCe-tainng the wants and HABITS Of
his remote subjects. According TO the reports
! of the native reporters who accompany him
| there Is not single European IN HE train, he
seems TO address pertinent and intelligent aues
tions to the Officials Of the various ken ana To he
| honestly anxious for the welfare OF his subjects,
| whom he endeavurs to see In the pursuit Of
their daily occupations. He was, | forgot TO
| ton by two regiments OF Infantry, one Of lam
| GERS and two batteries. Tho infantry, which
| marched French fashion and IN heavy march
ing order, did not Impress me much. The :
seemed suyenly and badly drilled. Each regi-
ment Of infantry was headed oy some twenty
| bugltrs. VINO gave the time very creditaoly IN
| European military strains.