The Coconino sun., 1891-10-29
HARA-KIRI IN JAPAN
PRACTICAL OPERATION OF THE
 ODD INSTITUTION.
It Has Finally Been Aboiished, How- ever, Except in Case of Persons With Certain Traditional
 Belief

It is generally understood that hara- kiri, or haro- wo-kirl is the solemn practice of suicide among Japahese hoblemen-a practice most deeply rooted in their ideas Of honor and iaithfulness, says c. Sadakichl Hart mann in the New York Sun.
 The hara-kiri was first practiced on the battle field. If the defeated did not wish to fall alive into the hands of the enemy, they thrust their swords into their mouths or their breast or cut their own throats. Later the hara- kiri became an institution of honor Whoever knew his cause to be lost either executed himself with his ,word, or allowed his companions to 10 it for him. It often happened that when feudal lord had performed his ,elf-execution his vassals followed his ! example to show their loyalty beyond he grave.
 My mother, who was Japanese of rank, often related to me a case of hara -kiri which took place not so many years ago in her own family. The nobleman, occupying 8 government office. had killed his bitterest enemy and was sentenced to the hara-kirL If he had not belonged to the caste of warriors they would either have be. headed him or sentenced him to be nailed to the cross, which would have brought dishonor on his family, be- sides resulting in pecuniary disadyant- ages. The hara-kiri however at- tached no dishonor to him or his mem- ory. The condemned man was com- mitted to the surveillance of noble man in whose mansion the solemn self execution was to take place. Day and hour were appointed. and the witnesses elected by the government arrived. The condemned man had begged three of his friends to render him the last service and they con- sented.
 Subordinates called on the prisoner to tell him of the arrival of the wit nesses. They brought him robes of hemp on tray. He donned them quickly and hurried to the reception room of the palace, where the sentence of death was read to him. The pris- oner listened to it without moving a feature. Then he retired once more to his chamber to change his dress for the last time. Attired in white robes he was led by solemn procession to the room where the self-execution was to take place. A large piece of cot ton cloth was spread on the mats. It was already dark, and candela- brum giving faint light was placed in each corner. Behind two white screens pal, wash basin. censer. tray. and a sword lay hidden. Ac- cording to prevailing rules the per sons present stepped into the semi dark room and took their places Then the duties of the three assist ants of the prisoner began. The first brought him the sword on a short- legged table. the hilt being wrapped in paper. The prisoner received the weapon with reverence, lifting it with both hands to his forehead to express his esteem. Then he laid it back on the table and bowed to all present. He let his upper garments fall down to the belt and stuffed them firmly under his knees to prevent him from falling backward, which is looked on as disgrace. Then. while with firm hand he seized the sword and with quick movement cut open his stom- ach, the second assistant who stood on his left side, with one fierce blow severed the head from the trunk. After rendering his friend this terrible service he retired behind the screens, drew some white paper from his belt and wiped the weapon. The third as- sistant then grasped the head by the tuft of hair and presented it to the principal government witness to show that justice had been fully satisfied. This was followed by deep silence. All present retired quietly. On the floor lay the body of the nobleman. Four servants appeared and carried away the body and cleaned the room. The memory of the nobleman remain ed unstained. He had remained loyal to his rank in death.
 In 1869 private secretary to the privy council proposed the abolition of the hara-kiri. Two-thirds of the depu- ties were against the proposition, and in the speeches held on that occasion they praised the institution as indis. pensable to preserve the honor of the aristocracy and as spur to morality and religion. The man who advanced the proposition was. as was expected. murdered not long afterward.
 Of course all Japanese do not share the opinion of those deputies. In the last change of government when the shogun, completely defeated, had no other alternative than to fee to Yeddo, one of his councillors advised him to have recourse to the hara-kiri as the last means of saving his honor and that of his family. The shogun ridi- culed tho advice and left the room in a rage. The faithful councillor retired to another part of the palace and dis emboweled himself in proof of his earnestness. The shogun is still living and enjoys fat income.
 So much about the essential charac- teristics of the hara-kari. The changes which this old national custom has un- dergone cause the particulars concern ing it to be somewhat contradictory. By the introduction of new code of laws the hara-kirl has been abolished, and only noblemen who still believe in