The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-04
The MIKADo's WOMEN.
Th.ry Are the Empress and Twelve Coneu-
bincs--The SouD. Heir.

hinrS-lh" Dohn- htN'
TEL nc something Of the daily life Of
the empress. said |.
"She has. replied the court chamber
lain. ian establishment Of her own. and
IL il quite large one She has her maids
Of honor. her private secretaries and the
ladies Of the court 10 DO with. Her
morning is occupied by the reading and
writing OF letters. She attends TO the sil-
peryision Of her various charities through
Others chiefly. and In Gao afternoon she
dovotcs herself 10 social duties. She rc-
ccivcs at this time the wives Of the min
isters and the princess who may can
upon her. and il they come az the proper
time they sometimes take tea with her.
She sometimes invites these ladies' 20
meetings 20 discuss matters relating 10
the charity hospital and she has a grand
marshal and q chamberlain.
"shc is. YOU know. tho first empress OF
the new orctr Of things. even as the en-
peror is the first emperor She wears
but little lowolry, though she has some
diamond rings and bracelets. She i
fine horseback rider, and often takes q
turn on one of the horses of the impartial
stables. She wears European riding
habit end sits her horse wei.
The emperor, the omprl ana the
crown prince make up the royal
family. or at least tho three most
important members of it Each Of
these three have. rs ] said. an cgtab-
lishmcnt of their own inside Of the
nalace grounds. The crown prince -
heir apparent 20 the throne. lie is the
son ofthc emperor by Nine. Nanagiwgra.
and not by the Empress llaruko. Ire
mikadO of Japan has the right TO twelve
concubincs. and the children of these. M
case of thetaiure of issue 10y the empress,
have the right 10 the throne. They are
all legitimate and noble and ii J. tO The q
concubincs in times past that the nObicst
of the court families of today date then
origin. Very little is known about them
out side tho royal palace. These roym
mistrcssc5 do not appc2rat the cour' GER
em0nies. and am told that each has her
little establishment inside Of the palace
grounds.
They are q part Of the constitution Of
the ROYAL family. and i'm the directory OF
Japan for this year ] find that the ein-
peror has had by them nine children,
though all with the exception OF three oi
/ these have died. Children thus born have
nothing 10 do with their mothers. and
the Young prince was brought up apart.
asked the court chamberlain about thl-
department Of The palace. He would say
nothing and said 10 was not proper ioi
him 20 discu such private matter OF
/ the CmpcrOrs
lie chattcdquitc freely however about
| the crown prince. Prince Haru, said
/ he. 'is now @ years old and he was pro
claimed heir t0 the throne about year
AGO He is bright. brave boy. and very
/ fond OF military affairs. Tie dresses m
| European clothes and his costume j. that
/ of a soldier The emperor was very much
pleased the other day by having him give
/ him a military salute when be- met him.
and Janm expects great things OF him.
/ He walks very straight, and. though dug
niied, is a thorough boy. lie Is fond OF
/ boat racing and goes ont every day
/ somewhere. lie likes fishing and is by
no means backward i'm his studies. lie
/ attends the mol les school and he Is there
ON the same footing ass are the others.
II vaXcs him very much when the
other bows learn their lessons better t.an
/ he does his. and he WORKS so hard tha,
he stands well up 10 the head of his
class. lie was sent 90 this school IN
order that this rivalry might make him
/ study the harder and ho is acquiring "a
| thorough education. He is now begin
ming TO study English. and he knows one
or two words of French and German,
which De gets OF when he meets the
| foreign ministers. These are such words
as bon Jour and gutcn tag, and they are
always applauded and appreciated
/ Frank G.. Carpenter.