Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-11-05
HIGH CLASS SUICIDE.
HOW HARAKIRI Is PERFORMEL
IN JAPAN.
4 Great Deal Of Ceremony About TIE
Deed.

Deed.
Harakiri, peculiar mode Of suicide,
In the eyes Of the nobility of Japan
the most dignified and honorable way
OF all violent deaths, the only means of
restoring honor, revenge being impos-
sible, has seldom been witnessed by
European or American eyes. AS the
word -.harakiri" has crept into Ameri-
can politics, writes Albert de Leur, an
may be interesting, and the reader can
then Judge If the adaptation of the
word is allowable.
Duelling is now and ever has been
condemned by intelligent japanese, as
The uncertainty of its results was con-
adered too hazardous to the settlement
of its cause. For ages it has been the
custom in Japan, when Ssmurai con-
sidered himself insulted by one equal
In rank, that the injured party should
proceed TO his home, call together his
family and friends, inform them of
the insult suffered At the hands of his
enemy, and set apart day upon which
he would revenge himself and restore
the family honor, injured by the words
or acts of his opponent, by committing
s.harakiri."
In the first place q rope over two
inches thick made out of the tendrils
of the lotus flower, was constructed by
the unmarried female members OF the
family, and closely drawn around the
house, 1t being the popular belief that
Objectionable spirits would thereby be
1rr be
ceremony and carrying away the soul
of the suicide. The chamber in which
ihe ceremony was to take place was hung
with yellow silk or Grape, the sunlight
carefully excluded, the only illumin.
~tion allowed being that furnished by
the everlasting light burning in front
Of the family god, whose pedestal was
placed about two feet from the north
ern wall Of the chamber. A foot-high
platform, about three feet long by two
feet broad, was placed in the centre of
the room, covered with white Grape,
and the kahsnna (ordinary sword) of
the master of the household laid un-
scsbbarded upon the platform, its
point wrapped in a yellow Hlil. On
each corner Of this platform was placed
q small saucer filled with scented oil In
which q wick was burning.
The family and friends of the noble
to commit suicide entered the room led
by priest, the latter bearing in his
hands q full blooming lotus flower
which he deposited across the sword
lying upon the platform, and the spec
tstors took seats around the room.
The nobleman then entered, dressed in
pure white garments, with q yellow
colored scarf encircling his body, and
carrying in his hand little saucer in
which burned a wick lighted previous
ly from the everlasting light in front
of the family god.
Behind him came his eldest son, il
over years of age-if not, his near
est rela.ive-carrying upon platter of
sandal wood the wakizaski, q dagger
like weapon l-2 inches long and OBJ
liquely cut on the left side. The blade
OF this lancet-looking weapon was
wrapped in yellow Grape, lotuI over
being placed upon its hilt. Ii g,S,rally
was an heirloom of the family, and
considered the most valuable article in
its possession. 1t is the instrument
with which harakiri was always COM
mitted. The person to commit this act
would then kneel upon the platform
with his face toward the north and the
wakizaski placed before him. The
priest would take the lotus flower from
the Japanese sword and cut the leaves
in pieces, strewlng the same over the
kneeling man. After blessing him in
this manner the lights in the corner
ssucers were blown out by the prizes,
and the light carried by the suicide eI.
tinguished by the son of the nearest
relative, and the time for the final &C,
mad come.
After recounting in a solemn voice
the insult suffered by him from his
enemy, he invoked the spirit of his
ancestors to see in what manner he up
held the family honor intrusted 10 him
at bis birth, and rising upon his left
knee he would take hold of the wakiZa-
ski with his left hand, lift up his white
robe with his right hand, wrapping
the end Of the yellow sash around his
left wrist, and deliberately and very
slowly insert the dagger-like knife in
to his stomach above the right hip
bone and draw il across until within
four or five inches of his left hip bone.
At the moment he inserted the knife
his next of kin would take the katsna
(ordinary sword) and with a swift
blow sever the head of the suicide from
the trunk.
In every case Of this description,
when harakiri was committed in de-
fence Of insulted honor, the insulting
party was informed by the family of
the suicide of the act performed, by
| sen.'ing to him a sort of affidavit of
the next Of kin of the deceased writ
ten upon yellow paper wrapped in the
leaves of the lotus flower, and if tha;
gentleman would not be considered q
craven, unfit for association with homo
rable men, he, too, would then commit
harak9ri in a somewhat similar manner.
The trouble would thus be settled and
no further enmity would exist between
the families of the parties interested.
A noncompliance, however, with this
time-honored custom of Japan on the
part Of the person who gave the insult
has never been heard of, it is said, in
that country.
A Considerate Little Boy.