Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-09-19
A FEAST or LANTGRN&
Uniqus Festival on Sacred Island
In japan.

OniQue Festival On a Sacred Island
In japan.
One drowsy noon the town Crier came
to the door, clapped two pieces Of wood
together. and in a long chant besought
oil people Of Miyajima to come to the
temple for "speak meeting" at two
o'clock that day and for the FIVE sue.
ceeding days, to hear read the 0fficial
news from the army In Corea. We sent
our agent to listen for us, and our err
ratio and only 1nudzuka returned
breathless, to tell, in excited Japanese.
English and jnrgon. Of the victory OF
the Hello. We had intended to make
farewell Offering to the temple to &c.
cure an illumination as a fitting close
TO our stay In Arcadia, and here was
IN opportunity. In the shortest time
1nudzua was speeding bnck to the TEN.
pie to beseech the high priest to have
the thousand oil saucers Of the lanterns
filed at once. the illumination to begin
ut dusk, without waiting for the mid
night high tide.
The priests shook their heads &i such
an lrregularity, such disregard Of an.
Client customs on short notice. But
this Is an American matsuri, and In
honor Of the Hello! How can you say
you have any custom for such IN lllu.
mination? And when did you ever II.
Illuminate at any tide for n battle won
In COreaT And the high priest said.
"Surely, surely! Yes; for Beikoku
(America) and the Hello we can do It."
And the circle of eagle-eyed, excited
priests sprang delightedly to begin
preparations.
Our Joyous sendo was Mt the temple
steps with the sampan as usual before
the sunset hour and he had not pushed
Of until he let us know that the village
was agog ut the double news Of victory
and the honorable illumination. We
could see the lay brothers all along
shore filling the oil saucers, laying
wicks, and pasting fresh papers on the
tall stone lamps; and when we scullcd
back, long after sunset. lights had be-
gun to twinkle under the temple caves.
A lantern came forth and went bobbing
along the water-line, stopped mo.
ment, and second light shone forth,
then third and q fourth, and SO on
along shore. ~ the lamplightcr went
his way.
Soon the whole curvlng bay from
headland to headland was outlined In
living lights that cleaned double and
wavered In long reflections toward 10:
and the temple was great set piece OF
fireworks, each shrine sun goddess
| glowing cave, with the many -jeweled
pyramids Of votive candles. The spec.
tacle lasted In full splendor for more
than IN hour. the villagers focking
along shore, trooping through the tenn.
pie galleries. and drifting about IN
boats to watch the splendid spectacle.
Then lights dropped out here. and there,
and the glow Of the rising moon made
the armament pale; but even when the
shore line was lost In darkness, Itsuku'
shima's inner shrine by the seq was still
aglow with votivc lights.
The next morning the village oflicerl
called ito thank your spirit" In celebrat.
Ing Japan's victories; the high priest
sent sacred gift papers filed with rice,
and asked for the honorable names In
full. that they might be written among
the temples contributors; and when we
went to the village every one bowed
and made pretty speeches about the
American matsuri. Weeks later Toxic
artist wrote In his quaint little idiom
TINT he had heard Of my "favorably
presenting great deal Of money to the
temple. praying for the war, and light.
ed the thousand lamps Of Miyajima for
the war. seen II In our Japanese news
papers" Surely never did one obtain
80 much pleasure and glory by IN ex'
penditure Of four yen 1.-TWO dollars IN
United Statcs gold).-Century.