The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-07-23
THE MIKADO'S PALACE.

Interesting Description OF the Most Notn.
bic Edifice In Japan.
The State department in which We
began our pilgrimage through the four
hundred rooms of the building Is to b
devoted to offices. 1t is decorated on.
tirely in foreign style. is lighted with
electric lights and will be heated with
steam. In front of a large, iron door
our guide gave Us in charge of another
Japanese guide and We entered the
second division where the State dining
rooms, reception rooms, etc, are The
floors are all of inlaid woods and are
very handsome, almost too handsome
to be covered by the elegant rugs
which are over them. The furniture
came from Germany and is in exquf.
site taste. The decorations are COM
bination of foreign with Japanese art
and the combination is wonderfully
beautiful in its uniquenesS. The CELL
ings are in decorated panels. In ono
room, panels of flowers: in another,
birds; in one the crest of the Mikado
(chrysanthemum) in gold, on black
lacquer. The walls are of silk and
satin tapestry and the harmony in
color, as one goes from one suite to an
other. is particularly noticeable where
the coloring is so different. In the
dining room there are seats for one
hundred and twenty-seven guests. The
room is very large. and inclosed on
three sides by heavy plate-glass doors.
There are four elaborate side-boards
beautifully carved. Near this are two
smaller rooms, the ladies' cOffee-room,
which we consider the gem of the PAL
ace, and the smOking-room for the
gentlemen. The reception room, or the
east room, as it is called. is marvel
OF beauty. / was particularly inter-
ested in border of wisteria which was
largely used in the decorations. There
were several vases of bronze and flow.
ers of immense proportions. You will
be interested in knowing that the fine
carved piano was made by Steinway.
In the center of the room was q dais
on which were several sofas and
pieces of statuary, and the general |
idea of the lovely room, as we stood
at one end gazing in admiration, will |
remain with US for years.
We were now ready for the third |
division OF the palace. Here we found |
the decorations entirely of Japanese
art, and We were almost ready to say: |
''This is the best of all" The doors |
and windows were in Japanese style. |
The walls and ceilings were particu-
larly native in their odd papering. In |
the private parlor of the Empress the |
walls represented the sky, with |
myriads of birds flying through the air. |
In the Emperor's private room were |
panels with Strengthening animals |
painted from pictures three thousand |
years old. Each of these rooms |
opened into a private garden which |
landscape gardeners will make beauti- |
full as they only can do those things. |
Near these two rooms was handsome |
one which We were told was intended |
for waiting room for the servants. |
The private sleeping rooms of the EN-
peror and Empress were closed to Wis
itors, but aside from those our tour
through the building was general.
In corresponding part in this third
division we visited the west room. Il
is similar in size to the east room, but
with Japanese furnishings. Here tho
Mikado receives his guests. We
mounted the throne, with its elegant
canopy surmounted by the ostrich
feathers, asthe sign of royalty. We
wanted to feel ourselves sink in the
luxurious cushions of the royal chairs,
but as the Emperor had not himself
had that pleasure, resisted, feeling sure
that our polite guide would consider il
o breach of etiquette from the foreign
ers. This same guide would not be
induced to receive present from US
In parting for his kindness to our
party. He gave us many items of in
terest. / will give you few of them.