The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-02
MIkADO has NINE WIVES.
Only One of Them Has Any Social
Rank.


Mutsuhito, the emperor of Japan, is
popularity supposed to have only one
wife, the empress, to whom he was mar
ried in 1863. AS a matter of fact, he
has, or has had, nine wives. OF these,
however, eight are merely concubiness
or cOnsorts, having no social rank and
not figuring in any way in the court
ceremonies. They were selected for him
by the imperial council from among the
first families Of the nation. The en-
peror himself, in theory at least, had
nothing to say about it.
Referring to these plural wives, W. E
Curtis, in his book, THE Yankees of the
East" says: They seem to be a sort
of guaranty that there shall be an heir
to the throne, as their children are
recognized as of full standing in the
royal pedigree, and the present heir ap-
parent is the son Of one of them. They
are selected because of their pure blood,
their health and beauty and sometimes
for political reasons, for it is considered
the highest distinction that can be con-
ferred upon a women in Japan-to be
empress is only nObler- The left hand
ed wives of the emperor often WELD a
tremendous political influence, for obvi-
GUS reasons, and their relatives are
supposed to profit thereby. They live in
the greatest luxury, are surrounded by
multitudes of attendants, and except for
their omission in the court codes of
them. they stand equal to the empress
herself"
The emperor, according to the same
authority, has had II children, of whom
only four, three girls and one boy, are
/ living. The Countess Sono was the
| mother of four children, the Countess
Chigusa and the Countess Yanagiwara
of three each and Nine. Hashunato
and Nine. Hamuro of one child each.
WOshihito, the prince imperial, is the
son of Countess Yanagiwara, who be
came one of the emperor's concubines
in 1875. She is the daughter of Count
L "a lsa r7TTrlr n ffad oft IF
Tokyo, and is said to be a woman of
ability.
Before her marriage the empress was
| Princess 1arukO, daughter of Prince
Ichijo. This man was of noble ances-
try and had taken an active part IN
| the revolution against the tycoons. The
marriage was popular and the empress
/ is today the idOl of the japanese peo-
pie. She is 81 ch less exclusive than
| the emperor. Is democratic and pro-
gressive in her ways and is much in
| terested in e1uca tional and charitable
affairs. She has had no children.
years old and the emperor two years
younger. She IS described as deli
cate and slender woman, with a. long,
thin face. pointed chin and fat fea.-
lures. Like most of her country wo-
/ men she uses cosmetics freely and
these do not enhance her beauty in the
| eyes of foreigners.
| Ernest w. Clement in "A Handbook
of Modern Japan" says of the en-
/ press:
.sshe was brought I'D in the old
fashioned way. but she is IN hearty
sympathy with the ideals of New
/ Japan. As she has no children of her
own she has adoDted the entire na-
ton and completely won their love;
she is indeed. the mother of millions.
/ She is especially interested in educa-
/ tionaI and benevolent institutions; she
\ is the active patron of the peeresses'
school, the university for women, the
| Red Cross society and other philan-
thropic enterprises. In times of calam-
/ ity her purse is always opened for q
/ liberal contribution to the suffering"
Haru No Miya Yoshihito, the prince
| imperial was born August 81, 1879, and
was proclaimed heir to the throne in
1887. IN May, 1900, he was married to
! Princess Sada. daughter Of Prince Flu