The sun., 1907-08-04
THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN
Leads In Adopting Foreign Customs -ssis
Only Photograph.

The face Of the Emperor of japan does
not reflect his age. says a writer in Toun
and Count,u. Theirs are no lines OF care On
his smooth forehead. His turbulent reign
of forty years has not marred the serenity
of his counteaance.
/ saw him once driving through the park
at Yeddo. outside the imperial grounds.
He sat in an open victoria. a detachment OF
cavalry preceding and following the car
riage. His face was calm and serene. His
piercing black eyes stared straight ahead
and his dignified bearing was simple, yet
impressive. The briefest glance revealed
a man of no ordinary mould.
The whites of his eyes were more appar-
cnt than in the average Japanese. His eye
brows were not as straight as in the photo
graph. and his strong chin was covered
with a beard of medium length, thicker
than when ten years ago he summoned the
best photographer in Toxic, a pupil of
Taber of San Francisco, to the imperial
ga ace. ..r
Later inspected dozen prints from the
original negative. l protested that the
photograph was inaccurate. 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 no others and there
will be no others. The original is kept
under lock ard seal. Only l may take
prints from il in the presence of officials
and with the Emperor's permission"
l limited that IL was touched up. The
imperial photographers face became .
mask.
1T is a very correct likeness he replied
suavely; though the Emperor is a trifie
older. he has not changed
Those who have met the Emperor re-
Gently say his face is much fuller and more
peculiarly japanese. for the race tends 10
corpulency. His frame is above the average
he light of his subjects his shoulders are
broader. and there is an appearance OF
strength and compactnese of form not
shared by the well fed ofioial and prosper
ous merchant.
The Emperor is not strenuous. seldom
takes exercise as We understand il, but
his diet is simple and he does not indulge
in strong drinks. or recent years he is
more frequently seen outside the palace
grounds and he is peculiarly gracious 10
foreign diplomats and the women OF the
official colony.
Matsuhito has led, not followed, che
elder statesmen and the progressive Japa-
nese In the adoption Of Western civilization.
In his palace at Toxic he has installed
many European furnishings. His audience
room is fitted up with a chair and fiat
ton desk.
1t is there ne receives calls from his
Ministers and officials Of state, as does the
President Of the United states at the White
House. He does not sleep as do most
of his IS 900, 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, and eats at a
table such as ours. having most of his
food cooked in European style, using
silver fork and Sheffield knife.
Though a monarch Of an Oriental rssn
descended in direct line from 1, 500 yess.
Of Japanese rulers, Matsuhto has the
general appearance OF an Amarican gentle
man, bo tn in manners and dress.
The walled and moated park sur
rounding the White House of japan 10
thrown open to the public. The palace
itself is reconstructed on modern lines,
10 full Of large rooms and is furnished with
modern furniture.
Yet. despite all the evidences OF modern
ity, Matsuhito is q man of mystery. He
is the incarnation OF the Divine Being.
.hesyen descended, divine and sacred
His hallowed throne was sstablished a.
the time whom the heavens and earth seps-
ratod. He 10 preominent above all his
| subjects. The Law has no power 10 hold
him accountable to it.'