The Portland daily press., 1896-12-19
THE MIKAOO'S WIFE.
Her Intere st in Everything That Concerns
ss5 the Nation.

A refreshing little incident occurred
during their stay at their old home, the
palace of Kioto, says the Chautauquan.
Together they ram bled through the gar
dens, recalling their early days among
the familiar trees and scrubs and we are
told that the empress was invited to go
up the stairs Of the "shishinden," the
august audience hall, where the Inikado
of old used to administer public nffairs
and where no female had yet set foot.
1t is their daily custom to dine togeth-
er In the evening and undemonstrative as
we naturally are it is said That no sign is
wanting to show that they enjoy more
than their share of conjugal felicity. Re-
ports also say that there never was
woman truer to tho olds teachings sin ro-
spect to the womanly disposition and
demeanor.
Space would not allow us to narrate
even what little We know of the daily
life of the empress. Those who have had
the pleasure of seeing the suite of i'm
perial cham bers will be able to surmise
that there is more or less of compromise
between the foreign and native in the
sulye OF living in the imperial household.
The empress dowager alone chooses to
live in the old native style. 1t is said
that the empress has decidedly simple
tastes, both in matters of table and
wardrobe.
Having no children Earound her, one
would naturally think that the empress
would be lonely, yet she has great deal
to occupy her mind. She has her duties
toward the ladies Of the house, the least
of whom does not escape her gracious at
tention. The strict decornm of the court
however, excludes all but those OF noble
birth from being near her attendants.
She has always expressed intense inter
est in all that concerns the nation,
whether it be a question Of the years
rice crop or one Of momentous diplo-
matic issue. She therefore keeps herself
Informed on all important subjects. The
Japanese plenipotentiary, on the oocas-
| ion of the recent treaty notifications at
| Chez Foo, was given special audience
after his return. He is not the only per-
son who has been taken by surprise at
| the intelligent and sagaoious question
| ings of her majesty.
| Little need BIZ said about her literary
accomplishment Everybody knows that
| her special talent lies in the domain OF
| the national literature. One OF her
poems has been set to music and is sung
| BIZ school children all over the land.
Critics are agreed on the fact that her
style is decidedly classical. Very recently
beautiful composition in the form of a
dairy was made public. which Ia inter
| esting not only in point of literary value
but also on account Of the noble senti-
ments it expresses.
Her majesty has always assiduously
| patronizsd woman's education and there
have teen NO better incentives to am bi-
tious girls all over the empire than her
visits to the woman's high normal school
of Toxic.
Every body is so familiar with the nu-
merous deeds Of charity, by means OF
| which her majesty has set an example to
the women of the empire that only q
slight mention is necessary.
Her liberality toward the poor and dis
tressed is unbounded, whether manifest
ed in the form of smoney given to the
sufferers from fire and earthquake, Of
floss silk sent to tho freezing gsoldiers in
4 north China or in the shape OF bandagei
of her own rolling and the su bstitutes.fo'
4 amputated limbs given to native vster'
ans and Chinese captives.