The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-11-16
LOVSTED SAW
ITO'S FUNERAL
Wonderful Tribute Paid by the
Japanese People to the
Dead Statesman.
ABSOLUTE SILENCE IN CITY
Three Hundred Thousand People
Lined Route of March to See
Bier of the Prince.

the Gregg Company of this city, wit.
messed the formal obsequies in Hibya
Park, Toxic, over the remains of the
late Prince Ito. Mr.. and Mrs. Low.
sted returned yesterday on the I. X.
X. s, s. Chiyo Maru from nine
months absence spent in the coun,
tries of the Far East, including the
Philippines, China and Japan, and
while in the latter country had the
good fortune to be in Toxic when the
japanese paid their wonderful tribute
of sympathy to the murdered states.
man.
The obsequies were held in Hibya
Park, and the great bier rested in
special temple erected for the occa.
sion. Mr.. and Mrs. Lovsted stood
with group of spectators where they
could see the principal opening in the
temple, just where the priests paid
their homage and performed the re-
ligious ceremonies. The crowd with
which they stood was kept back some
distance from the temple, but they had
an excellent view.
Conforming to the custom Of the
country at funerals of high person.
ages, Mr.. Lovsted had to wear even.
ing dress, although the ceremonies took
place in the afternoon, and Mrs. Low.
sted donned black. Every man in the
crowd of foreigners wore evening
dress. Visiting dignitaries, of course,
wore uniforms of their rank or call.
ing. Mr.. Lovsted said it was one of
the most impressive sights he ever be.
held, and the sympathy of the Japa.
nese people on that occasion seemed
to be nationwide. Mr.. Lovsted brought
copy of the Japan Advertiser, pub.
lished in English, which gives a
graphic description of the funeral GER
emonies. The following is taken from
that paper:
Early yesterday morning. long be.
fore the day had broken, Toxic com.
menced its last preparation for the
great state ceremonial ordered as a
tribute to the man who had won his
way from peasant to prince. Through.
out the night there was movement in
and around the residence of the late
Prince Ito which crowns the hill call
ed Renazaka. For two full days this
house of mourning had been the cen
ter upon which the attention of not
only Toxic, but all Japan, was fixed.
Notwithstanding an interval marking
the annual holiday of the greatest note
in the country; Notwithstanding the
coming to the capital of England =
greatest soldier and most honored
guest; Notwithstanding the birthday
of the Emperor and the panoply of
parade at Aoyama; Notwithstanding the
fact that the drapery of mourning
was removed from flags for day and
that for the time nation rejoiced
and congratulated its ruler, the great
heart of Japan was moved to look to.
wards the place where a martyred
statesman lay and all that remained on
earth in physical being of its greatest
statesman of the century lay silent on
his bier.
City in Mourning Again.
The holiday over, the flags were
draped again and foated out to mark
the mourning under the gray skies Of
an early dawn.
Hours before the time set, even for
the commencement of the private rit-
ual inside the residence Ga ritual wit
messed only by the relatives and close
personal friends), the streets along the
route from Reinanzaka to Hibiya were
massed with tens of thousands waiting
to pay their last tribute of respect.
At nine O'Clock there doomed one
gun that told of the leaving of the
prince for the last time from his home
to one of well-deserved rest amid the
highest honor that nation could af-
ford. Within the precincts, as it
were, of his own home, there still at
tached to the outgoing the simple cere-
monal. Out from the gates of the
Reinanzaka residence wheeled the i'm.
perial guard of lancers, followed by
the men who bore the wreaths and sa-
cred trees, the gifts Of Emperor and
Empress, the crown prince and impe-
rial family, the elaborate wreaths sent
as n mark of personal respect and re.
gard by emperors and kings, rulers
and presidents from the great coun.
tries of Europe and America. There
was no sound of ccremonious exit here.
And then there came the first note of
mourning that broke shrilly first and
then, sinking to mournful wall, strik-
ing deep down TO the heart of every.
one who heard IT, and ns the musi.
clans passed, playing upon their pc.
culiar pipes, each head was barred and
at times nearby was heard a sob from
woman or sigh from man, the eyi.
dence of emotion pent mp but irrepres.
sibe. And 30 they passed down the
hill.
oasket Borne on Many Shoulders,
The great caiafalque Of plain wood,
bound with gorgeous clasps, that ON,
closed the body Of Prince Ito, borne
upon the shoulders Of stout men, oame
next, aud every head was bowed in
deep fospoeii then came those friends
who had known him many ~ them
from youth 10 age, and Others whom
ho bad won hy the highest character
isiiea ot a great man, aud last, after