Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-29
THE FUTURE MIKADO.
Little Prince Micchi, Whose Horoscope
is Cast Daily.
From the London Mail.

From the London MILL
Grandson of the present emperor, HIS
Royal Highness Prince Micchi. is a
strong, healthy, lusty boy, whose pranks
are already chronic:ed and narrated
throughout Japan, even as are those of
the youngest princes of the English
reigning house
Japan is up to date in many things,
but in everything there is always a
quaint blend of the Oriental with the
western. The mikado is not the least
little bit superstitious, and in spite of
early influence when he was taught
poetry and the arrangement of flowers,
prefers everything about him to be Eu-
ropean. 1t is curious to learn, therefore,
that on the birth of Prince Micchi court
astrologers were set to work to cast the
baby's horoscope. Indeed, it has been
done every day since. The real fact Is
the people demand that this should be
done. A horoscope had been made for
other royal princes for twenty-five GEN.
turtles, and everyone in Japan was most
anxious to know what fate had in store
for the new baby. 1t was small mat
ter, and both the mikado and the crown
prince gave their consent to mystic rites
and elaborate lamentations being per-
formed, though they have not the small
est belief in the published reports.
Before little Prince Micchi was six
months old a most elaborate imperial
seal had been made for his use" Here
again the ancient customs of Japan were
too wonderful for the new western ideas.
In the land of the chrysanthemum a
mans seal is his most important pos
session. Forgery of a seal is punished
more severely than robbery. Conse-
quently baby Prince Micchfs seal be-
came a matter at once of the greatest
Importance 1t had to be different from
that used by his father. Special artists
worked at it for months before suitable
emblem was made. Now it is offixed to
everything worn or used by the prince.
The heir presumptive to the great
eastern throne has the distinction of being
the first baby of the royal house or
Jimmu Tenno who has been aiowed TO
grow his hair like an Enghsn oaoy:
babies. had their heads shaved daily by
their nurses. 1t is on record that when
the emperor was seven DAYS olu ms
by shaving her sons tiny head. Then,
as the hair grew, her chief delight was
to experiment with various designs TO
discover the most becoming. sometimes
she shaved the top and the rim and left
a tonsure, sometimes she left only the
rim and sometimes scalp lock and
two other locks only. Ties went on for
quite six years. Although Prince Micchi
has twenty-five of the prettiest little
Jananese nurses imaginable, they are
NOT allowed to proctice their decorative
tonsorial powers on the wee prince:
Count Kawaimura, nfe-long frleno OF
the royal nursery, and he regulates mat
ters in a very stern fashion for Prince
Mjcchi's well-being. Not even a sllken
cushion goes into the nursery unless the
count has first seen 1t and has set his own
hallmark of approval and the princes seal
to it.
Soon after the princes birth measures
were taken to eliminate the almond eye"
of his race, a painless little surgical opera
tion was performed. An incision was made
on the outer point of the baby's eyelids In
a straight line for the barest part of an
inch The lashes were then drawn into
shape and held firmly by a piece of chem
cally prepared sticking plaster. The wound
healed in less than a week, and the effect
now is that Prince Micchi does not look
bit like a son of the eastern island en-
pire. The embryo Mikado Micchis we'd
ding is already under serious discussion and
quite three noble young ladies goo-gooing
with might and main in fiowery land
nurseries, have been selected as candi-
dates for the future rulers partner In life.
BY the time Prince Micchi wants wife
matters may have progressed SO much that
he Will possibly be allowed to contract a
love match. At present however. the law
forbids It. Prince Micchi's wife will be.
may be has been, selected from the daugh-
tiers of the Ave highest families In the land.
In addition, he is also entitled to choose I'M
ferior wives to the number OF eleven from
the best families and the position of such
wives is recognized.