The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

their compatriots who cherlshithe memo
rics of those whose records OF deeds are
carefully preserved In that temple. The
festival this year lends special feature
on account of the numerous additions to
the records Of the temple, in consequence
of this war. The mperor usually sends
"a delegate, but on this occasion he Will
honor the temple With his personal pres
ence The Empress rnndWthe Crown
Prince and PRINCESS! will also pay a visit
to the shrine. The Emperor and Jcnl-i
press are expected and the Crown Prince
and Princess will also be present. The
celebra ton will last for three days. This
year it assumes especial Importance on
account Of the Emperor's condescenslon
to honor the occasion with his presence.
The kinsfolk OF those who have died In
this war receive special privileges OF not.
only discounts on their Journey to tho.
capital. but also in the privilege Of Wis
iting the Imperial gardens, which are
generally closed to the ordinary public.
The most prominent attraction is afforded
by the newly captured regimental flag
decorated with the order Of St. George,
and the flag Of tho variag. Those two
flags now form a part Of the wtsr- col
lection OF the Imperial court and are
lent for the occasion by the Imperial
household. The relatives OF the dead
will receive a wooden cup rs n souvenir.
4 The Emperor and the Empress have been
pleased to give 5000 Yen toward the ex-
penses of tho celebration and tho Imperial
sympathy so manifestly shown for the
pcrpetuation Of the memories Of the noble
dead Is making a very strong impression
upon tho minds Of the people and tho
love and respect the people Of JAPAN
entertain toward the reigning Sovereign
is all the more strengthened, loyalty and
patriotism will thus have q very powerful
stimulus at this critical epoch Of Jnpan's
history
Visit to the Temple.
After acquiring this meager and un-
embellished Information went with my
camera out to the great temple to see
what might be seen and was surprised
to find that, far from being solemn and
stately, as had Imagined 1t would be,
tho celebration was ono of great festivity
attended by all the small delights which
so to make a holiday. Around the APP
proach to the temple had sprung up
vcrltuble Coney Island with all sorts Of
shows In full operation. Great over
grown wrestlers ran hlther and yon with
soft towels knotted about their long hair
and light kimonos of the bath robe order
their only rniment. Vendors OF sweet
things contested right Of way through the
dense throng with purveyors of small
toys and firecrnckcrs Each side Of the
avenue right up to the temple gateway
was lined with small tents Of every pos
siblo description In which could DO bought
anything from a drink OF sake to n
small sized cannon, or in which could
be seen any sort of show from a wrest'
ling match or jggler's contest OF agility
to an exhibition of trained mice, The
crowd was so great one could hardly
make n way through 1t and 1t had been
tramp trnmping through the grayelled
avenue for so long that the place had be-
come a perfect slough OF mud and was, /
for once. sorry that my foot-gear was not
wooden with little stltlt attachments to
keep me- high ana dry
Down at tho far end near the temple
gateway, was an interesting thing. Many
old women were sitting about with huge
wooden cages full OF birds. common SPAR
rows looking almost scared to death. and
Tutoring most plteously against the
bars of their little PRISONS This was
as 1t should BIO, for II attracted GUS
toners who crowded around to buy them
and set them free toward the temple
with prayers for soldiers souls, II was
n pretty thing to do and ! lonsed To
set few Of them free myself hue rar
Ing q queer foreign devil" ] could not