Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-30

pulling ropes attached to miniature
| chariots on which are seated little boys
playing on musical instruments.
Then comes another form of procession,
in which the most beautiful young woman
of the town is crowned with cherry blooms,
drawn by retainers, covered with the
| blooms. Even the ropes by which the
chariot is drawn are concealed by sprays of
cherry blossoms.
Nature itself seems to harmonic and
take mute part in this beautiful parade by
every now and then sending gentle breeze
that starts shower of petals from the
trees along the avenues.
Cherry blossom rejoicing probably at
tains it's perfection at the capital, Toxic.
and 1t Is worthy Of mention that while the
recent successes In warfare and state
, craft nave 1mpressively demonstrated to
the world the ability of the Jap to meet
ms caucasian rivals on equal terms they
nave not had the unfortunate effect of
changing his simplicity of temperament.
on the battlefield, in his business or in
statecraft. he may be cold, calculating.
Keen, daring man. but at home in his holi-
days he is child
10 Uyeno ParS, on Cherry Blossom
Sunday, the whole population repairs.
Inc avenue of cherry trees going I'D
from the town forms a perfect arch of
pink boughs under which the people
throng. The tea houses have spread their
best red blankets on the matted plat
forms. Under the trees are cherry picnic
parties. laughing from the very joy of
| life In the open, with the air scented and
the eye charmed by the most beautiful
| of sprtngtime blooms.
A group Of young men, each CARRYING
Dough of cherry blossoms
| the shoulder. at their belts saki bottles,
| which they stop every now and then to
| have filled, drink and laugh, confident that
should the joyfulness of the occasion make
them ovsrstep the bounds Of propriety-
| rare thing for Jap-some good friend
VIII remember that 1t is holiday time nut
them on. kuruma and send them home to
resolve that such a thing will never hap
pen till another cherry blossom time comes
around again.
At Mukojima is a double avenue of
cherry trees. stretching along the banks
of the Sumida. This Is perhaps the finest
display of the blossoms in all japan and
Mukojima is the great gathering place of
the mummers.
In their costume, pink and white the
colors of the cherry blossoms predominate
and In performing their tricks these
DroWn-Sklnned hellarS and HerrmannS de-
light especially in drawing from tiny re-
ceptacles an endless procession of cherry
blossoms.
What religious observance comes into
the Cherry Blossom Festival is the re-
suit Of coincidence with the festival of
Higan. This marks the anniversary Of
the happy day when Buddha, the Japanese
deity, passed over from the turmoil of life
into the blissful forgetfulness of the Mir
vana. This festival causes religious and
secular celebrations to join with most in
congruous result. The widest Of reyels
marks a time that is supposed to be m~re
sacred than any which comes in the calen-
dar of Buddha.
The mecca of the faithful is the great
statue of Buddha at Kamakura, just out
! side the great seaport of Yokohama.
This is the Colossus of Japanese idols.
! 1t is fftyfour feet in height, made of
| bronze and weighs $50 tons. The fiat
| thumbnail alone is large enough to afford
| seat for a weary pilgrim. and by means
| of a staircase inside one can mount to
! tiny shrine in the idols nose.
Even into this worship comes the cherry
| blossom. While at the tea houses scarlet
| robed girls serving a tea made of
| cherry blossoms, devout men and women
| are putting garlands, made of the blooms,
| at the feet of the great idol.
1t is cherry blossom time in religion as
we'll as pleasure.