Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-01-17
Dr.. Edwards At III. Bio festival.

ofeuuC tue uOlcl ndu PROVIDED 0encn-
es and refreshments, and there we
Sat and waited at noon. With piercing
shouts crowd Of men and boys ap-
peared, dragging lar pine tree up
the avenue, followed by a multitude Of
Poop e eager TO secure branches as
charms against evil spirits. So great
was their success Il at on reaching Il e
summit the stalk was bare. The echo
LOT these shouts had scarce oied away
WHEN the entrance way was thrown
open, and the religious procession
was seen to leave the grounds aud pro
coed down the avenu-. II YOU wish 10
see something that viii divert YOU, YOU
should Ste this procession 1t Is a re.
llgIouS masquerade. The procession
approached with music and waving
banners. At the head were priests
mounted on sacred ponies, aud cloth
ed in gold bIocaded robes, or in red
silk chasubles and white caSsocks.
followed by Tetinue in bright yellow
gowns and black lacquered caps,
holding. aloft huge temple fans on
long and characteristic poles. War
riors crossed in ancient style and car.
ryiag thet old tine aims Of Japan,
played their parts also in this fantas
tic show.
Then came men and BOYS, wearing
masks and quaint costumes Of 800
years ago belonging to the temple
and worn only on festival days. They
waved banners and curious flag shap.
ed ornaments used in temples. Others
carried live birds and monkeys, or
walked in pairs partly hidden under
skins of ferociouS beasts. Scattered
at intervals were the sacred cars
huge structure built on wooden wheels
with temple ike roofs, black lacquer
ated bodies, vallonSes oil rich needle
work, gorgeous old draperieS Of red
and yellow silk, and drawn along by
strings of devotees. Bands of music
in the procession made most horri-
BILE din with gongs while scores of
primatlve flutes aud flies squealed out
their part of the terrible noise that
the Japanese call music.
The procession was at least a mile
long, and along the avenue, on both
sides followed an immense crowd
which had been congregated from ev
cry part of the country to enjoy this
festival. The procession marched
slowly over the sacred rod bridge
through the town holding high carni-
val until evening. The fete lasted
but one day, and closed that night
with grand illumination Of the TEN.
Piles and grounds. Innumerable huge,
gay colored, paper lanterns, flashed
light from every building and gate
way, the pagoda, the trees that line
the stairway to the tomb and the tomb
itself. Hundreds Of bronze and stone
lanterns added their quota to the light
and the vast crowd carried small Ian.
terms Of paper. The soft breeze sway
ed the golden windballs, and from the
main avenue floated upward the deep
tones Of the great bronze bell, struck
by its wooden hammer.
walked up through this material
lied fairyland to the summit Of the hill
and looked down over the long green
vista of the pines, over the brilliantly
lighted grounds. 1t was sight rare
and impressive. The most beautiful
spectacle l have ever beheld. 1t seem.
cd as if the town with all the temples
and al! the forests near by had been
converted into land of freflies. Dan
cling lanterns bobbed about the road
ways, swaying trees scattering leaves
of light. while swaying lanterns Of the
houses and temples seemed to give
to the whole the appearance Of light
flowing like water over uneven rocks.
This continued far into the night,
and watched i as it died down, first
the dancing little lanterns became
fewer and fewer then disappearing.
followed:slowly by larger lanterns on
trees and houses. with the great stone