The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-06-07
NUPTIALS OF
JAPAN'S PRINCE
An Imposing Ceremony w iii
Marks a Stride Forward
In Civilization.

YOKOHAMA, May 13.-The event of
the week. observed with great rejoicing
| throughout the Empire has been the
Imperial wedding, which was celebrated
at the capital on the 10th inst. Not since
the extraordinary display of Japanese pa
triotism on the day of the pronunciation
OF the Constitution, with perhaps the ain
gle exception of the return of the Emper-
OF after the victorious Chinese campaign
mas there been such manifestation of
loyalty to the imperial house. Apart from
the merely official Importance of the
event, the popularity of the Prince Inoe-
rial, and the virtues of the bride so ftly
CHOSEN for him touched the peoples hearte
| TO an unusual degree and impaired to the
occasion much of the same human inter
est as that which was called forth by the
jubilee OF England's venerated Queen
with every possible manifestation of re-
)oicing the profuse decorations of the
/ city, nearly every house over its vast
area, as large that of London being
adorned with flags and lanterns; the as
seInbIage of the finest vessels of the new
I Meet In the bay to greet the newly we'd
ded pair by Imperial salute; the gath
erlng or all the highest dignitaries of the
I
foreigners alike; everything combined to
make the day, upon which the sun shone
primarily, one long to be remembered in
the annals of Japan.
The ceremony itself to which great .ie
nificance is attached as being complete
innovation upon the usual Imperial Gus
IONS, TOOK place in the Imperial sanctu-
airy at the palace. Clothed in the old
time ceremonial robes the Prince led bv
the Grand Master of Ceremonies and fol-
lowed by Chamberlain bearing the Sa-
| cred Sword: the Princess conducted by q
Master OF Ceremonies and supported by
two Maids of Honor, approached the Inn
periaf shrines, made together an Offering
| or evergreen branches. The Prince recit-
ed the marriage ritual, and then both par
| took of the sacred sake" At this mo-
ment the thirteen great warshipS an
chored in the bay fired the Imperial sa-
/ lute or lOl guns. This elaborate ceremo-
NAL is commented upon by the native
press as of great significance, inasmuch
as II enhances for the whole nation the
sanctity of the marriage rite. The old
custom of the Imperial house required
nothing but public announcement that
a certain lady had been gazetted to the
/ post of Imperial consort 1t is now uni
Versally recognized that by the enormous
influence of Imperial example, not only
/ mas the marriage rite been made more
sacred than ever before, but also an i'm
mense gain to the cause of public moral
! ity has been assured and the position of
woman raised to a height never before
| known in an Oriental country. 1t was
i
! the constitution that for the first time in
| Japanese history the Emperor and EN-
| press rode side by side in one carriage
| Great was the Significance and infin-
| ence of that fact in the elevation of the
sex, IL may be deemed as of minor i'm
portance compared with the far-reaching
effect which this later innovation will
/ nave upon the future status of woman
| throughout the Empire. japan NAV well
| be considered as having by this taken a
greater step forward on the path of civil
! lization than any which has hitherto
| marked her extraordinary progress.
Hancock at Yokohama.
On the 10th inst. the United States
transport Hancock arrived here most I'M
expectedly, having on board the United
states Philippine Commission. They will
remain until the 18th inst. and then pro-
| coed to Manila via Kobe and Nagasaki
The personnel of the Commission has al
ready made most favorable impression
and the opinion is freely expressed that
IL Is made up of material which will en-
| sure its success in its difficult task. As
| that task is generally recognized to be
| far more difficult and complicated than
! any or all the duties devoIving upon the
| Presidential chair at Washington, very
! naturally the greatest interest is direct
ed toward the head of the Commission
| upon whom the chief responsibility
rests. 1t is needless to say that Judge
! Taft. as far as first Impressions go, more
than fulfils the expectations which had
every one with his ability and strength
of character, well as with his most
attractive geniality. Arrangements are
already being made for an Imperial au-
dience of the Commission, who are of
course, In the meantime, the recipients
OF many private attentions and courte-
sizes.
Among the many honors bestowed on
| the occasion of the Imperial wedding,
! there are two which will specially inter
| est Americans, the recipients being wide
w known In the United States One IS
the elevation to the peerage of Kentaro
| kaneko, who recently had the honor of
| being the first Japanese to receive the de-
| gree OF LID. from Harvard University.
He Will now be known Baron Kaneko
| The other 10 that bestowed upon the
| eminent educator, Mr. Fakugawa
the Thomas Arnold of Japan. Ven
Grated by the people almost as another
! Gladstone his wish to remain a common
! @r was respected by the Emperor, who
in lieu of a peerage. bestowed upon him
| a gift of $4,000 yen.
Arrested as a Spy.
| The Japanese press has lately been
| expressing Indignation over a rpDOrf hat