The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-05

invaded the peace Of the ancient palace
On Aug 20, 1884, eohoing the guns Of Sumter
an assault was made by some 900 japanese
soldiery on the nine gated palace, and the
future sovereign smelled powder for the
first time
Scores were slain and nest OF the CITY
was reduced TO ashes. Three years later
on Feb. 3. Mutsuhito. on the death
OF his father, assembled the throne.
Over and over again the biggest men OF
Japan found that the young ruler was no
| puppet, no shadow on or Of n throne, but
a sovereign in fact IA well as name Con-
fronted by the dangers OF civil war and
even the loss of his throne, he addressed
himself TO emanoipating his people by
| governing his then thirty million subjects
in a new way.
This would have been impossible for a
ruler of such limited experience unaided
by powerful advisers. SO Japan honors
Okubu, KIDD, Saigo and Okuma as the
brain, the pen. the sword and trowel of the
restoration Of 1893.
They combined in drawing the young
man down from the clouds, 80 TO say, and
putting his feet firmly on earth. They
began by sending him to Osaka TO rec and
study the sea and ships, preparing con-
stitution that meant government by pub
lie opinion, moving the capital to Toxic,
quelling the rebellion, quashing feudalism
and inviting men Of learning TO Japan to
broaden the imperial as we'll as national
character and mind
After travelling a month from Kioto,
the Mikado arrived in Toxic on Nov. 20.
1860, date which marks the birth Of New
Japan.
Since then the Japanese have come to
regard Mutsuhito as son of heaven. 20
whom they accord more genuine reverence
than was ever shown his ancestors in the
days when II was suicide TO utter the i'm
perial name Yet II Ia as a man more than
as monarch that he commands such
remarkable loyalty.
But so great is the power OF tradition
that no gossip about the Mikado strays
into the contemporary public prints, any
and every criticism OF him being tacitly
forbidden by the Congress. Japanese chill
dren everywhere are taught In infancy to
revere him. and in the public schools, of
which there are thousands In Japan to-day,
they kowtow to portraits Of the Mikado
and Empress-portraits provided by the
lpf tIe purpose.
Specially jealous OF their sovereignties
are the Japanese in demanding that for
eigners show fitting respect 10 the royal
couple at the state functions in the various
palaces. One Of the unwritten laws il
that no one shall literally look down upon
the Mikado. This occasions deal of in
convenience to foreigners wishing to get
a good view Of his Majesty as he passes
through the capital.
As an instance, the Mikado recently was
calendared to attend the launching Of a
new battleshp at Osaka. As he was to
drive through the streets en- route to the
railway station, pacards were posted in
all the leading hotels frequented 10y for
eigners notifying guests that they must
be on a level with the ground when the
imperial carriage passed. Such a thing "a
witnessing royal pageant from an upper
story window is unheard of in Japan. Sight
seers are even forbidden to stand on porches
as means of securing a better view
BY the light of recent events, special
Significance attaches 10 the disregard, on
one occasion of the Russian Minister for
this unwritten but carefully obeyed law.
Near the Russian Legation the Minister
had caused a platform to be erected some
three feet from the ground, for the CON
venience of his family and guests in wit
Messing the imperial cortege as it passed
They had taken their places and were
viewing the spectacle when the crowd
observed the saorilege. Pandemonium en-
sued--for the Japanese are as volatile a.
the French on occasion.
Enraged by the perhaps unconscious
lnsult-the incident having occurred in
August year ago-the populace at once
began TO assail the Russian party with
stones and sticks, and serious injuries might |
have been done had not the police interfered !
and dispersed the mob. As an example !
Of the generous nature Of the Mikado, the |
writer was subsequently informed by a high |
Japanese dignitary that his Majesty per-
sonally ordered the mob dispersed and !
even went so far as to express his regret |
TO the Russian Minister for the occurrence.
RevertinR to my visit 10 the palace and |
to the Empress. she was then, as in public, !
80 dressed as TO conceal her features. There
s no special reason for this, according to
Japanese custom, save habit her Majesty
has OF always carrying n fan and keeping
her face partially covered
She was dressed, as were her gentle
in white and red silk OF perhaps
richer material and with more elaborate
than the other costumes
other than this, it would have been'dificult
10 distinguish her in the company.
She is the devoted companion and con-
'ort OF the Mikado, very frequently accom-
Danying him about the city and Empire.
Between them. SO far as known, there has
lever fallen a shadow Of disagreement.
While Mutsuhito is work ing for greater
Japanese army and navy, the Empress works
or the Red Cross Society and innumerable
'harites. She is a regular visitor at the
hospitals and is intelligently interested in
he fine arts, the education Of young women
md in horticulture domestic passion
With her.
Briefly, the Empress Ia valuable assist
mt in many ways Of this soverei On. who
certainly has no peer in Asia, and perhaps
zone elsewhere Glance over the list: The
'zar Ia in different class, as is the Kaiser.
franz Josef ia growing old. Victor
Emmanuel Is an uneasy ruler Others Of
esser stature are hardly to be compared
With him. Nor is Edward VII President
youbet is in another category. Scores Of
hief executives in tho Americas are not
o be mentioned in the anne paragraph.
For probably no other ruler on earth
las such a record Of things accomplished