Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-22


versally admired for her goodness and her
graces, has never been a mother, much to
her sorrow and to the regret of her sub
jects. But the emperor has had fifteen
children by his concubnes and they are all
legitimate under the laws of Japan. Most
of them died in their infancy-two on the
day of their birth. one lived nine months,
two thirteen months, one eleven months
one fourteen months, two eighteen months
and one d little more than two years. Five
OF them nave been sons and four of them
were born of the Countess Yanagiwara
mother of the prince imperial. She is
daughter of Count Yanagiwara, who lives
In Iokyo, Is an active member of the house
OF peers and very highly respected. The
countess who became a concubine in 1875
having been selected by the prvy council,
Is said to be a very accomplished and m
tellectual woman, although she is never
seen in public. Her first son died on the
day of his birth; her second lived from Sep
TENDER to July: her third son. Yoshihito
prince imperial and her apparent was
born August 81, 1879, and was proclaimed
November 3, 1887.
Under the constitution of Japan the en-
peror is allowed to nominate his own sue
cessor, who must be of royal blood but not
necessarily his own son nor the son of the
empress The prince imperial was such a
feeble child and his tenure of life was SO
uncertain that for several years it was ex-
pected that Prince Arisugawa, a second
cousin of the emperor, and a little Older
than the prince imperial. would be pro-
claimed. In 1878. preliminary step,
Arisugawa was actually adopted by the
emperor as his own son, but when Yosh-
hito was about nine years old his mother
had influence enough to secure his recogni-
ton, and since then he has grown some
what in strength and health, and, although
by no means as vigorous as the average
young man OF his years, no further anxiety
IS 1eit ABOUT the succession, particularly as
he has two lusty boys of his Own-Hirohito
born April %, 1901, and Yasuhito born June
% 1902.
The Crown Princess.
Their mother is the Princess Sadako,
daughter of Prince Kujo Michitaka. to
whom the prince imperial was married Nav
TO- 1900. She is a strong, healthy woman,
was educated at the School for Peeresses
In Tokyo and was one of the brightest girls
In her class. She talks. reads and writes
English and French huently is Quite
progressive in her ideas and fond of foreign
society. Some of her most intimate friends
are young ladies of the foreign circle In
iokyo. Her two sons are being brough.
up by the Count and Countess Kawamura
guardians appointed by the privy council
who will probably have charge of them I'M
III they are twelve years Old when accord
ing to custom, they will be placed under me
is said to have objected to this proceeding
and insisted upon her right and Competency
10 prlng up her own children but the ETH
quette and custom of the court are inexora-
pic. II she had been a concubine she might
nave enjoyed the privileges of mother like
the Countess Yanagiwara, who was not sep.
arated from the prince imperial until he
was twelve years old. but according to
the japanese idea, the future empress is too
exalted and important a parsonage to take
charge of children.
She is entitled to and has received the
gratitude of the nation. She relieved A
dilemma, which caused the ministry and the
privy council great concern, by presenting
the ma ton with a healthy candidate for the
throne, and as matter of precaution the
Following year she furnished an understudy
equally strong and vigorous and now a
sturdy little youngster two years old"
Princes are always bright and brave
Princesses are always beautiful and accom-
plished, by courtesy, but in this case l am
told. there is no question about 1t. People
who have seen the emperor's grandsons de-
clare that they are two of the finest boys
ever born OF course this is great gratifca-
ton to him, because of the lamentable NOR
tally among his own offspring for only five
of the fifteen are living. follows:
Prince Imperial Yoshohito Haru-no-miya
born of the Countess Yanagiwara. August
81, 1879.
Princess Massage Tsune- no mya, born of
the Princess Sono. September 80 1883.
Princess Fusako kaneno- miya. born of
Princess Nobuko Fumi-no- miya. born of
the Countess Chigusa, August 8, 1891
Princess Akiko Hasu-no miya born of the
Princess sono May H. 1896.
The Princesses.
The princesses are said to be quite at
tractive girls, although the public sees very
little of them. Sometimes they appear
with the empress upon occasions of cere-
mony, but they are kept practically in Sc
clusion. People who spend the summer
months at Nikko see more of them than the
residents of the capital because about the
middle of June each year they are taken
to that most beautiful of all places. and
remain there until the middle of October
occupying small palace belonging to the
imperial family which stands among the
temples for which Nikko is so famous 1t
is not pretentious place. On the con-
trary, the house is comparatively small
and the grounds are quite limited, but the
climate is the healthiest in Japan, the sur
roundngs are most attractive, and the
young ladies are allowed liberties there
which they could not enjoy in the city.
They take daily walks and drives with their
chaperons and governesses, and. like any
other girls, are allowed to wander among
the wonderful forests that surround Nikko.
AS there only two roads suitable for a
carriage in the neighborhood. people who
have the curiosity to see the daughters of
the mikado can easily do so any afternoon.
dress in European costume, are familiar
with English and French. and have all the
modern accomplishments. Usually their
mothers are allowed to spend the summer
with them.
The Prince Imperial.
Everybody speaks well of the prince inn
peral, as young of liberal views
and progressive tendencies. He has been
carefully educated by men of broad ideas
and has been especially trained for the re-
sponsibilities which he will some time have
to assume For four years he attended the
Mobiles School in Tokyo, and had the adj
vantage of coming into contact with other
boys. but his health was poor and there
was so much concern about him that he
was taken home and placed under the care
of commission of physicians and military
officers, who have completed his education
He has had a sepai ate establishment from
his father ever since he fifteen years
old with chamberlains. gentlemen-in-wait-
ing, aids de camp and other attaches, and
has lived upon a military plan. When he
was nine years old he was appointed an en-
sign in the imperial bodyguard, and has
since gradually been promoted to major
He is a captain in the navy, although he
has never served aboard a ship or COM
nanded a company of troops. He has also
received all the decorations that can be
conferred by the emperor.