The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-01-06
LANTERN BEARERS GATHER.

At o'clock last evening, the hour
named for the gathering of the Ian
tcrn-bearers, it was hardly dark, and
few japanese came upon the broad
lawn of Aala park. The buildings fac
ing the park Were mainly occupied by
Japanese and these were gaily decor
ated. Festoons of lanterns ran up and
down the front of the houses and from
every Flagstaff floated the national en-
sign on Japan. Each doorway was
marked by crossed flags. AS darkness
came on lights twinkled in the Ian
! terms and soon the park was surround
| ed by traceries of fire. Then the park,
| little by little, became animated.
Young and old came upon the lawn
bearing lanterns, some lighted, others
dark. They gathered about a gaily
decorated stand in the center of the
park above which fioated the naval
nag-the sunbeam flag, floating by the
side of the national emblem. Then
came band upon the scene and lively
music was heard now and then. Few
Japanese wore kimonos. Many were
grotesquely garbed, with masks. false
mustaches and with lanterns upon
their heads. The little boys wore smart
military caps. From every side were
shouts of "BanZai! Banzai!" the ma
tional hail coming in advance of
trooping Japanese bearing all sorts of
transparencies. Huge drays, covered
with bunting; and brilliantly lighted,
and filled with people, came up on the
roadways.
BY o'clock the park was filed with
hon nf ight Of oil a int m
All were in n happy frame of mind,
but the one word which had full sway
in all the noise was "BanzaiI" 1t was
everywhere. The reserved professional
man, the merchant, the diplomat, the
clerk, the plantation laborer, felt the
excitement of great crowd and yell
ed "Banzai!" until his throat became
parched.
THE GENERAL COMMITTEE.
Then came the general committee in
charge of the celebration. Nearly all
were in evening dress with silk hats.
The speakers, Messrs. DIR. Mori, c. Shi-
oZawa, NJ. Kishi, the chairman, and
Lieut.. Kurakawa, of the Japanese I'm
perial Guard, mounted the platform
and stood beneath row of swaying
lanterns. All about them was a mass
OF fretted fire. Nearby the band play
ed lively airs, and then the chairman
held out his hands and called for quiet.
That was difficult. but there was some
| subsidence to the noise. Briefly, the
| chairman spoke of the great victory
| Japan has achieved, and then intro
! duced DR.. Mori. When the doctor men
toned Port Arthur, (Jo-jin-ko. as they
call it in Japanese) the assemblage
threw up its hands as one man and
shouted Banzail When Mr.. C. Shio-
zawa spoke in patriotic terms of the
triumph at Port Arthur another burst
] OF enthusiasm ensued. Then Lieut.
Kurakawa spoke briefly and the band
played the national Japanese anthem
PROCESSION FORMS AND MOVES
! The flags over the stand were then
taken down and Lieut.. Kurakawa gave
the command to march. The band was
placed at the head behind four mount
ed police officers under Lieut.. Leslie
and the lantern-bearers, transparency
bearers, the women and children on
foot and in wagons a couple of thous-
and formed blazing line which
stretched for blocks. The lanterns
swayed in the breeze. The line finally
evolved itself into some formation. Be-
hind the band came the uniformed
cadets OF the Young Mems Buddhis'
Association, bearing torches. Two
buglers were with the cadets. Behind
them came several floats, inscribed
with huge characters. all meaning
"Banzaf'. Triumph. Victory were
other English words. The floats were
entered by patriotic merchants. Drums
oil tins and boxes were used for max
Ing noise. Red fire streamed from the