Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-12

years ago and carrying spears, bows AM
arrows ana other arms Of tho Same date
bearing lacquered benches ana stools o
skins Of 1eoparis tigers. wolves or SOM
other animal for him, which was spreat
upon the ground when the great man de
These composed the escort Of the offer
ings. which were Enclosed In two beautifu
| wooden boxes about two feet square
trimmed with white ribbon and garlands o
| flowers They were carried suspended
| from poles in the Chinese style by retainer!
in ancient livery. and they relieved eacf
tained the usual offerings of rice. cakes and
fruit, and sums Of money for the benen'
| OF the temple and the priests and the poor
Behind the boxes we're two peau'itui , Wnits
| trappings Of brocade and enameled ieatner
trimmed with silver and gold ornaments
| These horses were for the use o! the EN-.
peror and the prince Imperial hao lney
| been present to participate in the ceremony
| and the ladies of the imperial house Wouio
| have been conveyed to the temple ia "a
| enormous cart made OF lacquereo c eants Of
brass 1t was drawn by a gigantic "a,
and two extra animals were led IN the rear
according to the ancient custom ~ ~ vs arv
old and in ancient times. carried many
generations of expresses and princesses ~ y
this and other ceremonies. AltnOusn nons
of the ladies OF the imp rear It is Gus
te fo ~ them to attend, and. like all
others who participate, they app eor,;iv 200
costumes worn by the Imperial la ranv,ns
wears ago. These costumes are semu nro
and have been handed down from gen. 10
tion to generation and preserved VIZ 70
greatest care in the kura or nrepiooA
house In the imperial park
Clad in Ancient Armor.
Surrounded by an escort OF nohol -
.,..;.r ~ da,mvos and samauri, wearing
ono;ont ormor and ceremonial robes. ana
bearing ancient arms. came NisoouA'
Iic,rote Kiochu the emperor's messenger
an borseha ok and Immediately behind MIN
was borne an enormous umDrela, not
than nine or ten feet in diameter: nun
garlands of artificial flowers two OF tnree
Yards long. There were several or tness
umbrellas in the procession, put their s's
nificance was not explained.
The remainder of the procession was
made I'D of soldiers, pages, servants ana
citizens, all clad in ancient costumes. many
of them made Of beautiful brocades anu
embroidered silks. The column Houho
slowly through the stately grove that sur
rounds the shrine until the gate and the
twin japonica trees were reached. When II
divided. The first half of the procession
moved forward into the temple, a1ter the
high priest, while the ambassador and MS
escort waited without the gates with the
off ,rings and the guards. After the priests
had disappeared within the temple walls
the formal ceremony began. A messenger
of high rank was sent to- formally NOTIFY
the high priest that an ambassador from
the mikado had arrived, and when he re-
turned he was accompanied by represen-
tative of the high priest, to bid the guest
welcome, and invite him to enter. Slowly,
stately and with the long stride peculiar to
heavy tragedians, the ambassador moved
toward the temple. followed by his escort,
so many PAGES apart. to the right and the
1rft ,,,I h. Lo,,I - v.;r II, 1.0<1
melancholy tune without much music
but their performance completed the pic
ture and added to the solemnity Of the
scene Arriving at the inner gate the am
baSSador was received by a priest in gor-
geous robes, who bowed and bowed and
ed again. and led the imperial guest to
the open pavilion in the center of a quad
rangle surrounded by temples and shrines
self in the center while the offerings were
placed in front of the pavilion one on
either side surrounded by their guards
Plenty Of "Kowtows."
After everything was arranged and every
body was quiet the ambassador made the
kcWtoW five times. touching his forehead
to the floor Of the pavilion. then arose, took
from his breast a scroll and, in low tones
which nobody but himself could hear read
the Imperial message and returned to his
seat, repeating the kowtow.
The high priest appeared at the door of
the temple about forty feet across the
quadrangle, and read a formal reply. The
bearers of the wooden boxes then carried
them to the temple door, where they were
received by as many priests. The ambassa-
dor. stepping down slowly from the pavil-
lon. followed them through the gates and
disappeared with his escort. The attend
ants and other who had formed the pro-
cession made themselves as comfortable as
possible about the place. They were shown
into the surrounding buildings, where their
everyday garments were awaiting them,
and as soon as they could make the change
they Joined the crowd outside who were
eating, drinking and having good time. 1t
has been customary for centuries to have
horse race after the ceremonies on this
anniversary. A short course not more
than quarter of q mile long, Is fenced
off with bamboo poles and young men from
the farms in the Eeighborhood ride their
ponies for prizes. The mikado's ambassa-
dor. with the provincial and municipal off,
Gals. in the meantime is entertained at a
banquet by the priests In one of the build
ings attached to the temples.
AS have already intimated. these cere-
monies were attended with more than usual
pomp and solemnity this year. The display
of ancient armor and costumes was larger
and more gorgeous than usual, the process
sion was longer. the crowd was greater
and more enthusiastic.