The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-04

interested in the matter, and the cos
tunes are being made by the imperial
dressmakers in the palace of her Majesty
The cutting and fitting is largely under
the direction of the noble ladies of the
court, the sewing being done by the
workwomen The hats and bonnets are
being made by her Majesty's own MILL
ners, and great part Of the rousseau
will be of japanese materials. At the
same time many things are being i'm
ported from Paris, London, and Berlin,
so that altogether the brides outfit will
be something wonderful even for these
times
As to its cost no one can tell. Prince
Kujo himself is not very rich, but he has
given his daughter 10000 yen, or $4,000,
for the purpose and to this the Emperor
has added 400,O00 more. This sum is equal
to about $4,000 in gold, and it certainly
should be enough to cover the expense of
the imperial orange blossoms. If it
should not the Princess can draw further
on his Majesty, for he has just directed
that a present of 100000 yen, equal to
$350,000 in gold. be given to her out of the
estate of the late Empress Dowager, who
was her aunt. This makes her allowance
for trousseau. pin money, ETC.. consider
ably more than half a million in gold,
and she certainly should be able to buy
some pretty things for that.
As to presents, starting out with those
from his Majesty, the imperial bridal
couple will have no end of them. They
will come in every shape and form from
all parts of the empire and from high and
low. There will be cranes and turtles Of
solid gold and solid silver without num-
Der. These things are emblematic of
longevity and are very common as we'd
ding gifts in Japan. The poor will give
as well as the rich, and if the Prince and
Princess are anything like the Emperor,
and Empress they will be delighted to
receive any expression from even the
poorest of their subjects.
In the meantime a brand new house IS
being erected for his Imperial Highness
and the two can begin their housekeeping
with everything spick and span at the
start The ground has already been brok-
en-, and the materials are being prepared.
The new home will, however be some
thing more than the dove cote of the av-
erage newly married pair. 1t will be
three stories high, and will cover three
acres, or almost as much ground as our
Capitol at Washington, 1t will cost about
million and half dollars in gold. The
architects and designers have been work
ing on II for some time, and they have
made the plans of palace which is like
no other in the world
1t is a combination of foreign and Jap
anese architecture, constructed with a
view of withstandig tho earthquakes
which are so common in Japan. Its
framework is to be of steel and iron, so
fitted together that it cannot break. The
stel and ironwork is now being made at
Plttsburg, the architect having recently
returned from the United States, where
he went to place the orders for its con-
struction. 1 am told that about 1000 tons
of steel and ironwork have already been
ordered, and that it is almost ready for
shipment. 1t will be transported by rail
to the Pacific and thence by steamer to
japan.
The Prince Imperial has for several
years had his own establishment entirely
separate and apart from that of the EN-
peror. He has his own servants and sec
retaries, and holds, in fact a little court
of his own. He will probably take his
bride to his present palaces and live
there until the new palace is complete.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.