Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-16
WELC ONE TO TOGO
Religious Ceremony Wit
messed by 10000 Persons.
MR.. BRYAN'S REQUEST
ANCIENT WAR STOOL WAS PRE-
sENTFD TO HIM.
Cotton in India-A Notable Fight iii
Buckingham Palace-Personal
Encounters in the Navy.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The japanese newspapers that came in
latest mails are filed with accounts of the
reception Of Admiral Togo upon his return
to Toxic for the first time since the decla-
ration of war, and of the entertainments
which are being given to Mr. William Jen-
nings Bryan, who has been made guest of
honor in Japan and was a conspicuous spec
tator of Togos return.
There were 10000 people in Uyeno Park to
witness an ancient religious ceremony by
which the people returned thanks to heaven
for the victories won by Admiral Togo and
his sailors The papers say that 1.-The cere-
mony had it's origin in the far-off time of
Mimamotono Yoshiiye, and was performed
in similar manner to celebrate the victo-
ries of the great captains Iepasu Hideyoshi,
Nobunaga and others of former days" 1t
has not been celebrated, however for more
than two hundred years. Like everything
else pertaining to the Shinto religion, it was
essentially simple, and the priests who off,
ciated were descendants of the men who
We're always intrusted with the duty of
conducting these functions in bygone CEN
turtles
Admiral Togo who was the central figure,
was seated upon an ancient war stool, an
heirloom of the Ogasawara family to which
the officiating chief priest belongs. At the
the close of the function, the papers say
Mr.. Bryan asked if he might have the chair
as souvenir OF the memorable occa sion.
He evidently did not realize the significance
of his request, because 1t is the greatest
treasure in one of the most famous families
or the empire. No one Is ever allowed to
occupy 1t because of its sacredness. 1t has
only been used in similar functions for CEN
turtles, and several of the greatest warriors
Oh Japan, who are now WorShiped as gods
have sat in it. Mr. Ogasawara, the high
priest, did not faint or fall down, although
you may imagine his feelings With that
extraordinary courtesy for which the Japa-
nese are celebrated, he presented Mr. Bryan
with the war stool, and the latter put 1t in
q Jlnricksha and sent it to his hotel
AT the close of the ceremony which was
very Impressive, the mayor of Toxic deltv-
cred long address to Admiral Togo ex-
pressing the admiration and gratitude of
stool said in reply:
thank you for your earnest welcome
On behalf of the united feet 1 express our
heartfelt gratitude"
And that was ALL
Mr.. Bryan has received many attentions
from ofhclals of the empire and from the
prominent citizens of Japan According to
custom, the emperor had one of the princes
give dinner in his honor-the emperor
hmSeif never gives dlnners-and Mr. BRYAN
has been the guest of the prime minister
the president o fthe chamber of deputies
and other dignitaries The only formal
speech he has made was delivered before
the members of the Young Mems Christian
Association of Toxic, at which Mr.. Girls
com, the American minister introduced
him in very flattering terms. Although
everybody was shocked at Mr. Bryan's au-
dacity in asking for the war stool-and 1t
will take them some time to recoverable
has otherwise made a very favorable i'm
preston both upon the natives and the
foreign residents.