The record-union., 1891-05-15
JAPAN'S MIKADO.
Sir Edwin Arnold's Description of the
Emperor's Appearance.

Emperor's Appearance.
We are groupedall together, with our
backs to the beauties of the parterre. in a
mass of some 500 or 600 people, who have
been hOnored with the great square cards
OF invitation to this high function.
The royal cards, printed in gold. enioins
all alike to wear frock coats (frokko
cotto'') and silk hats, and thus we all look
more or less alike-diplomatS, generals.
naval officers, ministers and private per-
diversified only by the Corean
officials in long robes of white and Puri-
tan hats with amber strings, and the ever
graceful costume of some Japanese ladies
present. who have proved faithful-even
against the court fashion-to kimono and
obi. Tie throng suddenly falls to "Atten-
tion," for the strains of the national
anthem of Dai Nippon sounds from the
gaily-barbed band, 1.-The Emperor is
Coming"
His Imperial Majesty comes first and
all alone. l have often seen him, and al
ways lind the same difficulty in analyz-
ing my own impressions. or conveying
them, as to that impassivc, reserved,
changelesS, dark, far-remOVed counte-
nance. / have seen it all day long in the
smoke of the mimic battles at Nagoya,
and all night long in the festal halls at
me Snlro, and at receptions and court
ceremonies; but / never witnessed the
AA'N''S e6ANSibb.Oil vi IT'S uACu
features. Only Il fiattercr could call the
cold, proud face handsome, and only an
enemy or soshi would, 1 think, style its
austere constraint and lofty discomfort
ill-loOIing. One would saw this is a
Mikado OF the past, who is obliged to be-
long 10 and bow before the too-prevailing
present, but who nevertheless keeps his
secret soul apart in the stern and great
society OF his ancestors, and with the
iar-of company Of antique Shinto gods"
tie walks between us alone, his arm
TOO sacred, too separate, to be taken in
public even by the Empress who comes
behind, q small, eXQuisitely graceful lady
dressed IN nauVe satin toilet OF Paris
ian style, and mauve bonnet, with parasol
TO match, all borne with the utmost
charm and becomingness. Behind her
Imperial Majesty, also passing Singly, Il
beVy OF ladies of the court, all but one in
European dress and following the ladies
the gentlemen OF the palace in black trock
coats and tall hats. His Majesty wears
the undreSS uniform of General
cherry-cOlored trousers and blacll-frogged
coat braided with gold lace. and on the
small, clOse-cut b2ows a kept OF scarlet
with gold band. His bow in recognition
OF ali our bare and bended heads is the
slightest possible inclination which rigid
muscles can make, get withal accOmpa-
MED by a glance, kindly, benign, and full
Of evident good will, for his lips almost
smile, his eyes are alert and LIGHTED. his
air is, one might almost dare to say,
genial, and these mods of the Japanese
Jove must be measured by loyalty with a
micrOmeter.
The pOtentate-first of his line visible
to ordinary eyes in such a manner-is
named Mutsuhito, and was born at the
ancient capital OF kyoto on November ),
l652-being, therefore, 80 years old. The
rlnI1sl l1Hyy his ~ IN,
robe from Paris, with the black hair
banded so demure over her small. dark
forehead, is Haruko, Empress of japan.
third daughter of Iehiio Tadaka. a noble
Of the first rank. Her Imperial Majesty
was born on May 28, 1850. and is, there
fore, slightly older than her august
spouse. The one and only babe whom
she bore to Mutsuhito-a prince-died be-
fore he had well drawn breath; but his
Majesty, following the customs of his
ancestors, has fully assured the success
sion with children born to him by the
various princesses who also share his
royal affections. The Prince Yoshihito,
son OF the Lady Yanagiwara, is thus heir
apparent, and has for half-sisters the
Princess Shigel1o, daughters of the Lady
Ume-no- Miya, and the Princess Fusako,
baby child of Lady Sono.
Deprived thus far of the glory OF seeing
her own child inheritor of the antique
splendors of the Mikadoship, her Majesty
the Empress relaXes nothing Of her devo-
ton to her lord and to his land and sub
jectS. A true Japanese woman in that
almost divine sef-abnegation, patience
and dutifulness, which are the common
qualities Of the gentle daughters of the
land, she is veritable mother of her ma
tion, never wearied OF good works, and
foremost in encouraging all wise social
reforms. Her hand, as well as that of the
&c n1, -,
help in times of calamity, or famine, or
pestilence, such as Japan has unhappily
passed through of late. His Majesty is
1ull of trust in the future greatness of
Japan and proud of her ancient glories.-
London Telegraph.