Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-08
THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN
Leads IN the Adoption Of Foreign Gus
toms-His Only Photograph.

The face. of the Emperor of Japan
docs not reflect ms age. There are no
lines Of car. on his smooth forehead
His turbulent reign Of forty years has
not marred the serenity Of MS
countenance.
saw him once driving through q e
park at Yeddo, outside of the Imperial
grounds He sat in an open victoria,
detachment of cavalry preceding ana
following the carriage. His face was
calm and serene. His piercing black
cves stared straight ahead and his dig
niGed bearing was simple, yet impress
Siv.. The briefeSt glance revealed a
man of no ordinary mold.
The whites Of his eyes We're more
apparent than in the average
Japanese. His eyebrows We're not as
straight as in the photograph. and his
strong chin was covered with beard
of medium length, thicker than when
ten years ago he summoned the best
photographer in Tokyo, pupil Of
Taber Of San Francisco, 10 the i'm
perial palace.
Later inspected a dozen prints
from the original negative. | protest
tu tHdt lIlt N''' "4''''-'
asked to see other pictures.
You will never see any others. he
told me The Emperor has set his
seal of approval and his seal Of state
upon this negative. There are 40
others and there will be no others.
| The original is kept under lock and
seal. Only may take prints from It
in the presence of officials and win
the Emporcr's permission.
l limited that it was touched up.
The imperial photographers face be-
came a mask.
1T is Il Very correct likeness he re-
piled suavely, though the Emperor is
a trifle older, he has not changed
Those who have met the Emperor
recently say his face is much fuller
and more peculiarly Japanese. for the
race tends to corpulency. His frame
| is above the average height of his sub
| iects. his shoulders are broader. and
| there is an appearance of strength and
| compactnesS of form not shared by
| the VOL fed official and prosperous
| merchant
The Emperor is not strenuous.
| seldom takes exercise as we under
| stand it. but his diet is simple, and he
| does not indulge in strong drinks. OF
| recent Years he is more frequently
! seen outside the palace grounds and
| he is peculiarly gracious to foreign
| diplomats and the women of the
/ official colony.
| Matsuhito has led, not followed, the
| elder statesmen and the progressive
] japanese in the adoption of Western
| civilization. In his palace at Tokyo he
has installed many European furnish
| ings His audience room is fitted UP
with a chair and a flat top desk.
| 1t is there he receives calls from his
| ministers and officials of state as does
| the President of the United States al
the White House. He does not SLEEP
as do most Of his $1,000 900 of subjects
upon a mat-laid floor. but upon an
English bed His clothes are mostly
of English pattern, though in the quiet
of his family he dons the japanese
robe and sandals. He wears white
linen shirts and starched collars, anG
eats at a table such as ours, having
| most Of his food cooked European
style, using silver fork and 6
Sheffield knife.
| Though monarch Of an Orienta
| ldNt, u'sNVIlutu III uiIN't Ilo!i
| 1.50O years of Japanese rulers
Matsuhto has the general appearance
Of an American gentleman both ir
| manners and dress
The walled and moated parl
surrounding the White House of Japar
is thrown open to the public. The
palace itself is reconstructed OF
modern lines. is full of large rooms
! and is furnished with modern furni
| turc.
Yet, despite all the evidences O.
modernity, Matsuhito is a man o
mystery. He is the incarnation of tn,
Divine Being, heaven descended
Divine and sacred. His hallowet
| throne was established at the tim,
| when the heavens and earth separated
He is pre-eminent above all his sub
jects The law has no power to holt
! him accountable to it"-ToWn an,
Country.