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


tie ones should see everything. Now
and then we saw small boy with
baby upon his back, who looked as
though he needed some one to look
after him; perhaps the baby would
be fast asleep, with its little head
over SO far one side that it looked as
if its neck would break. 1t seems
cruel way to carry child, but on
second thought you consider that it
is the way they sleep great deal of
the time, beginning when tiny babies.
They would miss the continual mo-
ton they receive on the back of the
little brother or sister 1t still aston
ishes me how the children can run,
jump, fish, play and be SO happy with
J the heavy burdens upon their backs.
There were many vendors going
about among the crowd. Some had
boxes containing large piece of ice
from which he clipped off bits as the
customers called for them; others
sold shaved ice, sweetened and col
ored bright rose; still Others had
stick across their shoulders from
which hung two wooden trays filed
with rice and bean cakes made in very
many shapes and colors. Booths were
erected along the way reminding us
of Fourth Of July celebration at
home. The booths we're decorated
with lanterns, flags and evergreens in
very attractive manner. Many re-
freshing drinks were for sale. Tea
houses were numerous. A Japanese
must have his tea. The places where
cakes and sweetmeats were sold were
inviting. They display great deal
of taste in moulding and coloring the
cakes and displaying them to the
best advantage.
There was a stir among the crowd;
we knew now was the time to give
our attention to the approaching pro-
cession. The advance guard with
lances appeared first. A mighty
shout, Banzai! Bonzai! arose, which,
addressed to the Emperor, means,
live ten thousand years; live forever.
The imperial carriage was landau.
On each side of the drivers seat was
large chrysanthemum of gold which
sparkled brilliantly in the sun; over
the front seat was thrown a scarlet
robe heavily embroidered in gold.
The Emperor sat very quietly in his
carriage, dressed in his military uni
form. We were not near enough to
distinguish his features clearly, but
he looked better than his pictures.
More guards; then came the mem
bers of the Cabinet and Parliament.
The procession was long and impos-
ing. The officials were all dressed in
foreign style. The soldiers ranged
along the way fell into line as the
procession passed. Some of them
looked quite gay in their red trousers.
black jackets trimmed with red, and
black caps with red bands. They
were all dressed in foreign style. Not
face was to be seen in the upper
windows, or on the verandas, of auy
of the houses, until after His Imper-
ial Majesty had passed. No one is
allowed to look down upon the EN-
peror, but as soon as he had passed
they were thronged with happy faces
and bright dresses. The cheers kept
resounding all along the line.
We had been hearing explosions
for some time, but supposed it was
the firing of guns as salutes. AS we
changed our pc ition we noticed
clouds floating in the air. As we
watched them we saw them burst in
to smaller ones, assuming many fam
tastic shapes, followed by sharp re-
port. We then knew it was daylight
fireworks or smoke works. We were
much interested. The last one sent
out a pail of fire which floated about
for few moments. We joined the
moving crowd and soon were in the
thick of it, and were approaching the
Triumphal Arcade. 1t was very
beautiful and appeared like a grand
cathedral of living green. The frame
work was of cedar and bamboo poles
entirely covered with evergreen
boughs. 1t was situated not far from
the parliament building in a main
thoroughfare at the intersection of
two streets. The width of the street
may be imagined, when l give the
dimension of the Arcade, and say that
on both sides was wide roadway.
The length of the Arcade was 800 feet,
width 30 feet. The two end arches
were exactly alike, about sixty feet
high, being solid arch of green with
handsome design browning it. Over
the entrance two flags were crossed,