The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

races at Yokohama not long ago a com mand was sent out that all sight-seers must be on the level of the ground when the royal carriage went by. The foreign guests of the hotels were notified that they must keep off the porches and that none must look out of the second-story windows. When the imperial carriage stopped at the grandstand all of the spec tators were required to come down from their seats and wait until his majesty had taken his place in a pavilion high above the rest, and they got down again in order not to be higher than his maj esty when he departed. It is one of the unwritten laws of Japanese etiquette that no one should look down upon the Elm peror. and when his majesty goes forth foreigners are warned to show this mark of respect.
 Out in the country where the people have had less contact with foreigners, the regard for the Emperor is even more marked. They stand with hats off and heads bowed when he passes along, and will not even raise their eyes in his pres ence There are no cheers and it is as quiet as death. Take, for instance, his visit to some town like Snizuoka, which has 5000O people. It is on the railroad, half way between Osaka and Kyoto, and his majesty sometimes breaks his jour ney there as he goes across Japan. He has a palace at Shizouka and before he arrives the road between this and the depot is covered with sand. As the train comes In the people assemble about the station and the police arrange them in order First are the soldiers, next to them the school children, and still far ther along the road the citizens, accord ing to their rank and importance When his majesty steps out all but the soldiers bow their heads and keep them bowed as he passes The soldiers themselves appear to stare beyond his majesty with out seeing.
 I understand that this is so all over Japan, and as the Emperor does not go about much it is likely to continue. It may be different when the crown prince succeeds, as he is a great traveller and the Japanese are becoming acquainted with him.
 -, How the Emperor Looks. k
 Notwithstanding this secrecy about his imperial majesty. I have learned much concerning him during my four visits to Japan When 1 vas here 20 years ago they were building the imperial palace in which he now lives, and l became ac- uuainted with the late Baron Sannomlyo, who for many years was the imperial high court chamberlain. 1 talked with the baron about him at the time the war  was here in 1900 he told me much of the crown prince and bis then approaching wedding l have learned more about the imperial family from confidential sources during my stay here, so that l feel fairly able to give you something as to his per sonality.
 His Imperial Majesty Matsuhto, for that is the Emperors name, was 56 years old last November. He ascended the throne at the age of IA and has already reigned 42 years.
 When he became Emperor Andrew Johnson was President of the United States. and his administration has cov- cred the ternis of all our Presidents since then He is now in excellent health, in the very prime of manly yigor, and he may live for 20 or 30 years to come.
 The Emperor is tall for Japanese He is broad-shouldered and slightly stoopng He has the short legs of his nation and looks his best upon horse- back When he goes out of the palace he wears the uniform of a general of the Japanese army, and has gold-hilted sword at his side. He is dignfied and always receives his guests standing. He is cordial to foreigners and speaks in a low, clear kind voice. The Emperor is fine looking He has broa,. and rather high forehead. His eyes are almost straight, although the lids are not so far apart as those of the Caucasian. The eyebrows have an arstocratic arch in dicative of pure blood, and the nose is large with rather full nostrils. The un-