The Washington herald., 1907-12-15

to physical as well as mental develop
ment Nine Shimoda spent nearly two
years IN Europe. whittier she was sent
by the Emperor 20 study the methods
or instruction of European princesses-
Nine. ShimOda says that the education
or the princesses has been conducted on
exactly the same lines MS that of daugh-
ters Of the nobility in the Mobiles School,
Of which she has charge. Special stress
has been at all times laid upon the edu-
cation Of the body. the princesses having
been required 20 take a great deal OF
out-of-doOr exercise. In the Detached
Palace, In which they live. there IS a
modern gymnasium. where they 20
through daily course when the weather
does not permit outdoor exercise.
Are Well Educated.
Princess Tsune All Princess Kane
were put through a strict course Of the
three RS" and Of French. this being
recognized as the court language. al
though English is spoken among the no
biiity almost as generally as it is IN Jap
anese commercial circles. But the edu-
cation of Nine. ShimOda's imperial
charges has By no means been confined
10 what might be termed the modern
side The little princesses have been
carefully initiated into all the mysteries
Of the flower arrangement and dec0ra-
ton Of old Japan and in the delightful
art Of composing p0etry-the famous
'uta' Of thirty-one syllables and SON
nets, in which Nine. Shimoda at an early
age manifested such skill as to be given
b. the Emperor himself a personal name
which means "sOnnets-" In short. Prin-
cesses Tsune and Kane while OF the new
Japan, are also essentially Of the old
with all its accomplishments and graces
Form of Ceremony in Doubt.
The outside world has not yet been per-
mitted 10 knos' just what form Of cere-
mony will be followed at the coming
double marriage When IN 1900 the
crown prince married, there was q dis
tinct departure in the form Of ceremony,
his being the first imperial marriage
given a religious setting. The crown
prince was married By a Shinto priest
Whether the example then set will De
followed, or whether there win be a re-
turn to the old ceremony. ingwhich drink
ing from the ceremonial teacups forms
the principal feature. is not known OF
late there has been a strong tendency
toward return 60 the ceremonies Of the
old Japan. and the opinion IS held IN
many quarters that the marriage of the
| princesses VIII be according to the older
forms
WOmRn'S Position Second.
Woman's secondly ry position in Japan
is manifested even in the marriage cere-
mony. The bride goes to the house OF
her future husband. Ia which she is 10
De subservient not only 10 her husband.
but 10 his father. and especially his
mother. as long as they may live, and 8,
IS there that the wedding ceremony is
/ performed.
The bride is carried in great ceremony
from her fathers house 10 that OF her
husband. which is also that Of his fat-er
In litter AT this house. in front OF the
corridor, along which the litter passes
on the right hand and on the left two
men and two women. IN pairs. place two
mortars, right and left. in which they
1 pound rice As the litter passes the
pounded rice from the left hand side IS
moved across 10 the right and the two
are mixed together in one. This is called
the blending Of the rice meal Two can
dies are lighted. the one on the right and
the other on the loft Of the corridor: and
after the litter has passed the candle on
the left is passed over 20 the right and
the two wicks being brought together
the candles are extinguished.
Presents 10 the bridegroom.
The bride takes with her 20 her hus-
bands house as presents two sHken robes
sewed together in a peculiar manner. a
dress OF ceremony with wings Of hemper
cloth. an upper girdle and an under CIR
die. a fan, either five or seven pocket
books. and "A sword Tire dress OF the
bride is a white silk robe with lozenge
pattern over an under robe. also OF white
silk. over her head she wears a veil OF
white silk. which. when she sits down
she allows 70 fan about her mantle.
The bride meets her husband in the
room where the relatives are assembled
and here she takes her seat for this once
in the place Of honor. her prospective
husband sitting in a lower place. not di-
rectly opposite her. but GiagonaIly, and
discreetly avoiding her g.ance
This sitting down process occurs, II
must be remembered, upon the soft mats
which form the floor OF the room. on
the raised part Of the floor are laid out
beforehand two trays. the preparations
for 81 feast, table on which are two
wagtails, a second table with a repre-
sentatiOn of Elysium. fowls. fish. two
wine bottles. three wine cups. and two
sorts Of kettles for warming wine.
Feast After Marriage.
After the bride and bridegroom are
seated the two trays are brought out
and the ladies in waiting, with compIi-
mentary speeches. hand dried fish and
seaweed, such as accompany presents,
and dried chestnuts TO the couple.
Two married women then each take one