The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-10
MIKADO FOND OF WOMEN.
Lets His Wife Sit at Table with Him.
Something No other Japanese Has
Ever Done.
Tokyo Letter Philadelphia Press.

Ever OOnts
Tokyo Letter Philadelphia Press.
While the United States inhabitants
are celebrating the Inauguration of the
President their japanese cousins are pre-
pairing for their great national holiday
The Sd of April commentaries the access
sion of Jimmu, the first emperor, who
formed the Japanese empire $500 years be-
fore Christ.
On that day the emperor. Mitsu-Hitu,
will complete a column of verses contain
ing 5000 couplets, all composed since the
last feast of Jimmu, and will lay down
his pen and bow his head to receive his
laurels as the greatest poet under the
sun.
The feast of Jimmu will this year be the
greatest japanese anniversary ever cele-
brated. 1t will be out of compliment to
the mikado 'the feast of women" for it
is women whom he has striven to benefit.
The Japanese emperor throughout the
fortg-six years of his life has made
speciality of women and their advance
ment, and with such wisdom has he con-
dueted this his lifelong hobby that on
his death his birthday will probably pass
into a national feast of women" holiday.
In the absence of such a day regularly
established Jimmu will this year be de-
voted principally to clarifying the en-
peror.
And what has he done? The mikado was
the first man, royal or otherwise, to cele-
brate a silver wedding in Japan. On the
occasion Of the twenty-fifth anniversary
of his marriage he ordered that a great
feast and rejoicing take place. People
were invited and gifts in silver were rep
scented. Never before had a Japanese en-
press been so honored.
The mikado is also the first japanese
ruler who allowed his wife to sit on his
throne with him. Mitsu-Hitu not only al
nvvn hui fvef let Cd hot .-l,.o
main by his side and he has frequently
deferred to her in matters of judgment
In 1889 he declared himself no longer alb
solute monarch of Japan. He established
a constitutional government with par
lament" or congress" and asked as
sistance in governing his people. He is
said to have done this because he no
ticed that women were afraid of absolute
monarchs and did not enjoy their society
as they did those of less arbitrary tastes.
Another thing done by the emperor was
the establishment of the woman's hospital
in Akasaka, Tokyo. He made the en-
press the patroness and takes great pride
in maintaining it in the most scientific
manner. 1t has wards free to the poor as
well as pay wards for wealthy people.
The emperor, while wishing to benefit
women as a sex, is very fond of them per-
sonally. He has his standards of beauty
and desires his favorites and the women
one thing he disiikes the stained teeth
and shaver eyebrows of the Japanese wo-
men, and has compelled the empress to
whiten her teeth and allow her eyebrows
to grow This style is spreading through
out Japan until you may look among the
better class for long time without see
ing the blackened teeth and defective eye
brows OF fifty years ago.
The emperor is fond of athletics for
women He has placed a gymnasium in
the palace. and has purchased a riding
habit for the empress. She was the first
woman in Japan to ride horseback.
When the dowager empress died in FeD-
ruary the emperor expended 100000 bury
ing her, and so elaborate were the cere-
monies that they lasted two whole days
The emperor is the first japanese who
had his wife sit down at his own table
Mikado and princess eat opposite one an
other and are served with the same dishes
and eat the same food.
Noticing that a Distinguished and beau
tiful American woman visiting japan ate
with a knife and fork. her majesty learned
TO use these implements, and now his
English dinners" are served with knife
and fork His usual diet, though, is taken
with the chopsticks of the orient.
on this occasion he also noticed the SUI
perlor hight of American women, and on
inouiring the cause was told that 1t was
tians. without committing himself In so
many words his majesty intimated that a
few extra inches added TO the stature Of
the women OF Japan would not injure their
beauty and lamented that the Buddhists
prohibit fish and flesh, thus giving his
court TO understand that an infringement
OF the laws would not cause their Instant
dismissal This was undoubtedly provls-
ion OF his majesty for future generations.
FOR 4 Is several centuries before the stunt
ing effects OF a lack-meat diet are over
come.
THE emperor Is the greatest living pa
iron OF the japanese arts. Learning that
a great deal Of poor trash was being exc
ported from japan as japanese works
Of art' aud hearing that women Of other