The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-10

the war-fag portrayed in green.
The three main arches of the struc-
ture were connected by corridor
forty or fifty feet high, having ten
arches on each side. 1t was not GOV
cred, and admitted the blue of heaven
above. Many electric lights were
placed here and there inside and out.
Many flags surmounted the top.
Great care must have been taken in
selecting the evergreen. The ground
work of the arches was dark green
while the edges were light green, new
growth. On each side of the corridor
thirty feet from the ground was a
frieze, four feet wide, extending the
whole length, composed of very dark
green foliage, forming fine contract.
The whole was masterpiece of
art. We were blockaded near it for
some time, SO had an opportunity to
observe it.
The effect at night under the daz-
zling rays of the electric lights was
very beautiful. The railway station
was artistically decorated, the posts
twined with green and the ceiling
| festooned with ropes of evergreen in
| terwoven with roses, nasturtium and
other flowers. An arch short
distance from the station was about
seventy feet high, as perfect as
though trees had grown to that
height and been drawn together at
the top. Several feet from the
ground was cross-piece, above which
were two upright pieces reaching to
the arch above. On the cross piece
was a tablet with the motto in
chrysanthemums. "Receiving His
Majesty" On the structure were
many flags and electric lights. Short
ly after the Emperor had passed this
arch fell before heavy wind. No
one was injured. 1t was pity it could
not have remained until the arrival of
the Empress the next day, the 3lst.
The other arches were similar to the
one just described. The building of
the Department of Justice, yet un-
finished and occupying one whole
block, was surrounded by high
board fence covered with cloth, and
the entire length festooned with a
rope of evergreen wound with red and
white and adorned with many flags.
The draping of number of large
flags over the gateways was particu
larly noticeable.
In the evening we went to see the
illumination and fireworks; we were
we'll paid. We first went to the Gin
"a, the principal business street of
Tokyo. Rows of red and white Jap
anese lanterns were hung the whole
length of the street on each side, and
many stores had several rows on their
fronts. Lanterns on ropes were fes-
TONED across the streets, flags we're
crossed at Intervals; the effect was
charming. All was life and gayety.
The side streets also were bright with
lanterns and flags. Again we visited
the Arcade of Triumph which was
very beautiful with its illumination
and the effect of the motto surround
ed by fifty gas jets, all lighted, was
fine. The fireworks were varied and
interesting.
We passed under the Sakurada
arch through the great gateway lead
ing to the palace grounds. We were
now in an open space for short dis
lance, but still saw the lights of the
kavqumaya bobbing here and there in
all directions. The palace and
grounds are hid from view by high
walls surrounded by moat. The
bridge crossing the moat as well as
the park was brilliantly lighted. A
soldier with fixed bayonet paced back
and forth at the entrance of the
bridge, across which was stretched
rope to keep the crowd in check. In
the distance were buildings decorated
with hundreds of red lanterns. AS
we came to them we found one to be
a large bank building the other an
unfinished building; both had num-
Der of rows of lanterns at the top Of
them. Across the street were
stretched many ropes hung with lam
terms. These buildings were long
distance from the center of the city
in an open space, hence they attract
ed much attention. The crowd was
large, though not so dense as in the
afternoon. 1t was announced that the
Empress would return the next day.
1t seemed strange to us that they did
not come together, as they came from
the same place, but the ways of the
country are very different from ours.
We thought there would be but few
out to welcome her; but we found the