Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-02-12
JAPANESE BITES.
Frederick vfIIiers Describes Funerals After
the Battle of Ping-1ang.


Frederick vfIliers Describes Funerals After
the Battle of Ping-Iang.
Many of the sick and wounded who
die are cremated. Their ashes are col
lected, placed IN small square boxes. in
TERED for time in the little cemetery
outside the foreign settlement at Che
mulpo, and after awhile exhumed and
sent to Japan The ceremony l beheld
in Chemulpo after the fight at Ping
Yang was not impressive or solemn, but
simply curious. Eighty bodies had been
cremated in various parts Of the country
and forwarded to the treaty port In small
boxes. These were placed in two large,
black cases at the hospital, and preceded
by a motley group of coolies, citizens
and soldiers were carried to the burial
plot.
First came coolies with branches OF
foliage and white streamers in their
hands. Then a few soldiers, marching
with reversed arms. Immediately pre-
ceding the black cases was Shinto
priest in yellow kimono and black
gauze shake Round his neck was
purple cord, at the end of which hung a
fan. In his right hand was flute, which
from time to time as the procession
wendell its way he footed on, producing
an inharmonious sound which reminded
me of my own attempts on that instru-
ment when boy. The coolies, the fol-
lowers and the lockers on seemed to
treat the whole thing more as good
joke than a solemn function and chat
ted and laughed to their hearts content
Arrived at the cemetery, the process
sion halted before the altar, on which
were placed bottles of sali, fruits, eggs
and birds of various kinds, including a
live rooster Behind this hospitable
board were placed the remains of the so
bodies. The Shinto priest, who stood
alone before the edibles, stretched out
his hands and made several passes with
his fan in the direction of the rooster,
groaned aloud, then clapped his hands
three times, after which he INDUCED a
little ON the flute. Then he groaned
again, Strengthened himself, retired a
few PAGES, took several PAGES to the left
and right, then advanced again, groaned
and footed He then requested by a
sign one of the mourners to advance and
take his place.
He then handed one of the branches
of foliage to the gentleman and retired.
The mourner proceeded to lay the branch
on small table in front of the altar,
then saluted and moved away to allow
another mourner TO take his place.
When all the branches were piled ON
the table, the black cases were opened
and the small square boxes taken out by
the coolies and carefully inferred. The
Shinto priest retired to the bosom of his
family, with the saki bottle, the live
rooster and the rest of tho chow. In lieu
of tombstones. the Japs use, when cam
paignfng small wooden posts to mark
the resting place Of their dead. Fred
erick Villiers.
A game with history of more than
400 years must necessarily have some
interesting records. Golf has been great
ly liked by kings. In the time of James
/ it was generally practiced by all
classes. The unfortunate Charles ! was
devoted to golf. While on visit III
Scotland in 164l as he was deeply en-.
gagged in a game news was brought him
Of the breaking out of rebellion in Ire
land, and the royal golfer threw down
his club and retired in great agitation
to Holyrood House When he was inn
prisoned at Newcastle. his keeper kind
~ permitted him to take recreation on
the golfing links with his train. 1t is
said that Mary. queen of Scots. was seen
playing golf in the field beside Seaton
a few days after the murder of her hus-
band. In 1887 magnificent gold medal
was presented to St. Andrews by Will
liam w, to be played for annually. One
of the earlier kings forbade the impor-
tation of golf balls from Holland be-
cause it took away ma small quantitie
of gold and silver out Of the kingdome
of Scotland. and at one time ''golfe
and futeball and other Improbable
games" were forbidden in England be-
cause archery, SO necessary in the de-
Tense of the nation. was being neglect
ed in their favor Exchange.