The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-05-22
THE HAVEAA-
BORN EMPEROR
advertiser Correspondence, Copyright
by Frederic J. Haskin.)

true that no other monarch in history
ever saw such change in the affairs
of his people as the present ruler of
Japan has witnessed during his reign
Mutsu-hito became Emperor when he
was sixteen years old, and he will be
fifty-six if he lives until November g.
He is the one hundred and twenty-frst
ruler of his dynasty, belonging to line
of monarchs which stretches through
the unparalleled period of 1858 years
Greater progress has been made in the
forty-one years of his reign than in all
the time since Jimmu Tenno, the first
historical ancestor of the present Son
of Heaven, sat upon the throne in 600
B. C.
Although the seclusion of the present
monarch causes much comment, his
person is hedged about with much less
formality than was put around his an
cestors. No one but his wife, his con-
cubines, and his most important minis
tiers were ever permitted to look upon
his august face. When receiving he
sat upon matted throne, and his face
was protected from view by richly
embroidered curtain. It was a strict
rule of etiquette that his sacred feet
should never touch the earth. 1t is
said that the present Emperor never
walked until he was eighteen years old,
which may account for his awkward
gait, which is still noticeable.
In olden times the Emperor travelled
in a curtained car of state, His name
could not be spoken aloud by the rank
and lie of his subjects, and when writ
and file of his subjects, and when omit
ting the last stroke of the writing
brush. The first time a Jajanese En-
peror g name was ever written in full
during his lifetime was when the pres
ent sovereign issued his edict promis-
ing the people constitutional form of
government. No person is permitted to
look down upon the Emperor, so that
when he drives through the streets the
blinds of upper windows must be closed
and no one dares to climb on anything
to get view of his Imperial Majesty.
Formerly no one was permitted to look
upon the Emperor through spectacles,
but in recent years this rule has been
modified in the case of persons who
must wear glasses of necessity. But it
is still wrong to see the Emperor
through glass, and to avoid any chance
of anyone seeing him through a win |
dow, he grants audiences and does his |
are nailed down.
The legal cause of this extravagant-
Iy reverent attitude of the people is
found in the Third Article of the Con-
,titution of Japan, which says: "Fhe
Emperor is sacred and inviolable. ="
Further explanation of this clause is
made in the official commentary on the
"The Emperor is
aven-descended, divine and sacred
His hallowed throne was established
1t the time when the heavens and the
earth became separated. He is pre-
eminent above all his subjects. The
aw has no power to hold him account
lble to it. Not only shall there be no
for the Emperor's person,
out he shall not be made a topic for
comment, nor even one of
discussion. Thus it will be seen that
he japanese consider their ruler too
'acred to be talked about, and have
nculcated in the law of the land
of the use of his name in
ordinary conversation.
The Emperor has no designations and
PRACTICES the utmost regularity, spend
ng nearly his whole time in the dis
barge of his official duties. He is said
o resemble the German Emperor in
he faculty of being able to choose
trustworthy assistants. Although His
Majesty cannot read or speak any Ian
,uage other than his own, he is an in
eterate reader of newspapers, keeping
us Interpreters busy translating the
tterances of the foreign press for his
Quite in conformity with
he idea his subjects have about his
ivinity, is the claim that he never
hows emotion. If there are moments
7hen his anger gets beyond his con-
rol, no reports of them ever reach be-
ond the palace walls.
The Emperor always wears a mill
airy uniform and has done so ever
nee he discarded japanese dress s
ears ago. Not only when he appears ,
i public. but when working at his
European desk, he is dressed in the
Ill uniform of a general or admiral
lis interest in the equipment of his
oldiers was illustrated by an incident 9
war times. A body of troops was =
assing and he ordered one of the I
rivates to be sent to him. He ex- '
mined the soldiers shoes and asked 7
great many questions about them. c
hen to satisfy himself he sent for a V
air of the same kind and wore them r
II two or three DAVIS IN NfeSt THAR | .